Japan's Gifu Prefecture recently hosted the "Nohime Audition," and it's absolutely blown up on social media! Why? Because its entry requirements are "open to all living beings," turning a traditional beauty contest into a viral sensation. Who knew a "beauty pageant" could go beyond just men and women, welcoming any living creature – yes, even cats, dogs, and birds!
The event's official guidelines clearly state: contestants can be of any age, gender, nationality, or even species. As long as you're passionate about promoting Gifu Prefecture's local culture and history, and can participate in the final selection and subsequent activities, you're in!
Thanks to these incredibly open criteria, past winners have included men, and even dogs have competed! This year's three winners happen to be a woman, a man, and a pair of dogs. Netizens are hilariously calling the contest "the ultimate frontier of political correctness" and "true diversity in action."
Turns out, this event is part of the local "Nohime Festival." Historically, Gifu Prefecture had two major traditional festivals, the "Gifu Nobunaga Festival" and the "Dosan Festival," but they always featured male protagonists. To create a festival where women could take center stage and shine, the "Nohime Festival" officially kicked off in November 2019.
As times changed, the Nohime Festival evolved, embracing gender-friendly concepts to become a truly diverse event with no limits on gender, age, or even species. It's not just for people; animals can join in too, making it a celebration that highlights the unique charm of every single participant.
Meanwhile, the seventh-generation Nohime champion, Shion Sakuragi, posted on social media, expressing his surprise at the attention the event has received. As the first male winner, he hopes this exposure will introduce more people to the Nohime Festival and the charms of Gifu.
The phrase "open to all living beings" truly ignited the conversation around this event, with Japanese netizens flooding the comments: "I've witnessed true diversity!" "If diversity can be this wild, it's actually pretty hilarious!" "Japan isn't slow on diversity; it's moving so fast people can't even react!" and "This is the absolute peak of riding the political correctness wave!"
Many netizens found the name for the dog winners, "Grand 'Woof' Prix" (a pun on "Grand Prix" and the Japanese onomatopoeia for a dog's bark, "wan"), absolutely brilliant! Some were even more amused that two dogs competed as a team – "So you can enter as a duo?!" they joked. And the fact that the dogs are addressed with the respectful honorific "san" (like Mr./Ms.)? That thoughtful touch is just adorable.
The executive committee chairman of the event also posted, expressing his delight at the enthusiastic online discussion surrounding this year's contest. He announced that the audition will be held annually until 2035, marking 500 years since Nohime's birth, and encouraged everyone to participate.
In an era where traditional beauty pageants are slowly fading, events like this, which emphasize openness and entertainment, might just be the perfect pivot. They not only spark conversation but also allow traditional cultural activities to step into the public eye with a fresh, new look.
via： togetter