Sunday, May 2, 2010

Sumo Baby Crying Contest

Ever heard of the annual Naki *Sumo (crying baby contest) in Japan? Two sumo-wrestlers, holding a baby each, coax the babies into crying.

In the face-off, the baby who cries the loudest and longest wins the contest. Participating Japanese parents believe the Sumo-induced cries are beneficial.

The 400-year old ritual is also believed to ward off evil spirits.

*Sumo - obese giant in diaper

source - http://www.japanprobe.com  
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12 comments:

  1. More Than WordsApril 27, 2010 at 9:46 PM

    Awwwwwwww..poor babies!!

    But they are SO CUTE!!!

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  2. chocolatecovereddaydreams.blogspot.comApril 27, 2010 at 10:10 PM

    How adorable even though they are crying. The one with the rope crown...was that the winner of the cry off?

    Love the new blog template!

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  3. LinApril 28, 2010 at 4:42 AM

    Oh, that's terrible! And I can't believe the sumo wrestlers are willing to hold a screaming baby!

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  4. Queen BugApril 28, 2010 at 6:50 AM

    Wow, when baby comes into the world, we want it to cry. After that we spend the rest of our lives soothing it, yet they turn it into a contest? I could not be there during that contest! I would go nuts!

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  5. Organic Motherhood with Cool WhipApril 28, 2010 at 7:25 AM

    Crying babies always make me sad. I don't think I would enjoy this contest. But they do look really cute in the pictures in their sumo getup.

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  6. UnknownApril 28, 2010 at 7:34 AM

    Not a contest to watch for me!!! How do they make babies cry??? - squeeze a little harder??

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  7. MariaApril 28, 2010 at 8:20 AM

    I am trying to be respectful of a cultural tradition that I clearly do not understand, but wow. My gut reaction is that just looks awful. Poor babies!!!

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  8. PamApril 28, 2010 at 12:19 PM

    Wow! Poor kids. I think my daughter could have won this contest when she was a baby.

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  9. Womandriver2@gmail.comApril 28, 2010 at 3:51 PM

    Visiting you since you visited me... :) Like your template. As for the crying baby contest.... so not a fan of that idea. I had never heard of such a thing. Seems kind of cruel... like what do they do to make them cry... hope they aren't pinching babies.

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  10. StacieApril 28, 2010 at 7:21 PM

    Poor babies.

    I prefer to not see my girl cry. I cannot imagine actually trying to make a baby cry.

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  11. KrisApril 28, 2010 at 8:37 PM

    That's horrible. I have to say though that those Sumo wrestlers look so out of place holding those babies!

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  12. Gina F.April 28, 2010 at 9:07 PM

    Big Daddy holding me would make me cry too. He looks like a giant trying to eat me. HELP! I really wonder what the babies think. I know what I think GIANT!! HELP!! SEE YA SISTA!!!

    Gina
    motherof1princessand2princes.blogspot.com

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