Photo/Illutration Bulls weighing more than 1 ton battle at the Ojiya bullring in Niigata Prefecture on May 3. (Kazuhiro Itami)

OJIYA, Niigata Prefecture--A traditional bullfighting festival opened here to say goodbye to a “gentle” giant and to pray for the end of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The event started on May 3 under strict countermeasures to prevent the spread of infections.

Designated an important intangible folk-cultural property, the Tsunotsuki bull-versus-bull combat festivity is held in Ojiya’s Higashiyama district as well as the Yamakoshi district of Nagaoka also in Niigata Prefecture.

“Tsunotsuki takes place partly in prayer for driving away infectious diseases,” said Senichi Mano, chairman of Ojiya Togyu Shinko Kyogikai (Ojiya bullfight promotion council). “I hope the coronavirus crisis will end.”

All bullfights were halted in May last year after the COVID-19 state of emergency was issued nationwide.

On opening day this year, around 500 spectators visited the Ojiya bullring, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people.

They had their temperatures checked and their hands and fingers sterilized with alcohol before entering the facility. Groups watched the matches while maintaining proper distance from other groups.

A special bout was organized to celebrate the retirement of a bull named Gyutaro. The second-generation bull at the Ojiya city-run Higashiyama Elementary School was raised by children there.

“A more veteran fighting bull aged 12 is still active, but he (Gyutaro) had grown too gentle to be a fighter through his interactions with children,” Mano said.

Gyutaro will return to a stock farm in Iwate Prefecture where he was born.

A third bull will be delivered to the students.

“He (Gyutaro) remembers who I am and clung to me for food,” said Ena Hirasawa, a sixth-grader who started caring for the bull in her first year at the elementary school. “The best memory about him is when we held a tug of war with him in the athletic meet.”

She added, “I want the third bull to grow stronger.”

The Tsunotsuki festival in Ojiya takes place mainly on Sundays. The events this year are scheduled for June 6, July 4, Aug. 14, Sept. 5, Oct. 3 and Nov. 7.

The festival was also held in Yamakoshi on May 4 and 5. The Kodo team from Sado, Niigata Prefecture, offered a traditional drum performance during the May 5 event.

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