Naha Ōtsunahiki - A Powerful Festival That Shakes Naha City

The Naha Great Tug-of-War, boasting a history of approximately 600 years, is one of Okinawa's largest tug-of-war festivals, continuing since the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Its origins date back to around 1450, when the four towns of Naha—Nishimura, Higashimura, Wakasa-mura, and Izumizaki-mura—began this traditional event to pray for the prosperity of the city and safety at sea.

The most distinctive feature of this festival is its recognition by Guinness World Records as the "World's Largest Rice Straw Rope." The sight of thousands of participants divided into east and west teams simultaneously pulling a giant rope measuring approximately 200 meters in length and weighing about 40 tons (varies by year) is truly spectacular.

The day begins with the "Hatagashira Parade (Ufunnasunēi)," where banner bearers dressed in traditional black attire powerfully hoist colorful flag banners. The sight of flag banners depicting the guardian deities and symbols of each district swaying in the wind is a magnificent spectacle unique to Naha. In the following main tug-of-war, teams compete for victory within a 30-minute time limit, accompanied by the "Hāiya" battle cry. Whether participating directly in the rope pulling or experiencing the excitement and unity from the viewing stands, both are highly recommended.

After the festival, there is also a custom of taking home pieces of the rope as charms for warding off evil and bringing business prosperity, providing a valuable opportunity to touch Okinawan spiritual culture.