Naha Tug-of-war
naha tug war 那覇大綱挽 event annual festival held naha okinawa japan root may traced back th century held route battle east west team event draw attendee annually preceded prior day parade celebration kokusai street also naha event first logged guinness book world record largest tugofwar event world rope weighs metric ton event discontinued disrupted battle okinawa revived traditional form celebrate recovery war commemorate th anniversary organization naha festival begin men dressed traditional okinawan dress standing rope facing opposite direction symbolize battle east west myriad performance take place along rope length martial artist varying age older woman performing sort fandance international event japanese national american military tourist attendance start match man dressed dress ryūkyūan king stand wooden platform hoisted air shoulder men standing opposite side rope king carried platform length rope festival start two king perform ritual sword contest main rope metre ft diameter many smaller diameter long rope extending participant pull contest contest last minute challenge pull team total meter neither side pull meter whichever side pulled furthest win minute time limit expires one side declared victor allowed climb top rope celebrate customary participant cut apart rope take length token throng people using tool ranging pocket knife scissors hacksaw set rope cutting length commemorate festival article 那覇まつり naha matsuri japanese wikipedia section tug war japan update article fabricating rope httpwwwjapanupdatecomid naha’s biggest festival extending three full day naha otsunahiki giant tugofwar naha giant tugofwar display history picture english