Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture. This region is home to a rare and living cultural tradition known as "Ushi-no-Tsunotsuki" (like bulls' sumo), which has been passed down for centuries. This tradition, mentioned even in the Edo-period literary masterpiece Nanso Satomi Hakkenden, is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

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However, first-time spectators are often surprised by one unique fact: every match in Echigo’s Tsunotsuki ends in a "draw".

 

A "Draw" Born from Love: Treating Bulls as Family

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In this region, bulls have long lived alongside people. They are "precious members of the family". Owners (Ushimochi) do not wish to see their bulls injured or grow to dislike the bullring. This deep affection led to a rule found nowhere else in the world — ending matches in a draw to ensure the safety and spirit of the animals.

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A Story of Recovery

 

While the Tsunotsuki matches are held only a few days each year, the tradition is sustained by the daily lives of the people who live with their bulls for the remaining 358 days. This video explores the true heart of Tsunotsuki through the following stories:

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• The life-risking "Seko" (Handlers): Witness the raw determination of the men who dive barehanded between raging bulls to separate them and force a draw, risking their lives in the process.

 

• Recovery from the Great Earthquake: Learn the history of the 2004 Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake, which caused devastating damage. Discover how the community saved their bulls — sometimes by helicopter—and rebuilt their bond with the land.

 

• "Preserve it Because it’s Fun": The successors do not preserve this tradition simply because it is "old." They keep it alive because the bulls, the people, and the community connections are genuinely "fun".

 

"Yoshitaaaa!, Yoshitaaaa! (Well done!)" Experience the heat of the bullring and the shouts of the Seko. Before you visit the arena in person, we invite you to witness this moving story of the bond between humans and bulls through this film.