Japan's baby-crying contest: VIDEO

Most of us would do anything to stop our baby crying.

But, at Japan’s 400-year-old Naki Sumo festival, parents are falling over themselves to make their child sob as much as possible – because the child that cries the loudest and longest is the winner.

As you'll see from this video, the babies are placed opposite each other, sumo-style, on special cushions and are each given a little contestant headband to wear.

Then the referee shouts "Nokotta" ("start fighting") at them to make them cry – and the 'bout' begins.

It's not meant to be cruel. The contest, held on Children's Day, is meant to bring baby's good health. In Japan, some believe that a child’s cries can ward off evil spirits. So, the louder the babies cry, the theory goes, the more good health the baby will enjoy.

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