Japan's traditional Nakizumo, or crying sumo, festival took place Sunday as babies competed to bawl¹ the loudest in the arms of sumo wrestlers as a prayer to the gods for good health.
 
Japan's traditional Nakizumo, or crying sumo, festival took place Sunday as babies competed to bawl the loudest in the arms of sumo wrestlers as a prayer to the gods for good health.

Parents pray at the annual event at the Sensoji temple in the Tokyo district of Asakusa for their children to grow up in good health as young sumo wrestlers hold their babies high in pairs so that their cries are closer to heaven.

The baby with the loudest howls is declared the winner by the sumo judge.

The babies' cries during the 400-year-old festival, which is celebrated² across Japan, are supposed to drive away evil spirits.

The festival does not always pass off as the parents and adults expect, with some babies refusing to cry on the open-air stage at the Asakusa temple.

The judge repeats "nake, nake (cry, cry)" into the microphone, while the sturdy sumo wrestlers attempt to evoke³ tears with deep growls⁴ and wild grimaces⁵.

To the amusement of the crowds, some of the babies start to laugh, while others remain completely silent.

 
日本传统的“婴儿啼哭大赛”于上周日举行，参赛婴儿在相扑手的怀中比赛啼哭，以向神灵祈求健康。

这项一年一度的比赛在日本东京浅草区的浅草寺外举行，家长们带孩子前来参赛的目的就是为了祈求孩子能够健康成长。参赛的婴儿们两个一组进行“PK”，年轻的相扑手把他们高高地举起来，这样他们的哭声离天上的神灵能更近些。

哭声最响亮的婴儿被评委宣布为比赛冠军。

日本的“婴儿啼哭大赛”已有四百年历史，每年在全国各地都会举行。人们认为，孩子的啼哭声能够驱走妖魔鬼怪。

当天的比赛在浅草寺外的露天舞台举行，但比赛过程总是不能如家长和大人们所期待的那么顺利，这主要是因为有些宝宝“拒绝”哭泣。

评委对着话筒不停地说“哭一个，哭一个” ，与此同时，强壮的相扑手也试图通过大声吼叫和扮恐怖的鬼脸把孩子吓哭。

可是有些孩子见状竟然笑了起来，而有些孩子则仍然没有任何动静，这可把观赛的人们给乐坏了。

Vocabulary: 

Nakizumo: 日本“婴儿啼哭大赛”；生子神社所供奉的是安产和育子的神灵，每年的这个时候，在神社内设置相扑比赛场，由神社的负责人，打扮成相扑的模样，从东西两侧各抱上一个婴儿，在负责人的指挥下进入比赛。原则上是先哭的小孩获胜，如今定为双方都胜。这个祭祀活动来源于地方风俗，认为爱哭的孩子好养活，人们以这个祭祀活动，祈盼孩子可以健康成长。