Thousands of men and women made a chaotic dash through the grounds of a shrine in Japan this morning to win the annual "Lucky Man Run."

Nishinomiya Shinto shrine in western Japan's Hyogo Prefecture is dedicated to the god of Ebisu, a patron of businessmen and merchants, and the winner of the race is believed to be bestowed with a year's worth of good luck.

At exactly 6 a.m., the Taiko drum beat the start the famous annual frenzy that drew in nearly 5,000 people, according to the organisers.

A university student from Tokyo area, 21-year-old Takashi Suzuki clinched the first place in the short 230 meter race through the shrine courtyard.

Two Hyogo locals, 24-year-old Ryo Watabe and 16-year-old Haruyuki Ono, followed him to become the top three to be honoured.

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