Pictured: Japan's Crying Baby Sumo Festival returns for the first time since the pandemic

The ritual, performed at shrines and temples across the country, is believed to bring babies good health. Photo: PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images

Dozens of crying Japanese babies met on Saturday at the traditional "crying sumo" the ritual has returned for the first time in four years since the pandemic.

Pairs of babies wearing ceremonial sumo aprons were raised by their parents in the sumo arena at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo.

Staff at "they" Demonic masks tried to make babies cry, and a sumo judge in elaborate traditional uniform declared the winner the first to scream, holding a wooden fan to signal victory.

A total of 64 babies took part in the ritual at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. Photo: PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images

This ritual is believed to bring babies good health.< /p>

“We can tell about the state of health of a child by listening to how he cries. Today she may be nervous and not cry so much, but I want to hear her healthy cry" said Hisae Watanabe, mother of an eight-month-old baby.

The ritual is performed at shrines and temples across the country, to the delight of parents and spectators.

Sigemi Fujii, chairman of the Asakusa Tourism Federation, who organized it event, said some people might think it's terrible when babies cry.

One official said that in In Japan, it is believed that «babies who cry a lot also grow up healthy»; Photo: PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images

"But in Japan, we believe that babies who cry a lot also grow up healthy. Similar events are taking place in many places in Japan" he said.

According to the organizers, 64 babies took part in the ritual.

The rules vary from region to region — in some places, parents want their offspring to be the first to cry, in of others, the first one to cry is the loser.