Naki Sumo: Japan's Crying Baby Contest (PHOTOS)

This may not seem out of place in a country in which you can play video games on a toilet and the national tourism ambassador is... Hello Kitty , but Japan has a crying baby competition, and it's a little weird.

The "Naki Sumo," contest consists of two sumo wrestlers holding up children who were born in the previous year, standing across a sumo wrestling ring from each other and trying to make their opponent's baby cry.

The event, which has been held annually for over 400 years, is meant as a prayer for the children's healthy growth.

And if the babies don't cry? The referee puts on a mask to scare them .

Check out photos of the event below.