Global Ilk Magazine Issue #3 || Kanamara Matsuri | Page 22

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What's your initial reaction to this?
"Well, it was like ‘OMG’ like most of the other people.
I have heard about it and saw some photos online
beforehand, but it was still shocking to see the three
phalli sitting in an otherwise peaceful Japanese shrine.
I was also astonished to notice that around 50,000
people were there, and nearly half of them were foreign
nationals. As you were struggling to find a good spot to
shoot the festival, the shrine was packed, right?"

KOHEI

INTERVIEW

KOHEI RESPECTFULLY
ASKED ME TO NOT USE
HIS PHOTO

Note: I met Kohei while I was filming, and we started
speaking about the festival. He is a native of Japan and
recently finished his master’s degree in London. This
was his first time at Kanamara matsuri.

Was the festival fun?
"I think it was fun overall but felt a bit boring as it
was not spectacular after a while, and definitely not
participatory. It’s fun to take a selfie with a big pink
penis, but afterwards there is not much to do. There
were enormous queues to purchase those overpriced
penis lollipops. Although it was interesting how this
festival was created and how it attracts this large
international crowd."
Did you expect this many foreigners?
"The fact that this festival has been rather famous
among non-Japanese people is interesting. It seems
that the audience mostly foreigners, and the festival is
unknown for Japanese people. Most of the festivals in
Japan are usually much more popular among Japanese
people rather than foreigners. To me, it's rather ironic
for westerners to come to see this festival, which was
forced to stop by Christianity."
How do you think Japanese people feel about it?
"I think for Japanese people, the idea of penis festival
itself may not be as astonishing as for foreigners.
If you look at our history,this country has been very
open about sexual expression. Even, modern Japan
has been fairly open about sexual contents,there is a
thriving porn industry and large sexual goods market.
Also, they are good at transforming things into pop and
animated figures. If you look at phallus, it is does not
look as exactly as someone’s (well not to mention to its
size)… It’s rather simplified and colorful, which reduces
the sexual and obscene element significantly. And all
the penis goods help it look more fun. You know, if you
live in Japan for long and are constantly stimulated by
all the craziness, the penis festival is just another day."

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