One of the oldest – and oddest – festivals in Japan has fallen victim to the coronavirus. Elders at the Saidaiji Kannonin Temple, in Okayama prefecture in central Japan, have opted to curtail an event that can trace its history back nearly 1,000 years and typically attracts upwards of 10,000 jostling men clad only in the “fundoshi” loincloths more commonly worn by sumo wrestlers. The Saidaiji Eyo festival – also known as the Naked Man Festival – will be held on February 20, the temple has…

This post was originally published on South China Morning Post.