Fukuoka and Oita revive tug-of-war after 35 years

People in Fukuoka and Oita prefectures, Japan, will compete in a 400-meter tug-of-war along the Yankuni River on November 3. The event, called “Yankuni River Borderline Exciting Great Tug-of-War”, last took place in 1990.

A local group, originally named “Toyo no Kuni Construction Club” and now “Rescue Support Kyushu”, first held the tug-of-war in 1986 to energize the Yankuni River area. Akira Izumi, a Nagasaki University employee and civil engineer known as “Dr. Demi”, planned the event’s revival.

Izumi gathered young members from the construction and civil engineering industries in both prefectures to form an executive committee aiming to strengthen bonds between residents. The event will include a contest between 100 construction workers from each prefecture and a tug-of-war open to all attendees.