Day Trip: Grab a Rope in the Guinness Record Tug of War Okinawa

Naha Okinawa Tsunahiki

 

 

This article originally appeared at (now extinct) Yahoo Voices.

The assignment, was to write a one day trip, for someone flying, to visit Okinawa from Japan.

With the Guinness World Record Tug, just a few weeks away, you may want to read this.

If you dislike large crowds, just look at the photos and, avoid the event !

A Centuries Old Tradition

Hop on a plane for an early morning flight out of Tokyo in early October and you can witness the excitement surrounding the World Guinness Record Naha Tug of War. It’s a once a year event where you can participate, or just watch, a crowd of over 15,000 people pull a tug of war rope weighing over 40 tons. The scene in the street, numbering well over a quarter million people, is a sight in itself.

Tug of wars have been held on the islands of Okinawa since the 1600’s in the belief they would insure good harvests of rice in the fields, as well as, a bountiful catch and safe journey for fishermen at sea.
The Naha tug of war has evolved to become a cultural event believed to bring prosperity, good health and fortune to the residents of all the Okinawa islands. The rope was first recognized as the world’s largest, consisting of natural fibers, by Guinness World Records in 1995.

  

There’s More to See than Just a Tug of War

The event takes place on HWY 58 just a few minutes drive north of Naha International Airport and that is a great place to view, or photograph the massive rope. The monster is placed in the center of the highway, the night before, and crowds of observers won’t start swarming the place until mid afternoon.

A few minutes walk from the highway, on Kokusai Street (International Avenue) is where the festivities begin, at noon.  There are sights and sounds you won’t want to miss.  A parade is held which will give you a taste of Ryukyu (Okinawa) history and culture, in three hours that would take ages to absorb by reading books watching videos, or traveling throughout the Ryukyu Islands Chain.
The parade showcases some brilliantly colored kimonos, traditional classic dances and a dance, seen only in Okinawa, known, as Eisa.  The sounds of drums, horns, gongs, firecrackers, stringed instruments and music piped over loudspeaker systems fills the avenue and like many other observers, you’re welcome to chant along with the performers. Just memorize the words “Ya sa sa” and “Hi e ya” and learn to whistle like a whippoorwill, only a lot louder, and you’ll fit right in.
Some of the other activities you see include martial arts performances by youth, dancing lion-dogs (known as Shishimai) and a Chinese Dragon Dance. One event, you may want to climb higher to witness and capture on camera, is the Parade of Flags.  Young men demonstrate their strength and skill at balancing a huge bamboo pole displaying a banner representing their district in the city of Naha.  Climbing some stairs or watching from a balcony gives a better view and assures your safety, should a flag come crashing down in your direction.

The World Record Tug

 

 The Tug of War normally takes place on the Sunday prior to Japan’s Sports Day, which is the second Monday in October. It’s always best to check with a travel agent or visit the official site, in the event inclement weather causes sudden changes to plans.
Opening ceremonies and a large gathering of people begin on HWY 58 around 3PM so it’s a good idea to start jockeying for your position about that time.  There are speeches given, karate demonstrations, music played and more activities with village banners but, the World Record Tug is what you want to see.

Shortly before 4 o’clock is when activity with the rope begins. The rope is in two sections which must be joined and they face east and west, lying in the street.  The loops on the ends of the ropes are designated male and female. They are joined and a large wooden peg is inserted through one of them to tie the two ropes into a single length of rope for the tug.
Men, representing the royalty of the Ryukyu Kingdom and dressed in period costumes, climb atop the east and west sections of the rope and issue challenges. This is another good time to climb to a higher level for photography, as the crowd begins to surge closer in anticipation. If you’re there to pull, the masses will help snuggle you closer.

After the shouting and dueling match between the kings takes place, a gold ball above the crowd opens, depositing balloons, streamers and confetti.  A gong sounds, the crowd surges even tighter, and the tug begins.

A sea of humans converges on the rope tugging, shouting, straining and trying to get the five meters movement in their direction it takes to become the winner. The only part of the rope that remains visible to photographer, during the tugging, is the ends of the rice straw rope with the loops on them.
This is where I’ve learned to climb to higher elevations in the pursuit of a memorable photo. 

 Anywhere above the crowds, a stairway, balcony or a rooftop will do. At street level, the rope disappears among the crowd.
The tug of war ends when a team from either the east or west side of town manages to pull the rope five meters in their direction. If neither side manages that within half an hour, the competition ends in a draw. That has happened 14 times over the years.

Excitement When the Tug-O-War Ends 

 

 

A winner or draw is declared. That’s when the fun begins. Pieces of the rope are supposed to bring good luck to your family. So, everyone wants some to take home. Hundreds of thousands of people, some who weren’t even there to watch the event, show up and converge on the monster to grab a few strands of it. 

 Couldn’t take a knife on the plane, could you?

  Not to worry. Uniformed members of the Naha Tug of War Committee are the only persons allowed to have knives at the event. They cut strands and toss them to the crowds. 

Travel Light Like a Pro

Some things I recommend for this once a year, one day event, after having done it a few times:
Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Bring a light jacket in the event it gets chilly or rains.
A backpack is the only luggage you will need.
Grab meals at any of the several Family Marts located conveniently along the routes you’ll be taking.
Yen is the currency to bring. Taxi cabs and vending machines generally, don’t accept any other currency.
Returning to Naha Airport for a meal before flying, you’ll get excellent food at reasonable prices.

Japan Airlines Guide to Japan Link for 2014 Naha Otsunahiki

Photography Tips: How to Shoot the Guinness Tug-O-War

It doesn't have to be the Guinness World Record Tug-O-War, you can use these photography tips as a how-to for any festival or event where a few hundred thousand people decide to gather in the street for your photographic pleasure.

This photo was taken at the 2010 Great Naha Tug-O-War with a 250mm zoom.  Call it a far-away close-up.  The focal length you have available on your camera determines how much distance you and your camera can be away from the crowd. Before zoom lenses were invented the cameraman's method of zooming-in was HIS FEET !

The trick I used here to bring you up close, without having to get into the crowd, was get some elevation, high above them.

To catch a shot of the monsterous rope without a crowd bumping into the tripod or popping up ruining my attempts at Auto Focus, I shot this photo early in the morning.

Climbing tall buildings is one way to avoid the crowds and squeeze as much of them into the photo frame as your lens will permit.  I have no idea what it cost for the TV station to put their cameraman up in that crane.  But, I figured as long as I was going for a climb, I might as well get higher than him.  My elevation was FREE.

This year I plan on letting some one younger do the rooftop climbing and let them use the SIGMA 50-500mm.  All the photos above were taken with an 18-250mm lens.

Not to worry, somebody like, RyukyuRusty's Mom, we'll bring along a safety leash so nobody falls and hurts my lens.

Taking some photos at ground level, among the crowd is always fun.  You may have to use manual focus, or get the camera off continuous auto focus and just lock your focus on a selected subject.

The only way to capture a close up like this, is fight your way through the mob, bump a few shoulders, forget using a tripod, step on toes, or get yours stepped on and go for a quick handheld shot.  This photo was taken in 2009.  Last year, by the time I got off the rooftop to get my souvenir from the Guinness Record monster rope, they were done hacking strands to give away and kicked me off the street.  Everybody wants a chunk of the rope because it's supposed to bring you good luck, if you take a strand home.

For a big event like the Naha Tug-O-War what you really need is cameramen operating from several different angles, if you plan on photographing all the activities taking place.

If you happen to be in Naha Okinawa for the 41st Guinness World Record Tug-O-War this Sunday afternoon you are liable to run across any number of Ryukyu Cameramen, except maybe, not RyukyuRusty.  He'll be tied to a water tower on top of a tall building.

Say "Hi" if you want but, please don't step on my toes.  I'll be in the thick of it trying to grab some of that rope.

Now, you could use my photography tips for the Guiness Tug-O-War anyplace on earth with a bit of imagination.  Like, THE WALL STREET PROTESTS, comes to my mind.

Somebody ought to get a team together, go out there and getterdun.  Dontcha think ?

STREET PORTRAIT

This photo was captured on the International Avenue in Naha Okinawa where a parade takes place every year prior to the Guinness World Record Tug-O-War (OCTOBER 10, 2010 12:34PM). More on the Tug-O-War HERE.

Okinawa's Guinness Tug-O-War: The Rope (Photos)

The rope used in Okinawa's Guinness World Record Tug-O-War weighs over forty tons.  It is placed on HWY 58 the morning of the event and the road is closed during the actual tug.  There are two halves to the rope with a loop on each end, one is considered male, the other, female.

The photos below will give you an idea of the size and how the monster is assembled.

Okinawa, Japan has held the Guinness World Record for the largest Tug-O-War rope made from natural fibers since 1977.  More details coming as I process photos and continue the research.

Guinness World Record Tug-O-War

Here's where I spent the day. Every year, the City of Naha Okinawa, Japan holds this Festival and the highlight of it is the Guinness World Record Tug-O-War.

Well, I did my Spiderman act today and climbed way up to the top of a building so I could snag some good shots from an angle I never tried before.

It was a five story building and from the fifth floor I didn't like the angle of my shots and some of the distracting wires that kept getting in my frames.

So, I hopped a locked fence and climbed up to an uninhabited sixth floor.

Then, I still couldn't get the shots I wanted so, I figured a way to get up even higher. I climbed up on this water tower on top of the roof and wrapped myself and my tripod around some metal beams so the wind wouldn't blow us away.

Then, I shot some pictures with zoom, some wide angle, some horizontal and others vertical.
As soon as I can get the whole pile of 275 photos developed and verify that the Guinness World Record for Tug-O-Wars was won by Okinawa again, this year I'll give you the whole story.

A GOLD BALL

This Golden Ball is raised above the crowd participating in the Naha Tug-O-War. The event is held in the beginning of October every year in Okinawa, Japan and the 40 ton rope holds the Guinness World Record for the largest tug-o-war rope made from natural materials.

Hopefully, this year, on October 10th, I'll be able to get situated with my camera somewhere on a rooftop or balcony directly above the Golden Ball and snap some great photos of the crowds tugging at the monster below.

More photos of the event may be seen HERE