The ritual is believed to aid the healthy growth of the children and ward off evil spirits.
Babies cry as they are held up by amateur sumo wrestlers during a baby crying contest at Sensoji temple in Tokyo.
In the contest two wrestlers each hold a baby while a referee makes faces and loud noises to make them cry.
The baby who cries the loudest wins. This ritual is based on the Japanese saying ‘Naku ko wa sodatsu,’ which means ‘crying babies grow fast.’
160 children took part in the event in this year, the organiser said.
Babies, 9-month-old Kizuki (left) and 10-month-old Sarah, cry as they are held up by amateur sumo wrestlers during a baby crying contest at Sensoji temple.
While this is event, called ‘naki zumo,’ — which translates to ‘crying baby sumo’ — held in all Japanese temples, the one at Sensoji Temple has been held since 1991.