(Illustration by Oda Yukiyo/Stripes Okinawa)

Okinawa’s famous Naha Tug of War used to take place after dark. Bonfires, or “te,” were used to illuminate the event back then. Today, the event is hosted at around 4 p.m., drawing quite the crowd. Though the bonfire tradition may be over, the battle flag the competitors carry can still be lit on fire at the top— an homage to the event’s nocturnal beginnings.

Ao/sei [blue] (Image by Stripes Okinawa)