Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival (泣き相撲)
Time: Mid March
Prefecture: Tokyo
Location: Senso-ji Temple

The Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival is an annual event that attracts eager parents with one-year-olds dressed in fancy attire to various locations in Japan. This unique festival is a competition between babies, with the victor being the first to cry.

In this entertaining contest, opposing babies are carried by sumo wrestlers into the dohyo (sumo ring). The sumo referee playfully taunts the babies while the wrestlers gently jostle them to induce tears. If a contestant proves resilient, a tengu (a bird demon) mask may be brought out to work its magic. In the event that contestants burst into tears simultaneously, the one who cries louder and harder is crowned the winner. The Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival is a lighthearted and amusing tradition that celebrates the resilience and adorable nature of infants.