Bull sumo of Uwajima
The origin, a history, and present
There is oral communication that the fishermen of Fukuura rescued the Netherlands ship which was drifting about Uwakai about the origin of bull sumo in the second half of the 17th century, and
two cows presented as the greeting started by having fought by chance, the angle of a cow is automatically compared in a field from a farmer building the strong Japanese beef for farming at the
Kamakura period, and there is also an opinion of having made this into amusement.
If bull sumo carries out from it being the spontaneous thing to depend on the combative instinct of a cow, you should think that the origin started with introduction of the cow for farming.
In the document addressed to the deputy official from the county magistrate in 1856「Bull sumo is performed often recently and it has fought for the match.Therefore, selling and buying of a cow becomes a high price, and, also as for others, food expenses sometimes also start.Then, although a few is considered, if such a state continues for a long time, there are many these point difficulties.」It hears that are with so and so and performance-ized bull sumo was absorbing people.
Although prohibition or regulation of bull sumo was repeated at the Meiji and Taisho time, popular bull sumo heat was very prosperous, saw the golden age in early stages of Showa from the Taisho
time, was called "Tsukiai" etc., and was familiar amusement for the citizen.
Although bull sumo was forbidden by GHQ for the reason of animal protection etc. in Showa 23, a petition is repeated from the bull sumo persons involved in Ehime, Oki, and Echigo etc., and, two
years after, it was that a ban is removed.
Bull sumo revival rises and inauguration and the convention were resumed for the 'Uwajima bull sumo promotion committee' in Showa 34.
Uwajima-shi will complete an all-weather dome type bullring prior to the whole country in March, Showa 50.
Although bull sumo of Uwajima inclined to attenuation the second half of the Showa 50s by the shadow of a bull sumo raiser's reduction, the shortage of a successor, and domestic sight-seeing,
depression, etc., the 'Uwajima sight-seeing bull sumo association' private sector initiative will be launched in Showa 60.
April 4, Heisei 5 and the national [ 2nd ] bull sumo convention were held for city system 70 anniversary commemoration and the national bull sumo convention on October 20, Heisei 3.
