First Bullfighting Event Of The Year Held In Northeastern Japan
A total of 16 young bulls have participated in a bullfighting event in the northeastern Japanese city of Kuji, Iwate Prefecture. Yamagata Town, which is located in the city, is the only place in the Tohoku region that hosts bullfights.
The traditional event on the Hiraniwa Highland is held four times a year between May and October. The first bullfight of 2022 took place on Sunday.
The bulls are two or three years old. They butted heads and locked horns with each other, as their handlers shouted words of encouragement. Some of the bulls were novices, and they were unable to get their timing right.
The event dates back to the Edo period, between the 17th and 19th centuries. Fights between cows that carried salt were held during the period.
A teenage boy who attended the event for the first time said he was thrilled to see the different tactics used by each bull.
A bull owner in his 60s said he was glad to see how his young bulls had grown during the past year.
Yaezakura Tomoo is the head of the local group that organizes the bullfights. He said this is the event's 40th anniversary. Yaezakura added that he hopes people will continue to support the event.