Tokunoshima Bullfighting Arena was added to Your Favorites!
Amami Guntō NP, Kagoshima
Claim this place to tell your story your way.
One horn displayed at Nakusamikan belonged to Sanekuma, a legendary bull credited with 42 wins. After the bull retired and died in Okinawa, its horn returned to Tokunoshima in 2013.
Built in 2012 as a roofed, all-weather arena, Nakusamikan brought the island’s scattered small rings together for major contests. More than 4,500 people came for its opening ceremony and commemorative tournament.
“Nakusami” means consolation: after hard farm work, islanders found it not only in bull contests but also in songs and celebrations after a good fish catch. The arena’s name preserves that wider idea of communal relief.
Despite the English label “bullfighting,” no matador faces a bull here: 2 bulls compete, encouraged by human seko coaches. A referee decides the bout, usually when one bull turns away or retreats; a match can last seconds or more than 30 minutes.
Of Amami’s islands, Tokunoshima is now the place where bull-sumo remains. It survived a prefectural ban from 1909 to 1911 and near-collapse during World War II; a bullfighting association rebuilt ticketed tournaments in 1948.
A study of Tokunoshima’s bull-sumo found that owners may avoid matching bulls belonging to close acquaintances, while opposing owners can build friendships through competition. The arena’s drama plays out within a close-knit island community.
Victory has its own soundtrack: supporters sing the traditional Waidobushi, then celebrate astride the champion. The winning bull, its owner, handlers and cheering group share the moment—not just a trophy ceremony.
Tokunoshima’s bull rankings borrow sumo’s language: champions may be called yokozuna or ozeki, with separate weight classes. The coveted all-island title is known as the “Yokozuna among Yokozuna.”
Research found that island spectators help make Tokunoshima tournaments viable without depending on tourism or government support, and bull sheds also serve as places where young people learn. The arena’s culture is built well before fight day.
In earlier times, island festival days combined bull-sumo with human sumo and folk dancing. Villagers rested from farm work, brought food and drink, and enjoyed the festivities all day—a reminder that bull-sumo was part of a community celebration, not just a match.
