Nishu

Mihama Hiruga Underwater Tug-of-War

An Underwater Tug-of-War against a Legendary Monster

The Mihama Hiruga Underwater Tug-of-War is held on the third Sunday of January. Young men from the town of Mihama hold a tug-of-war in a freezing cold river, as a traditional prayer for large fishing hauls in the coming year. The giant tug-of-war rope represents a sea serpent from a centuries-old folk tale, so the event is not complete until the rope has been ripped in two.

Both teams struggle in the water to pull it apart by hand, sometimes even using their teeth. Finally, the torn rope is sent out to sea, as an offering to the deities of the Sea of Japan.