GIANT todgers were paraded through the streets of Japan yesterday for its annual Kanamara ‘Penis’ Festival - celebrating fertility and paying tribute to all things phallic.

The festival, held every spring for the last five years is inspired by several Japanese legends, including the story of a poor newlywed couple who struggled to consummate their marriage after a demon hiding in the bride’s vagina bit off her husband’s penis – twice.

Legend has it that the frustrated couple payed a blacksmith to create a ‘steel phallus’ which the jealous demon mistook for the poor husband’s re-attached member – biting down on the metal penis, breaking his teeth and banishing him from the maiden’s nether regions.

Kanayama Shrine, home of the penis festival, is thought to house the god of blacksmiths – befitting the giant steel phallus replica and spirit of its creator which are paraded around the local neighbourhood.

PRAY FOR PROTECTION
Festival-goers were also treated to penis-themed snacks, decorations and several giant penises including the bright pink ‘Elizabeth Mikoshi’ donated by local drag queen club, ‘Elizabeth’.

Profits raised for the event go to HIV research, a fitting tribute to the shrine’s previous function as a kind of ancient sexual health clinic.

In the 1600s, ex workers from the local tea houses would pray at the penis shrine for protection from STDs.

Another legend, detailing how Japanese Shinto goddess, Izanami was healed by the spirits in the shrine after giving birth to a fire god prompted locals to pray at the shrine for help with conceiving and childbirth.

The frisky festival now pays tribute to the legends through a series of events including a fire-lighting ceremony, several drag queen performances and the opportunity to carve penises out of Japanese daikon radishes, not to mention the procession of giant colourful penises.