Japan’s Baby Crying contest

Naki Sumo, or the Baby Crying Festival is a contest in Japan where sumo wrestlers hold a baby to see whose infant will cry first. The baby to cry loudest and longest wins the contest. A Japanese proverb says that 'crying babies grow fast'. So they believe that the louder an infant wails, the more gods have blessed it. The competition is thus intended to generate good health for the babies.

TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 29: Sumo wrestler students try to make babies cry during the Crying Sumo competition at Sensoji Temple on April 29, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. The first baby that cries wins this competition. The ceremony has been taking place in Japan to wish for the good health of the child as it is said that crying is good for the health of babies. Majority of the children who participate are less than 1 year old. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images) less

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Mon, Apr 23, 2012 12:31 PM AST (Arabian)