Published October 20, 2026 at 7:18 PM JST

Every October, tens of thousands of people gather on a main road in Naha to pull a gigantic straw rope, a joyful Okinawan tradition with flag parades, shouts of Haiya and a world-record rope.

Quick answer: The Naha Great Tug-of-War (Naha Otsunahiki) is held in Naha, Okinawa, usually on a weekend day in October. A flag parade marches along Kokusai-dori, then east and west teams pull an enormous rice-straw rope on National Route 58. Organizers announce the exact date each year, and visitors are welcome to join the pull.

What the Naha Great Tug-of-War is

The Naha Great Tug-of-War, known in Japanese as Naha Otsunahiki, is one of the most spectacular events in Okinawa. Once a year, in October, a major road in the middle of Naha becomes an arena. Thousands of people take hold of a gigantic rope made of rice straw, split into an east team and a west team, and pull together as crowds cheer them on.

The festival is celebrated as a symbol of Okinawa. The Okinawa tourism site describes it as a chance for the community to pray for prosperity and peace, and it is considered a highlight of the island's autumn events. The mood is warm and welcoming, and people of all ages and nationalities join in.

In 2026, the organizers planned the event for Sunday, October 11. A flag procession ran from late morning, and the tug-of-war took place in the afternoon. Because the date changes from year to year, it is worth checking the official site before making plans.

A tradition from the Ryukyu Kingdom

The Naha tug-of-war has a long history. According to the festival's guides, it began around 1450, in the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom. A visitor guide says that it was started by four towns of old Naha, Nishimura, Higashimura, Wakasa-machi and Izumizaki, to pray for the city's prosperity and for safety at sea. The official festival site describes more than 500 years of history and tradition.

The event was held for centuries and was paused after 1935. It was revived in 1971 as part of the celebrations for Naha City's 50th anniversary, according to the Okinawa tourism site, and it has been held every year since. A Ryukyu Shimpo article for the 2017 festival, the 47th since the revival, shows how well established it has become.

Tug-of-war events are part of village life across Okinawa, and many are held in the summer and autumn to pray for a good harvest. The Naha event is the largest and best known, and it is the one that connects the city's old history with its modern life.

The giant rope and the Guinness recognition

The star of the day is the rope. It is made of rice straw and is built in two parts, a male rope for the east and a female rope for the west. According to a festival guide, the female rope is called Miinna and the male rope Woounna. The two are joined at the center with a heavy wooden pole called the Kanuchi, in a special ceremony. The guide gives the pole's weight as 365 kilograms, a number that is said to reflect the days of a year.

Sizes are described in different ways. Ryukyu Shimpo has reported a rope about 200 meters long weighing roughly 40 to 43 tons, and a visitor guide gives similar figures. A 2026 newspaper report on the festival described a 160-meter rope weighing 35 tons, citing the event's implementation plan. Since the rope is rebuilt for each festival, the details can change, so the best way to describe it is as a rope well over a hundred meters long and weighing tens of tons.

In 1997, the size of the rope was recognized by Guinness World Records, according to Ryukyu Shimpo, and the Naha tug-of-war is described as the largest of its kind in the world. The official festival site calls it a Guinness-certified tug-of-war. This recognition is a point of pride in Naha.

Flag bearers on Kokusai-dori

Before the pull, the festival begins with a flag procession, called the Hatagashira parade. According to the official festival site, the flag procession passes along Kokusai-dori, Naha's famous main street, and the planned 2026 schedule listed 14 flag committees from different districts of the city. Each district carries its own banner, which represents its history and its guardian symbols.

The flags are tall and heavy. A festival guide says that each can reach up to ten meters in height and weigh about 50 kilograms, and that only a few chosen men carry them, which is considered a great honor. A visitor guide describes bearers in traditional black attire raising the banners high. The sight of colorful flags swaying above the crowds is a favorite for photographers.

The official site also mentions a citizens' performing arts and folk traditional arts parade with about 50 groups, including community groups and preservation societies. Before the pull itself, Ryukyu Shimpo reported in 2015 that the standard-bearers of both sides meet at the Kumoji intersection, hold a flag-waving contest and then take part in a ceremony that joins the male and female ropes.

The pull itself

The tug-of-war takes place on National Route 58 at the Kumoji intersection. In the 2026 plan, the tug-of-war ran from about 1:30 pm to about 4:10 pm, including ceremonies. The pull itself has a time limit of 30 minutes, according to Ryukyu Shimpo.

After the ropes are joined, the east and west sides take up the rope and begin to pull while shouting the traditional call "Haiya." Firecrackers and bells add to the noise, as reported in 2026 coverage. A Ryukyu Shimpo article about the 2017 festival says the east team won that year after about ten minutes, pulling the rope more than five meters their way despite on-and-off rain. Over the years, wins and draws have gone back and forth between the two sides.

When the pull is over, it is a custom for many participants to take a small piece of the rope home as a charm. The Okinawa tourism site mentions this practice for tug-of-war events across the island, and a festival guide says the pieces are believed to bring protection and good business.

Tips for visitors

The festival is popular, so plan to arrive early. A festival guide says that around 15,000 people are needed to pull the rope, and Ryukyu Shimpo estimated that about 270,000 people took part or watched in 2017. Another source says the pull is open to anyone, with many visitors from overseas taking part, and the official site invites people of all ages, genders and nationalities to join. Joining details can change, so check the latest information.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring sun protection and water, and expect a lot of noise and a lot of energy. If you plan to pull, follow the staff and the lead callers, and keep a safe distance from the rope when it is moving. Spectators can enjoy the event from the sides of the road or from viewing areas set up by the organizers.

Kokusai-dori, where the flag parade passes, is also one of Naha's best-known shopping streets, so it is easy to combine the festival with an afternoon of exploring and snacking.

A festival of community

The Naha tug-of-war is about more than size. It is a day when neighbors, families and visitors work together in one team, share a loud and cheerful moment, and carry on a custom that has been remembered for centuries. News reports describe the event as a prayer for peace, and the warm spirit of the crowd reflects that hope.

For travelers, it is a rare chance to see Okinawa's community traditions on a very large scale. If your trip to Japan falls in October, the festival is worth planning around.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Naha Great Tug-of-War held?

It is usually held in October, usually on a weekend day. The 2026 event was planned for Sunday, October 11. The organizers announce the date each year, so check the official site before you travel.

Can visitors take part in the pull?

Yes. The official site describes tens of thousands of people of all ages and nationalities pulling together, and another guide notes that anyone can join. Details can change, so confirm the latest information on the day and follow staff instructions.

How big is the rope?

Reports vary. Ryukyu Shimpo has described a rope about 200 meters long weighing around 40 tons, while a 2026 report cited 160 meters and 35 tons. Either way, it is among the largest festival ropes in the world and was recognized by Guinness World Records in 1997, according to Ryukyu Shimpo.

Further reading: the official Naha Great Tug-of-War site, the Ryukyu Shimpo report on the 2017 tug-of-war and the Okinawa tourism page on tug-of-war festivals.

Keep exploring: Nagasaki Lantern Festival: 15,000 Glowing Lanterns on Kyushu's Harbor City; Kagoshima Ohara Festival: Thousands Dancing Through Tenmonkan in November; Kochi Yosakoi: Four August Days When Wooden Clappers Fill the Streets; Hakata Dontaku: Golden Week Parades Rooted in a Centuries-Old Custom.