Okinawa, Japan 17: World's Largest Tug-of-War
Written & Directed by James Knott

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The Naha Tsunahiki is the world's largest annual Tug-Of-War. Every October, the residents of Naha pit the eastern half of the city versus the western half. The hatagashira (decorative poles representing areas of Naha) wave high above the parades and crowds. It is quite a spectacle.

OKINAWA, JAPAN

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture. Over 1.25 million people are scattered across nearly 150 islands.

Okinawa has a unique culture that goes back several hundred years to when it was an independent country known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. This kingdom was known to trade frequently with China and as a result adopted much more from the Chinese than the rest of Japan.

The main island, Okinawa-honto, is surrounded by vivid, bright blue ocean and coral reefs. It is densely populated and urbanized in the south, while the the mountainous northern part of the island consists of just a few fishing villages and dense forests.

The beautiful, sub-tropical setting combined with historical roots that are more intertwined with China than Japan, have created a wonderful culture that is distinctly Okinawan.

TRANSCRIPT
Okinawa, Japan 17: World's Largest Tug-of-War

THIS IS JUST ONE HALF OF THE ROPE THAT IS USED EACH YEAR IN THE NAHA TSUNAHIKI – THE WORLD’S LARGEST ANNUAL TUG-OF-WAR.

THE ROPE IS MADE OF TWO SECTIONS THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH A 10-FOOT WOODEN POLE. IT IS MADE OF STRAW, OVER 600 FEET LONG, WEIGHS OVER 40 TONS AND COSTS MORE THAN $170,000 TO MAKE.

THIS MASSIVE TUG-OF-WAR IS THE CLIMAX OF THE NAHA FESTIVAL HELD EVERY OCTOBER.

BEFORE O-TSUNAHIKI THERE IS A PARADE DOWN KOKUSAI-DORI.

THE TALL DECORATIVE POLES – KNOWN AS HATAGASHIRA – FLY HIGH ABOVE THE PARADE PARTICIPANTS. TEAMS OF MEN REPRESENTING DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN NAHA CARRY THE HATAGASHIRA DOWN THE STREET.

THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS WATCH THE PARADE WHICH FEATURES A SOUNDTRACK OF CHILDREN PLAYING INSTRUMENTS – PUNCTUATED BY THE OCCASIONAL CRACKLING OF FIREWORKS.

THE ROPE LIES AT THE END OF THE PARADE ROUTE AND THE CROWD GROWS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE FIERCE BATTLE.

THE TUG OF WAR PITS THE EAST SIDE OF NAHA AGAINST THE WEST SIDE AND THE HATAGASHIRA SWAY OVER THE CROWD REPRESENTING NAHA’S DISTRICTS ON EACH SIDE.

WHILE THE PEOPLE WAIT, THEY ARE ENTERTAINED BY MARTIAL ARTS – SHISA DOGS – AND EISA DANCING.

HALF OF OUR FAMILY WAITS BELOW TO TUG WHILE I RETREAT WITH THE OTHER HALF TO A BALCONY ON A NEARBY BUILDING FOR A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF THE EVENT.

THE CROWD PASSES OUT SMALLER ROPES THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE BIG ROPE WHICH THEY WILL USE FOR TUGGING.

PERFORMER’S REPRESENTING KINGS OF NAHA’S PAST DYNASTIES RIDE ABOVE THE ROPE AND MEET IN THE MIDDLE TO CHALLENGE EACH OTHER AND COMMAND THE TUG OF WAR TO BEGIN.

A HUGE GOLDEN BALL HANGING ABOVE THE CROWD RELEASES CONFETTI AND BALLOONS.

TEAM LEADERS GET IN PLACE AND PREPARE TO LEAD THEIR TEAMS TO VICTORY.

ONCE UNDERWAY – THE TEAM LEADERS TRY TO COORDINATE THE MOVEMENT OF THEIR TEAM AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PULL HARDER.

(NAT SOUND)

THE CROWD ROCKS THE ROPE BACK AND FORTH.

MY FAMILY PULLS WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT.

AFTER A LONG STRUGGLE TO MOVE THE ROPE, LEADERS WAVE A FLAG TO SIGNIFY THE END OF THE TSUNAHIKI.

THE CROWD IMMEDIATELY BEGINS CUTTING OFF PIECES OF THE ROPE BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED GOOD LUCK TO TAKE A SMALL SECTION HOME WITH YOU.