A tide of locals and Americans struggle to lift the ends of the 8-ton rope used for a giant tug-o-war Sunday in Henoko, Okinawa. It’s the culminating event of Henoko’s Giant Tug-O-War Festival, an event that occurs once every three years. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
A tide of locals and Americans struggle to lift the ends of the 8-ton rope used for a giant tug-o-war Sunday in Henoko, Okinawa. It’s the culminating event of Henoko’s Giant Tug-O-War Festival, an event that occurs once every three years. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Men from a local organization demonstrate bo jitsu for a crowd of Japanese and Americans. Bo jitsu is a ceremonial martial art that uses bo, a weapon often made of Japanese hard woods or teak. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Fireworks lit up the sky Sunday night as the crowd gathered to take in the sights. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Some youngsters at Henoko Athletic Field enjoyed playing in the mud more than other events. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Local performers and audience members circle around two poles during a flag bearer competition and wild procession of torchlight. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
HENOKO, Okinawa — Marines and locals gathered at the Henoko Athletic Field on Sunday for a two-day festival that takes place once every three years and culminates with a super-sized tug-o-war.
Henoko’s Giant Tug-O-War festival began Saturday with music by the Okinawa Prefecture Police Force Band, comedy acts and karaoke.
Sunday's events kicked off at 6 p.m. with a performance by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band.
Part of the festivities included a procession of a portable shrine, helped along by 3- to 5-year-olds from the Kushi Nursery School and 6- to about 13-year-olds from the Henoko area as adults chanted “wasshai” for motivation.
Sam Epperson, a retired Marine who has lived in Henoko for more than 20 years and narrates at many of the village’s events, explained that the shrine was symbolic of “the god of everything” and that the children’s procession was an appeal for a prosperous and healthy year.
Japanese men and women performed an eisa dance, a type of folk dance exclusive to the Ryukyu Islands, and a local men’s organization demonstrated bo jitsu, a local ceremonial martial art, Epperson said.
A flag-bearer competition and procession of torches lit up the field as many locals joined in the swirl around two poles, one topped by an image of a Marine devil dog with knife between his teeth.
The night ended with an ornate display of costumes, then the giant tug-o-war — with the crowd’s participation strongly encouraged. Their help was needed: The rope weighed more than eight tons and was about 100 meters long, according to festival officials.
