Tougyuu, also known as ushi-sumo or Bull sumo, is a spectator sport native to Ryukyu Islands of Japan, especially in the Okinawa Prefecture. Although sometimes known to Westerners as “Okinawan bullfighting”, it is drastically different from Spanish or Portuguese bullfighting as the matches are between two bulls, instead of a bull and a human and there is no authorized bloodletting. It is similar to the Swiss sport of cow fighting.

During matches, the bulls lock horns and attempt to force each other to give up ground. Each bull has a coach who helps to keep the bulls locked in conflict and encourages their bull to win. The match is over when one of the bulls tires and withdraws, losing the match. The coaches take great care to prevent the bulls from harming each other and the fight is immediately over if one of them accidentally gores the other. (more…)