日本举办“婴儿啼哭大赛”

日本传统的“婴儿啼哭大赛”于上周日举行，参赛婴儿在相扑手的怀中比赛啼哭，以向神灵祈求健康。大赛已有四百年历史，每年在全国各地都会举行。人们认为，孩子的啼哭声能够驱走妖魔鬼怪。哭声最响亮的婴儿被评委宣布为比赛冠军。

Japan’s traditional Nakizumo, or crying sumo, festival took place Sunday as babies competed to bawl the loudest in the arms of sumo wrestlers as a prayer to the gods for good health.

Parents pray at the annual event at the Sensoji temple in the Tokyo district of Asakusa for their children to grow up in good health as young sumo wrestlers hold their babies high in pairs so that their cries are closer to heaven.

The baby with the loudest howls is declared the winner by the sumo judge.

The babies’ cries during the 400-year-old festival, which is celebrated across Japan, are supposed to drive away evil spirits.

The festival does not always pass off as the parents and adults expect, with some babies refusing to cry.

The judge repeats “nake, nake (cry, cry)” into the microphone, while the sturdy sumo wrestlers attempt to evoke tears with deep growls and wild grimaces. (SD-Agencies)