Okinawa is full of history and rich traditions, some of which are a little odd to most Americans stationed there. Without a doubt, one of the strangest events I attended in Okinawa was a bullfight.
Okinawa bullfighting has been around for centuries, and today, there are around 30 major bullfights hosted annually on the main island of Okinawa. Unlike Spanish bullfighting where matadors fight a bull, the goal of Okinawa bullfighting is for two bulls to fight each other. While the bulls fight, each bull has a coach of sorts in the ring standing close by, shouting out commands and stomping their feet to signal different attacks. Also, unlike traditional Spanish bullfighting, the goal is not death. It is more of a wrestling match. The bulls push until one runs away or until blood is drawn.
In central Okinawa, there is a giant bullfighting arena where these events are held. If I had to explain the stadium, the people, and the experience, I would compare it to going to any Midwestern racetrack. The spectators and participants all had a very rural appearance and demeanor; there was lots of beer drinking, and of course, what is a good event without sloppy concession stand food? It seemed like many repeat attendees had their favorite bulls. Some even had signs and t-shirts showing their support.
In terms of the actual bullfights, it seemed very forced. With few exceptions, the bulls did not seem to care about fighting and mostly apathetically pushed around one another. The fights also lasted until a bull pulled away and ran. Some matches were almost 30 minutes long, while others were just a few seconds. If I am being quite honest, it was kind of boring after a few matches.
It didn’t take long to conclude that bullfighting wasn’t my cup of tea, but it was definitely an interesting event and another unexpected Okinawa experience.
AloJapan.com