A friend reports a strange sighting in Kyoto when he was travelling their in January – he spotted dozens of youngsters clad only in white pajamas standing in the frigid waters of the city’s lovely Oigawa River.
When he investigated the odd sight, he discovered the pajamas were actually karate uniforms and the kids were being baptized, so to speak, as part of their training regime.
The “baptismal” ceremony is carried out every January and those who can last one hour in the ice-cold river, which is fed by the snowcapped mountains that ring beautiful Kyoto, you get a passing grade.
While standing in the water, the kids, some as young as 5, carry out exercises like kicking and punching and most of them seemed to be having a good time, according to my friend, despite the cold water temperature.
Just another unexpected but awesome sight you can expect to see when you’re travelling through the cities and towns of amazing Japan.
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