Festival with 1k-year history ends in northeastern Japan
japantimes.co.jp
japantimes.co.jp
It also preserves the bad parts, like xenophobia and racism and work culture. But it what make them unique and fascinating to an outsider.
My quick naive gaigin interpretation is that OP is a Northern festival and the BBC one is a central Japan festival, so maybe both are evolving distinctly due to demographics. Both seem to involve naked chanting men in the cold at Shinto shrines.
Maybe same core Shinto festival concept at different places. Like Carnival/MardiGras happens distinctly at multiple cities.
ETA: Clarifying, the Japan Times reported the Northern shrine is ending the festival due to aging. The BBC reported the Central Japan festival is including women (via their own agency).
Is it inherently so bad for men and women to have their own spaces that we can use phrases like “finally allow women” for a ceremony started 1,000 years ago?
This isn’t a job listing. Or a right like freedom of speech. Those should be available equally to everyone. It’s (cultural) festival. I see nothing wrong with it.
If people want a festival for having brown eyes have at it. People such as myself have no cultural or religious ties to anything. My heritage is “American”. My co-workers are all isolated at home throughout the country.
We’re social creatures. We need /something/ to give bearing. Even if it is silly!
And to be clear. Human rights should apply to anyone and everyone. Regardless of what/who/where you are. Or are not. Our world needs more equality, equity, and solidarity. But made up social events surely don’t belong under “human rights”.