Japanese disrobe for luck

More than 9,000 Japanese men took part in a festival last Saturday wearing only loincloths.

They gathered at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests from a four-meter window.

Those who catch the sticks and put them in a wooden box called a masu are said to be blessed with one-year’s luck and happiness.

The annual event dates back 500 years.

The men also jump into fountains of cold water to purify their bodies.