
For over 400 years the sound of a baby's cry has been the unlikely sound of victory at this unusual festival in Japan.

The Japanese tradition at the Nakizumo festival is believed to bring good health to the infants, and the one who bawls first is the winner.

More than 100 babies squared off in a ring today in an annual competition where hulking sumo wrestlers hold them and do their best to try to make them burst into tears.

The referee has to attempt to scare the young baby by wearing traditional masks or making faces and loud noises to get it to cry

The louder the baby's cry, the more the ritual helps to protect the young child and help them in the future with their good fortune

The Japanese tradition at the Nakizumo festival is believed to bring good health to the infants, and the one who bawls first is the winner

The bizarre competition is meant to be cathartic for the babies, with the upsetting act supposed to help bring good health to those who take part as well as ward off evil spirits.

The louder the baby's cry, the more the ritual helps to protect the young child and help them in the future with their good fortune.

However if the youngsters fail to cry within a few seconds, the referee, dressed in a handsome robe, intervenes.

The referee has to attempt to scare the young baby by wearing traditional scary masks or making faces and loud noises to get it to cry.

Dozens of babies ‘competed’ at Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple in the historic Asakusa district, which is one of the most popular historic tourist spot in Tokyo.

Parents and spectators looked on with delight as the wrestlers tried to make the babies bawl on command.

However if the youngsters fail to cry within a few seconds, the referee, dressed in a handsome gold and deep purple robe intervenes

The festival is held across Japan, with the rules varying from region to region as in some places, the baby who cries first is considered the loser

Dozens of babies ‘competed’ at Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple in the historic Asakusa district, which is one of the most popular historic tourist spot in Tokyo

The delightful sumo wrestlers relish the surreal festival as the two unhappy babies begin to shed a few tears in the arena

In an attempt to get their babies to cry, the lovable sumo wrestlers gently attempted to get a reaction from the babies, using a range of amusing techniques including growling.

The referee also tries to encourage the sumo wrestler by repeatedly shouted, ‘Cry! Cry!’

The festival is held across Japan, with the rules varying from region to region as in some regions, the baby who cries first is considered the loser.

The less-than impressed babies prepare to show their emotions during the bizarre baby crying contest in Japan