A traditional mud-smearing festival to chase out evil has been held on Miyakojima, in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.
The Paantou festival is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
“Paantou” refers to “demon” or “monster” in the Miyakojima dialect. But in the island’s Shimajiri district and elsewhere, it is seen as a deity of good harvests and health.
On Tuesday, three people wearing masks and covered in vines caked with mud appeared before a crowd of local residents and tourists.
Some of the onlookers got close to be smeared with mud for good luck. But some children began to cry.
Police officers directing traffic were smeared too, along with their patrol car.
People who got covered in mud said they are happy that their evil has been chased away.
AloJapan.com