Kanamara Matsuri or the 'Festival of the Steel Phallus', is an annual festival held in Kawasaki, Japan.
Also known as the Penis Festival, it is celebrated on the first Sunday of April.
The festival is centered around the Kanayama Shrine, which is dedicated to fertility and childbirth.
The phallus, as the central theme of the event, is reflected in illustrations, candy, carved vegetables and decorations.
The festival also features a large parade with a giant phallus, known as the mikoshi, carried through the streets.
A second more popular mikoshi with a huge pink dildo on the base was donated by the crossdressing club "Elizabeth Kaikan".
The festival is said to have originated from a legend of a demon who hid inside a woman's vagina, biting off her husband's penis.
The demon was defeated by a blacksmith who created a steel phallus for the woman to use as a weapon.
Traditionally, sex workers came to the festival to pray for protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Today, the festival is known as an event that fights against HIV and serves as a fundraiser for awareness and prevention programs.
Some criticise the festival for being too vulgar or disrespectful to women.
Others argue that it is an important cultural tradition and a celebration of sexuality, fertility and sexual health.
The Kanamara Matsuri is a unique and controversial festival that has gained international attention, attracting visitors from all over the world.