Held by an amateur sumo wrestler, a baby cries during <em>naki-zumo</em> (crying baby contest) at Sensoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Saturday, April 26. The contest celebrates a traditional belief that a baby who cries grows more quickly.
The old bawl game —
Held by an amateur sumo wrestler, a baby cries during naki-zumo (crying baby contest) at Sensoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Saturday, April 26. The contest celebrates a traditional belief that a baby who cries grows more quickly.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
An inspector uses a mask of an <em>oni</em>, or demon, to try to make a baby cry.
The old bawl game —
An inspector uses a mask of an oni, or demon, to try to make a baby cry.
KIYOSHI OTA/EPA/Landov
Parents and babies wait their turn at the contest.
The old bawl game —
Parents and babies wait their turn at the contest.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
The babies "compete" against each other. The winner is the baby that cries louder and longer.
The old bawl game —
The babies "compete" against each other. The winner is the baby that cries louder and longer.
KIYOSHI OTAEPA/LANDOV
Two babies held by amateur sumo wrestlers go face to face in the crying contest.
The old bawl game —
Two babies held by amateur sumo wrestlers go face to face in the crying contest.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
A sumo wrestler holds a colorful contestant. <em>Naki-zumo</em> is a tradition that goes back more than 400 years, according to <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fculture%2F2012%2F05%2F04%2Fevents%2Fbabies-set-to-tear-up-the-ring%2F%23.U1wjc8_D-Um" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Japan Times</a>.
The old bawl game —
A sumo wrestler holds a colorful contestant. Naki-zumo is a tradition that goes back more than 400 years, according to The Japan Times.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
Not all the babies give in to the wishes of the crowd.
The old bawl game —
Not all the babies give in to the wishes of the crowd.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
The babies are often decked out in colorful costumes. Besides the belief in crying's health benefits, tradition also holds that the contest scares away evil spirits.
The old bawl game —
The babies are often decked out in colorful costumes. Besides the belief in crying's health benefits, tradition also holds that the contest scares away evil spirits.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
The sumo wrestlers assisting in this competition are college students.
The old bawl game —
The sumo wrestlers assisting in this competition are college students.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
The babies are often taunted by cheers of "nake, nake, nake" (cry, cry, cry) to bring out the tears.
The old bawl game —
The babies are often taunted by cheers of "nake, nake, nake" (cry, cry, cry) to bring out the tears.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP