For 20 minutes, participants laughed continuously in a disciplined act believed to bring hope and renewal. The winter ceremony draws on Japanese mythology, where laughter once enticed the sun goddess Amaterasu from hiding, restoring light to the world.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: @victoriano;

Owarai Shinji is held every winter in Osaka and is rooted in centuries-old ritual practice. Organisers describe the laughter as a disciplined communal act, not entertainment, and participants see the ceremony as a symbol of unity, resilience and renewal during the winter season.