JAMES May injured himself at Japan’s Penis Festival while carrying an enormous phallus - all in the name of his new Amazon Prime series.

The 56-year-old almost toppled over as he carted a giant willy through the streets of Tokyo for the Kanamara Matsuri, otherwise known as Japan’s Festival of The Steel Penis.

4 James May got injured carrying a giant phallus at Japan’s Penis Festival while filming his new Amazon Prime series Credit: Amazon Prime

The festival takes place at the beginning of spring in Kawasak, with everything revolving around the penis on the grounds of the shrine Wakamiya Hachimangu.

In the series, Our Man in Japan, James goes off on his own without his Grand Tour pals Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, and joins a throng of people celebrating the male genitalia.

At one point he yells at his guide "I’m too tall – I’m dying!" as the heavy pink member weighs down on his shoulders.

His guide laughs and says: "But you’re British samurai."

James explains to prudish viewers that sex is celebrated in Japan as it brings fertility.

4 A giant phallus is carried through the streets at the Phallus Festival Credit: Alamy Live News

4 Thousands gather for the festival every spring Credit: Getty Images - Getty

He says: "A big surprise [from The Penis Festival], if you’re coming from the West, is that sex is not a taboo in Japan.

"There’s a conflict in itself. There’s no taboo about sex or vaginas or having an erection or anything like that."

He adds: "The penis festival is quite a serious fertility festival for people to pray to Shinto for a family.

"But because they can cart a giant penis through the streets, it’s turned into a bit of an Instagram hotspot for travellers.

4 James and his Tokyo guide take a dip in a hot spring Credit: Amazon Prime

Most Read In TV & Showbiz AAARGH-DELE Adele shows off 7st weight loss as singer is terrified by pal Nicole Richie Exclusive WE WOULDN'T! Dec Donnelly's cousin 'heartbroken' after star said the family 'ghosted' him HOLLY'S HOME Holly Willoughby gives fans a first glimpse of her swimming pool at £3m home BABY LOVE Lacey Turner poses with baby Dusty after announcing she's pregnant again MECKS SENSE Lucy Mecklenburgh dares 'mum police' to come for her as baby Roman fed himself NEARLY THERE Rochelle Humes shows growing bump saying she's proud to have 'cooked a baby'

"You could say it’s got out of hang. There’s this serious bit in the temple but the rest of it is this riotous party."

James' temporary departure from The Grand Tour comes as he joked he "didn't want to be with" Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond during the trio's latest adventure.

James May Our Man In Japan will be available on Amazon Prime Video from Friday, 3 January.

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220.

We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.