Enjoy yourself in the Itoman Tug-of-War.
Itoman is a fishing town popular amongst travelers.
This fishing town faces the beautiful and mighty ocean; the sea has massive power that humans can only imagine. The locals built many small shrines for the Dragon God and still hold annual events around Hakugindo for the Land God, in Itoman, Itoman City, to pray for good fishing and safe voyages.
Most first-time visitors to Okinawa focus on the Naha Haarii and the Naha Tug-of-War, but the Itoman Haaree and the Itoman Tug-of-War have their own value.
This article features on the Itoman Tug-of-War, which some travelers look forward to and visit every year.
Travel to Okinawa to enjoy the Itoman Tug-of-War
How Itoman locals enjoy the event
The Itoman Tug-of-War is held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
Itoman, a fishing town, attracts long-term visitors who want to immerse themselves in traditional Okinawan culture and Gogan events (Okinawan annual events), master Ryukyu karate, and more.
[Unique Experiences in Okinawa | The Itoman Tug-of-War 2021]The event is held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which this year is Tuesday, September 21, 2021.
(1) Juguya Ugami
This is a family event of the moon festival to give thanks and pray for the health of the family, and is also known as “Chi-chi Ugami”.
(2) Harvest Festival
The Itoman Tug-of-War is held as a dedication to pray for good fishing and harvest. The area is divided into north and south, all of the males on one side and all of the females on the other, and the two ropes are tied together to represent a good harvest.
Every one of Itoman locals joins the Sunin-jina.
The reason for the popularity of the festival is that the Itoman Tug-of-War has always been a tug-of-war performed by many local people, called as “Sunin-jina” (meaning the populace) or “Manninjina” (meaning the many).
[Unique Experiences in Okinawa | Preparing for the Itoman Tug-of-War]The rope used in the Itoman Tug-of-War is made by local residents from about ten communities in Itoman City.
(1) Starting around a month in advance, the locals meet once a week at the community hall to make the ropes:
– 27 ufuguchi (large) ropes: thick ropes made in lengths of about 110 meters.
– 13 hakugaki ropes: thin ropes.
(2) On the day of Tug-of-War, each community brings the ropes they have made and ties them together.
The michi-zune (parade) starts at Itoman Elementary School.
There are many stalls, and it gets quite lively.
The last stop of the Tug-of-War is Hakugindo, which is close to the Itoman Public Market, and you can have lunch at one of the cafes or steakhouses in the market.
The michi-zune, which is also popular among Okinawan travelers, starts in the afternoon.
[Unique Experiences in Okinawa | Michi-zune of the Itoman Tug-of-War]The parade sets off at Itoman Elementary School and goes towards Hakugindo, led by big flags held high: (1) Yugafuu and (2) Kariyushi.
You can see a variety of Okinawan folk dance groups, such as eisa, dance and lion-dance, performed by local dance students or dance circles.
Michi-zune can sometime take nearly four hours, and when that happens, the Tug-of-War is delayed until the evening.
Finally, the contest begins.
When the last michi-zune group reaches Hakugindo, the Itoman Tug-of-War finally breaks out. After the previous year’s winner returns the cup, the “Yugafuu” team and the Kariyushi” team glare at each other, which is called “Gaaee”. (Gaaee = our prosperity)
“Yugafuu” is from Hueekata (the south) camp while “Kariyushi” is from the Nishikata (the north) camp. Figures appear in the traditional costume of “shitaku”, who are legendary men in Itoman. (“Yugafuu” means a good omen or year, so whichever team wins it is called “Yugafuu”.)
Hueekata and Nishikata take turns pulling the big rope together, and it is very fun to watch.
[Unique Experiences in Okinawa | The Itoman Tug-of-War]This standoff between the two sides is also scored as a victory or defeat.
The first team to pull back more than ten meters wins, but in years when the teams were very close, the winner was decided on the basis of just two meters (some years ended in a draw).
What do you think? Would you like to try out the Itoman Tug-of-War discussed in this article?
The Itoman Tug-of-War is a local lunar calendar event that is relatively well-known to tourists in Okinawa. However, tug-of-war events are held all over the prefecture, not just in Itoman and Naha.
They have also the Teruya Tug-of-War and the Taketomi Tug-of-War as part of the harvest festivals, and each community has its own schedule.
There are also many events that are held only in the Munchu (paternal blood relatives), which are not open to travelers. So, please research those events before visiting.
Summary
Itoman’s grand Tug-of-War to pray for great fishing:
– The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which this year is September 21, 2021.
– Families worship the moon in the lunar calendar event of chi-chi ugami .
– The Itoman Tug-of-War is dedication event for praying for good fishing and safe voyages.
– Everyone can join the suninnji-na.
– The locals make ropes and tie them together on the day of the tug-of-war.
– In the afternoon, there is a michi-zune parade performing dances such as eisa.
– The contestants are divided into the south and the north teams, and then the legendary “shitaku” appear for each teams and glare at each other.
– They take turns in pulling for 30 minutes, the winner is the team that pulls the rope back more than ten meters.
