parade on Kokusai Street

World's Largest Tug-of-War

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October 10th 2010
This weekend was a double holiday for us - Columbus Day (which all of the federal government, including the military, celebrates) and Sports Day (a Japanese holiday). We were looking for something to do, and the giant tug-of-war going on down in Naha seemed like the perfect thing to do. The Naha tug-of-war has been going on for the last forty years as part of the Sports Day celebrations. The t ... read more

Asia » Japan » Okinawa » Naha

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In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more