Photos: 100 crying babies face off at sumo festival
'Crying Sumo' tradition started in 1991 to encourage the health and wellbeing of children
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2 MIN READ
1/12
Babies and their parents take part in a ring-entering ceremony during 'Nakizumo' or a baby-crying sumo contest.
Reuters
2/12
Two wrestlers hold a baby each and a referee makes faces and loud noises to make them cry and determines the winner based on the loudest baby.
AFP
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The ritual is believed to aid the healthy growth of the children and ward off evil spirits.
AFP
4/12
A parent brings her child to take part in the "crying baby sumo" match at Sensoji temple in Tokyo.
AFP
5/12
Babies with their parents take part in a ring-entering ceremony.
Reuters
6/12
Ring assistants wear masks to scare babies held up by amateur sumo wrestlers.
Reuters
7/12
Sumo wrestlers hold children during their "crying baby sumo" match.
AFP
8/12
A sumo wrestler holds a child during the "crying baby sumo" match.
AFP
9/12
A baby cries while held up by amateur sumo wrestlers.
Reuters
10/12
A baby cries while held up by an amateur sumo wrestler.
Reuters
11/12
Babies cry while held up by amateur sumo wrestlers.
Reuters
12/12
A baby cries while held up by an amateur sumo wrestler.
Reuters
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