Japan: Thousands of half-naked men battle over 'lucky sticks' at Okayama festival

Around 10,000 Japanese men dressed in loincloths braved a winter’s night, hoping to become one of Japan's luckiest men.

The tradition is more than 500 years old. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

The near-naked men competed to be the first to find two sacred sticks which are thought to bring good luck. The activity is part of a tradition more than 500 years old.

The sticks, called shingi, are first blessed by the chief priest before being tossed out of a window for the crowd of men to try find.

Foreigners are also welcome to participate. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

The shingi are thought to bring good fortune, happiness, health, and success in business.

The men wear mawashi, the same loinclothes worn by sumo wrestlers.

The shingi are believed to bring happiness, good health, and luck for the year. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

The participants were purified in cold water from the Yoshii River before the hunt in the dark for the two 20 centimetre sticks at the Kinryozan Saidaiji temple in Okayama began.

OKAYAMA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 16: Team of The men wear the same kind of loincloths as sumo wrestlers. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

This year marked the 510^th anniversary of the Saidaiji-eyo festival.