Naha Ōzunahiki is a UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage event held annually on the second Sunday of October along Kokusai-dori. The braided straw rope weighs approximately 43 tonnes and stretches over 200 metres, requiring more than 20,000 participants to pull. Eastern and western Naha teams represent opposing cosmic forces in a ritual believed to ensure good harvests and community prosperity. Pre-event parades feature Ryukyuan court dance, Eisa, and historical costumed processions that add pageantry to the spectacle.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- October
- Region
- Okinawa
- Prefecture
- Okinawa
- City
- Naha
Highlights
- ◆Guinness World Record holder for largest tug-of-war
- ◆43-tonne, 200-metre braided straw rope
- ◆UNESCO intangible cultural heritage recognition
- ◆20,000+ participants from east and west Naha
- ◆Pre-event Ryukyuan dance and costumed parade