On the morning of April 2, 2021, the officials behind the Aichi Olympic Committee announced that the “Men-only” festival boat ride — part of the Olympic Torch relay’s route — would be changed to allow both men and women.
This change came a day after the committee came under intense fire for its decision to include the “Chintoro Festival” (ちんとろ祭り) boat ride, a traditionally male-only festival, in the torch relay runner’s course. And only a few weeks after the creative director for the Tokyo Olympics resigned for his body-shaming proposals.
In direct contradiction to the Olympic games’ commitment to gender equality, the boat ride would have only allowed men aboard to accompany the torch runner, from police guards to press. The festival was instead changed to an “event”, in which the organizers would no longer have to worry about “religious restrictions” as the above.
However, one can only wonder how the festival was even included in the relay course to begin with and what role should cultural restrictions play in global events.
What is the Chintoro Festival?
The Chintoro festival is said to derive from the “Tenno Festival,” (天王祭り) which started back in the Muromachi Period (1336~1573). The Chintoro festival itself, however, only started in the Edo Period (1603~1867), making it relatively new.
The Tenno Festival of Aichi prefecture is well known for its boat processions, even considered one of the “Big Three River Festivals” in Japan alongside Osaka’s Tenjin festival (天神祭) and Hiroshima’s Kangen festival (管絃祭). While the Chintoro festival comparatively does not hold the same importance, it nonetheless imported a lot of the traditions associated with them. It also means that, due to restrictions related to religion and tradition, the boat has always featured only men.
This is due to the fact that in some aspects of Shinto tradition, women — particularly those who have gone through childbirth — are seen as “impure” or “defiled.” The origins of the tradition are still debated; some say its due to Buddhist influence, others say its because women were not allowed to holy sites where monks commonly resided.
In either case, its clear that the tradition is one that is inextricably intertwined with Japan’s long history of patriarchy. While the practice was technically banned back in the Meiji Era, it seems many Shinto festivals and sites continue the banning of women to this day. This leads us to the current controversy.
Criticizing the Inclusion of Festivals
After Mainichi broke the news, people went online to voice their opinions. The supporting side cited that, as part of Japanese tradition, the boats should be allowed to be men-only. Many others rejected the notion, stating that it was pointless to use “tradition” as a shield without first acknowledging that sexism in tradition was, in fact, part of the very problem.
Even in the Olympic torch relay they’re pulling the “women are polluted” mess, it’s revolting. Right now, we’re in the phase of acknowledging that there is misogyny in culture and religion. (This also obviously includes Christianity.) Stop trying to end things with “it’s just tradition!”
Tweet from Twitter user @3l0WN9V64tQoMMh
Another user pointed out that the use of religious events such as the Chintoro festival itself was problematic, regardless of the traditions it espoused. The Olympics, and the mission of gender equality that it stood for, should have been the number one priority; not the traditions of a local festival.
Putting aside the debate on whether women should be allowed in the festival, the decision to include this in the course itself is an issue. The lead organizer said “There are some parts of it that go against the Olympic creed, but festivals are like that. It’s a matter between history and traditional culture, or modern common sense,” but it entirely misses the point. This is the Olympic torch relay, not a festival.
Tweet from Twitter user @kemuchiman
“Women-Only Greek Ceremony” Fake News Circulates
One of the more popular “gotchas” flaunted by the pro-tradition crowd during the debacle was a reference to the torch lighting ceremony held at the beginning of the relay, in Greece.
There were numerous instances of users replying with whataboutisms about the lighting ceremony, citing that it too was a “women-only” religious ceremony. Therefore, they would say, criticisms of the Japanese Chintoro festival being “male-only” were hypocritical and baseless. The problem, however, is that it was simply not true.
This report came from an article published by Toyo Keizai Online, which explained some lesser-known traditions associated with the Olympic torch relay. One of the “facts” was that the official torch lighting ceremony was an event “exclusive to women,” with no official sources to back up the claim.
The “lighting ceremony in Greece forbids men” talking point apparently it comes from the Toyo Keizai article linked below. It is fake news, cited from a Wikipedia article with false information, which the writer took and ran with. I want all parties involved to fact check, and for Toyo Keizai to withdraw the article.
Tweet from Twitter user @aibery
The Japanese Wikipedia article referenced above stated that the ceremony was limited to women only; however, the article revision included no citation. Additionally, the English version of the same page had no reference to any gender limitations in the ceremony.
Further research found that yes, in fact, men are allowed to participate in and view the ceremony, including the President of the IOC Thomas Bach. It even says on the official website that “12 young men known as ‘Kouri’ – those who announced the Olympic Games of Antiquity in the city states of Greece” traditionally take part in the ceremony.
Another user pointed out that the use of religious events such as the Chintoro festival itself was problematic, regardless of the traditions it espoused. The Olympics, and the mission of gender equality that it stood for, should… Click To TweetWhile its good to see the local organizational committee take swift action after public outcry, its exhausting to see yet another entirely avoidable mishandling.
From sexist comments, fumbling through a pandemic, the resignation of volunteers and refusing foreign visitors, it seems like every other week that someone somewhere has screwed up, so much so that there is an entire movement to cancel the games entirely. And with a fourth COVID-19 wave on the way, its still very much a possibility — if the organizers will allow it.
