Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted May 9, 2005 Bull sumo NAGAOKA, Niigata -- About 3,000 people crowded into Nagaoka's Higashiyama Family Land recreational facility on Wednesday as battling bulls locked horns in a traditional bullfighting event. The event, called "Ushi no tsunotsuki," in Japanese, had been traditionally held in the former Niigata Prefecture village of Yamakoshi, which recently merged with Nagaoka. It is thought to have started about 500 years ago as a religious ritual. The fighting consists of sumo-like battles between two opposing bulls that attack each other with their horns. Yamakoshi had held the event about nine times a year. Since the grounds where the event was normally held were unusable following the massive earthquake that struck Niigata Prefecture last year, a temporary fighting arena was set up at Higashiyama Family Land. "I never thought we would be able to do bullfighting again," said former Yamakoshi Mayor Tadayoshi Nagashima. "Next time I want to show everyone around the Yamakoshi area." Spurred on by the calls of "beaters," the 1-ton beasts clash violently, with spectators cheering and shouting encouragement. The lingering aftereffects of the earthquake and a subsequent lack of practice resulted in some bulls running away without fighting -- much to the disappointment of spectators -- but participants said the event went well. "The bulls were more lively than I had expected," said one 68-year-old resident who entered his own bull in the event. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, May 4, 2005) For photo special, go to MDN Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted May 11, 2005 More photos and info at: Yomiuri Lens on Japan SML Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,498 Posted May 11, 2005 I've watched dog sumo in Shikoku. Not as nice as it sounds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted May 11, 2005 Yes, the infamous Tosa-ken sumo dogs. Tosanoumi's home province (called Kouchi-ken now, IIRC). Quite brutal: lotta growling, shaking, tearing, slobbering & blood. But they gotta banzuke and nice kesho-mawashi... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,498 Posted May 11, 2005 (edited) Yes, the infamous Tosa-ken sumo dogs. Edited May 11, 2005 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted May 12, 2005 Yes, the infamous Tosa-ken sumo dogs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
