The bullfighting arena is a dome-shaped structure with open sides providing air circulation.  A circular area covered with a mixture of sand and clay, about 18 meters in diameter is where the bulls face each other.  It is surrounded by an earthen mound and topped with an iron fence railing.  Completely around and above the bullfighting ring are concrete bleachers with enough seating for a few thousand spectators.  A tunnel, under the bleachers, is the only way for bulls and their handlers to enter and exit the ring.

There may be a team of handlers in the ring for each bull but, only one member at a time is permitted to physically handle their bull.  The rest of the team stays back at a distance, ready to relieve a handler as required.  The less experienced bulls are led on a line tethered through their nose.  Bulls with the most experience are un-tethered, do not need to be led and actually, look forward to the fight.

Judges, seated above the arena, determine the winner and looser of each bout when a decision needs to be made, but usually, the bulls decide for themselves.  Normally whichever bull runs away from the fight is the looser.  However, sometimes a bull will break free and run, only to gain enough momentum to turn around and charge his opponent and win the match.

The normal bout lasts around ten minutes with the bulls locking horns and trying to muscle their opponent into quitting.  They get tired much as a couple of arm-wrestlers would and usually one bull will just give up, turn and run; ending the match.  Sometimes a bull will be intimidated when he first sees his opponent and just run for the exit without ever starting to fight and the hecklers in the crowd go wild!  Then, there are the bouts that last twenty to thirty minutes.  The unpredictability of each match is what the crowds come to see.

With their heads and horns as their only weapons one would think this might be a bloody sport, but it isn’t.  The judges and handlers would quickly end any match where serious injury might occur.  The handlers actually treat their bulls as family pets.  Some of them go through the bout barefooted while standing right next to their bull, patting a shoulder and speaking encouraging words while its locking horns with another ton of snorting, earth-pawing bull!

At the end of each bout the loosing bull is quickly escorted to the exit by its team of handlers.  The winner has a colorful cape placed on its back and bright colored ribbons and towels tied to its horns and tail by celebrating fans and team members.  Then he is paraded around the ring stopping only for children, family members and handlers to jump on his back for a victory photo.  Loud, Okinawan traditional music is played until the victor leaves the ring.  The crowd cheers and applauds until the bull is out of sight.

Then, the music stops, the announcer calls for the next teams and the crowd becomes silent waiting for the next match…

Getting There:

The Ishikawa Dome, where these events take place, sheltered from the weather is about a 45 minute drive from Naha Airport.  The quickest route is north on HWY 58, or north on the Okinawa Expressway, following road signs for Exit #6 of the Expressway. The arena is a large concrete, dome-shaped building visible from the entrance/exit of the Toll Road.

More Info:
Bullfights are events held on Sunday and the tickets are sold at the entrance for 2,500-3,000 Yen.  Most Google searches for Okinawa Bullfight will lead to travel agencies (some in English; most in Japanese).  Japan Update has more information on the All Okinawa Weatherweight Bulls’ Tournament bouts that are scheduled for July 26th, and other upcoming bullfights in Okinawa.

The images in this article are from the bullfight in Uruma Okinawa, Japan that took place as part of the festivities associated with the Lunar, or Chinese New Year on the 1st of February 2009.  According to the Asian calendar it is the Year of the Ox.

This article was written by Michael Lynch.  He is what the Japanese call a Camerman and photographs wildlife, culture, travel destinations and festivals in Okinawa, Japan. See more of Michael’s images on his website mikesryukyugallery.com

Orihime, the daughter of Emperor Tentei, was a skilled weaver and made lovely clothes for her father.  On day as she sat alongside the the river of heaven ( amanogawa – the milky way) she was overcome with sadness as she had been so busy with her weaving that she hadn’t had time to fall in love.   Tentei, believed to be the ruler of the heavens, witness her woeful state and arranged a marriage for her with Hikoboshi who lived across the river.  The couple was very much in love and were very happy but Orihime was neglecting her weaving.  This angered Tentei so much that he decided to separate the couple putting them back on opposite sides of the river.

Tentei decreed that the couple would only be allowed to see each other on one night each year – on the seventh day of the seventh month.  On that evening a boatman (the moon) comes to ferry Orihime over the river to her beloved Hikoboshi.  But if Orihime has not given her best to her weaving Tentei may make it rain causing the river to flood so the boatman cannot make the trip.  In this case the kasasagi (a group of magpies) may still fly to the milky way to make a bridge for Orihime to cross.

The Tanabata festival (also know as the star festival) celebrates the reuniting of these lovers separated by the milky way and the word tanabata can be translated as “weaving with the loom (bata) placed on the shelf (tana)”.

During the Tanabata festival sprigs of bamboo, sometimes small and sometimes the size of a tree, are hung with tanzuku, papers upon people write their wishes.  Traditionally people wish for improved technical skills and abilities in homage to the legend of Hikoboshi and Orihime.

Celebrate Tanabata in Japan

Bright and cheerful Tanabata decorations like those pictured above can be found throughout out Japan during July.  Look for festivals and other events, large and small, celebrating tanabata in the area you are visiting.  Here are just two:

Tokyo Tower

From July 1st-12th if you wear a yukata to Tokyo Tower you will gain free admission to the main observatory where you will see an illumination of the Milky Way along with the great city views.  You may also write attach your own tanzuku to the tanabata bamboo.  If it isn’t raining, free rickshaw rides and a souvenir picture will also be offered on July 4th (2PM – 6PM) and July 5th (11AM – 4PM).  Tokyo Tower itself will be illuminated in five Olympic colors on July 4th.

Tanabata Matsuri

The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival will take place in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture from July 2nd through the 5th.  Over 3,000 bamboo tanabata decorations will line the streets of the city and will be lit each night until 9:30PM.

Events during the festival period include a Kiyari-Matoi (firemen’s chant) parade on July2nd at Noon, a parade of Sennin Odori (a thousand of folk dancers) from 1PM – 3PM on July 3rd and a parade of “”Miss Orihime Tanabata”" (Beauty Queens) with brass bands marching from 10:30 am on July 4th.

Hiratsuka Station is located about 70 minutes outside of Tokyo on the JR Tokaido Line.

Legend Source: Orihime, Kengyuu, and Tanabata
Image Credit:  Flickr, センター街の七夕 by fumi & Wish

But first here are the responses received by The Japan Times:

• Visit the viewing floor of the Bunkyo Ward Office
• Get on the Yamanote Line at Shinjuku at 7:27 AM.
• Visit the Earth Festival on Sado Island and see the taiko troupe.
• A day out at the races with your family.
• Visit Yakushima. It’s a beautiful small island.
• Visit a Don Quijote store on Friday at 10 PM. The ultimate experience, though, would be an outside onsen at sundown in spring, in front of Mount Fuji, with a glass of sake.

Now some suggestions from my very unscientific poll on Twitter asking about:

Things to Do In Japan Before You Die

@reesan says he would indulge in a delicious bowl of Ippudo Ramen.  If you are like Reesan then you might want to check out Cheap Eats in Japan – Ippudo Ramen is on the list!

@misspentlife wants to 1) Make love to a geisha 2) Participate in a Fire-Walking Ceremony 3) Play Pachinko & 4) Carry a Mikoshi (portable shrine) at a Matsuri (festival)

@DaveSachioMori wants to visit Koyasan (Wikipedia), pray with the monks, go hiking and enjoy the beautiful nature.

@simplyjesslee wants to experience immersion in the sumo or geisha community.

@PlanetTokyo wants to buy baseball tickets from a scalper outside the Tokyo Dome. Most polite scalper transaction ever.

@JeromeSadou would like to learn Shamisen!

@chamada wants to stay stay at on onsen at the base of Sakurajima-san in Kagoshima.

@kitkatflavors wants to go to each main island of Japan (and okinawa of course)

@fatblueman is up for a challenge! He wants to Climb Fuji in winter! and says that “Perhaps a person could combine the two!!”

@jasohill suggests making miso from scratch and he’s already done that with @kanmurimori. Read all about their adventures in Miso Making in Iwate.

@dosankodebbie wants to work in a rice paddy, harvest tea leaves and join a squid-fishing expedition and says that the Sapporo Snow Festival (in February) and the Yosakoi Soran Festival (Sapporo in June) are must see events!

@JapanMike suggests seeing a Soran Bushi (traditional Japanese folk dance song and dance) performance live. He says “It’s one of the most awesome spectacles I’ve seen, especially when it’s on stage.”  View Soran Bushi on YouTube

@HaoDesu wants to go to Kaiten zushi (conveyor belt sushi restaurant) and eat $100 worth of sushi =)

@tokyotopia wants to go to the Nagano tree rolling festival – and hopes she won’t die doing it!

@ajep would like to find a quiet suburban temple on New Year’s Eve & listen to the temple bells at midnight before hatsumode.  He also wants to watch sumo basho (tournament) from the front row.

@Nictos wants to take a fall tour of mountain temples & shrines in Tohoku.

@jasoncollin suggests “Stand on the pedestrian bridge in Shinjuku and look at Kabukicho from afar on a Friday around 8pm, but go no further, just look”

@tokyotyler wants to backpack all the way across Honshu.

@mickstout says he would relax in a natural rotenburo with a view of the sea at sunset.

@kurisuteen wants to learn shogi properly, have a garden and play in a womens basketball team in Yokohama to represent the prefecture.

@shibuyarob wants to eat yakitori at fuku in Yoyogi Uehara

@InvisibleGaijin wants to see Japanese political leaders who have vision, the will to effect change, and the character not to accept bribes!

@tamegoeswild suggests to “Arrange your funeral abroad – Japanese funerals are the most expensive in the whole world”

@mitchoyoshitaka says “what to do in Japan before you die… literally? Get a nice gravestone carved with red ink. ”

I’m Shane Sakata on Twitter and I would like to do all of the above and master the art of Ikebana before I die.  Well except plan my funeral…

If you live in Japan or are planning a visit be sure to browse through our Closer Look at Japan series where you can find lots of things to do and see in Japan sorted by region and prefecture.  You might just find that one thing that you want to do in Japan before you die!

Be sure to take a moment to follow some of these great folks on Twitter or you can follow a lot of great Japan Blogs on twitter via the link in the sidebar.

Image Credit: Twitter Profile Images

Kameido Shrine, also know as Tenmangu, was built in 1662 and is home to one of Japan’s few remaining red drum bridges that has been immortalized in on of Hiroshige’s 100 views of Edo. Originally published 1856, Wisteria at Kameido Tenjin Shrine (pictured on the right) is just one of any iconic images of Japan from the series.

During the festival period the wisteria gracefully reflect on the pond as it hangs from overhead trellises and offers a lovely frame for the famous drum bridge.

Fuji Matsuri Schedule:

Dates: April 19 – May 6, 2009

April 19th: Taiko Performance from 1-4PM

April 26th & 29th: Ohayahashi or festival music from 9AM – 4PM

May 2nd: Koto (Japanese Harp) and Shanuhachi (Bamboo Flute) performances from 1PM- 2PM

Kameido Tenjin Access:  Take the JR Sobu Line to Kameido Station (South Exit) or Kinshicho Station (North Exit) and walk for 10 to 15 minutes or make the short trip in a taxi from either station.  Kameido Tenjin Access Map

Those who want to try traditional Japanese cuisine should plan to dine on Edo Kaiseki at Wakafuku within the shrine precincts.  The menu includes Kaiseki-ryori, prepared with carefully selected seasonal ingredients, nabe (Japanese stew), tempura or sushi and is reasonably priced.

Image Credit:  Wikipedia, 100 views edo 057 & Flickr, The annual wisteria festival…

On the schedule are the Shishimai (Lion Dance), performed to bring good fortune and health for the upcoming year, Taiko drumming performances, an Ikebana exhibition and a Clarinet Concert.

Visitors will also be treated to Yugei (traditional Vaudeville performances from the Edo Period) performances. Yugei means an art that is performed for amusement and was first practiced by samurai and merchants before being refined for the enjoyment of the upper classes in the Edo period.

In addition to these great special events the museum will also be open for visitors to view a number of thematic exhibits including The Path of Buddha,  Designs Seen in Treasured Imported Fabrics – Treasure motifs and Celebrating the Year of the Ox: Images of Oxen in Art.

New Year’s Celebration Schedule of Events:

* Ikebana Exhibit runs from January 2 – 12, 2009, Museum Hours 9:30AM – 5PM

The New Year’s Celebration events are free but to view the exhitis you will need to pay an entrance fee.  Learn more about admission fees and access to the Tokyo National Museum by visiting their website and be sure to print out the Tokyo National museum map before you go.

Looking for more great things to do and see in Japan?  Check out the Japan Event Calendar.

Image Credit: Personal Collection

The Japan Event Calendar offers timeless links to great events in Japan that are scheduled throughout the year.  A successful trip involves what we at The Nihon Sun call Cut & Paste Japan Trip Planning which allows you to create an itinerary that is customized based on your likes and dislikes – not those of guidebook authors.  Guidebooks are a great resource but due to publishing constraints they do not cover local events well.  That’s where the Japan Events Calendar comes in – browse through the events to find the ones that interest you and add them your “To-Do in Japan” list.

Since many visitors to Japan spend some time in Tokyo, the Japan Event Calendar also includes listings from Tokyo Art Beat, Tokyo’s art & design events calendar and Metropolis that does a great job covering nightlife in Tokyo and the music scene in the city.  You will also find links to some great antique and flea markets in the Tokyo Area.

The Nihon Sun Japan Event Calendar is your portal to some great events.  The temples, shrines and other tourist destination will always be there but some of these events only happen once a year and some of the exhibitions are one-time only. In fact, many of events and exhibitions are held at venues that may already be on your itinerary so you can really make your itinerary work for you by taking in an event or festival at one of the places on your “Must See in Japan” list.

It would be shame to come home from a trip only to read about an amazing event in the newspaper or online when you could have seen or experienced it in person. Be sure to check out the Japan Event Calendar today to make sure that doesn’t happen to you!