Japanese festival celebrates mud

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki in Himeji, Japan, Aug. 18, 2013.

The festival has been held annually to encourage youths of the village to participate in the community.

All photos taken in Himeji, Japan, Aug. 18, 2013

A Japanese festival-goer runs to catch a flag during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play tug-of-war in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

A Japanese festival-goer wears exaggerated make-up during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

A mother washes her children during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki, Aug. 18, 2013.

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers wait to play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

A Japanese festival-goer smiles after diving in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese children play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers walk through the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers dive in the mud to catch the winning flag during a game at the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play a game of tug-of-war in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers run in the mud catch to the winning flag during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers play in the mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

Japanese festival-goers dive in the mud catch to a flag during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.

A Japanese festival-goer washes off after being covered in mud during the village mud festival at Yumesaki.