This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

It’s autumn in Japan and in autumn men’s fancies turn to...bashing each other with large portable shrines. At least here in Himeji they do. Really. I’m not kidding. From October 14th through the 15th , the people here celebrate Nada no Kenka Matsuri or the Fighting Shrines Festival. Groups of men wearing different colored head bands (to denote their ages) hoist portable shrines that can weigh up to 4 tons onto their shoulders and attack other groups of shrine-toting men. As you can imagine, this creates a lot of noise which, it is said, pleases Hachiman who is known as the god of war. This festival often gets so rough, people die. The winners are, presumably, those supporting the last shrine standing. Here’s my question: When, oh when, will this be an Olympic event?

From the KU Center for East Asian Studies, I’m Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.