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About Tsunotsuki: Rules, Roles, and Participants

Tsunotsuki, literally “locking horns,” is a competition between two bulls that push each other in a show of strength and stamina. A judge calls the match, and the bulls are evaluated for their vigor and perseverance to determine pairings in future matches. Tournaments are held at the Ojiya arena from May to November.

The rules

Handlers (seko) lead the competing bulls into the arena. After being led clockwise around the ring, the bulls face off and lock horns, pushing each other until a judge declares the end of the match, and handlers jump in to separate them. A match is typically called just before one bull is about to overpower the other. Matches usually last about five minutes, and strict measures are taken to ensure that the bulls do not suffer injuries.

The seko handlers

At the start of a match, seko nudge and urge the bulls forward by slapping them on their rump, cajoling them with loud cries of “yoshitaaa!,” which means “come on!” in the local dialect. If the bulls start to become too aggressive, the match is called, and the seko handlers have the crucial job of prying the bulls apart. The role of the seko requires speed, intuition, and technical skill, including skill with rope and agility in chasing angry bulls to avoid collisions.

The bulls

Nambu shorthorn bulls from Iwate Prefecture are favored for their size and their resilience to Ojiya’s cold winters. These enormous animals make their debut around the age of three, when they normally weigh between 700 to 1,100 kilograms. Some bulls let out a series of throaty roars, called dogoe, as they enter the arena—a sign that they are ready to fight.

The matches

Around 15 to 20 matches per day take place during the tournaments, which are held once a month in Ojiya. The lineup is published a few days ahead of time. The last three games of the day are known as the shimai-sanban (“last big three”), and feature the strongest bulls from previous tournaments. At the last tournament of the year in November, a grand champion is announced. The title is awarded to the bull deemed bravest and most persevering throughout the season.

The bull owners

Individuals, families, friend groups, and companies own the competing bulls. Owning a bull is a full-time commitment, and feeding, brushing, exercising, and cleaning them on a daily basis are all part of the owner’s job. In pre-modern times, bulls often lived under the same roof as their owner, and were considered members of the family because of their role in tilling fields and transporting goods. Now, owners typically keep bulls in the shared barns near the tsunotsuki arena in Ojiya’s Higashiyama district.

The arena

The arena is located in the mountainous Higashiyama area of Ojiya. Open-air seats and covered seats are provided. Outside the arena, stalls sell snacks, sake, and tsunotsuki merchandise. Near the venue, there is an enormous bull-shaped boulder that split into two during the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004. The rock now serves as a symbol of recovery and a memorial for the people who died in the earthquake.

Tournaments take place once a month from May to November. Check in advance for prices and availability. Live English commentary is available.

角突：規則、任務和出場者

「角突」是讓兩頭公牛相互頂撞來比拼力量和耐力的鬥牛活動。裁判宣布較量的開始，同時對公牛在角突中展示出的活力和意志力進行評估，以此決定牠在下輪鬥牛中的對手。小千谷的角突每年5～11月在小千谷鬥牛場舉行。

規則

角突開始，由馴牛師（日語中稱作「勢子」）帶領公牛入場，沿順時針方向繞場一周後，兩頭公牛面對面抵角互頂。直到裁判宣佈較量結束，馴牛師才可進場將雙方分開。裁判喊停的時間點通常在其中一頭牛即將全面壓制另一頭之時。一場角突時長大約5分鐘，規則上有嚴格的限制以保公牛不會受傷。

馴牛師

開場時，馴牛師拍打公牛臀部讓牠往前沖，口裡還高喊「yoshita——」即當地方言「上！」的意思。一旦公牛表現出過強的攻擊性，角突就會被叫停，這時馴牛師又要上場執行將兩頭鬥牛拉開的艱巨任務。馴牛師這一工作對速度、直覺和技巧都有很高要求，需要掌握多方面技能，除了運用繩索，還要具備驅趕發怒的公牛以避免衝突的快速反應能力。

牛

產自岩手縣的南部短角牛因其體型和對小千谷寒冬的適應能力受到青睞。這些身軀龐大的公牛初登鬥牛場時大約3歲，體重一般在700～1100公斤。有些鬥牛入場時會發出一連串低吼咆哮，說明牠們已經迫不及待要和對手搏鬥了。

活動程序

在小千谷每年5～11月的角突季期間，每月會選取一天舉辦角突，每次大約有15～20場，陣容會提前幾天發佈。當天的最後3場角突被稱為「終三番」，出場選手是之前的角突中最強壯的幾頭公牛。總冠軍在每年11月的最後一場角突中誕生，這個榮譽屬於整個角突季最無畏、最堅忍的鬥牛。

牛主人

參與角突的公牛的主人可以是個人、家庭、親友團或公司。擁有這樣一頭牛意味著要每天給牠餵食、梳毛、訓練並清潔，需要付出全部的精力。進入現代社會前，公牛因在犁田和運貨上勞苦功高而被視作家庭一員，通常和主人住在同一個屋簷下。如今的牛主人大多將牛養在小千谷東山地區鬥牛場附近的共用牛舍中。

鬥牛場

鬥牛場位於小千谷東山地區的山間，設有露天座位和頂篷座位，場外有賣小吃、清酒和角突相關產品的小攤販。鬥牛場附近有一塊龐大的牛形巨石，可惜在2004年的新潟中越地震中裂成了兩半。這塊巨石現在被當做地區復甦的象徵和地震遇難者紀念碑。

角突在每年5～11月間每月舉辦一次，建議提前查詢票價和座位。鬥牛場提供現場英語解説。

角突：规则、任务和出场者

“角突”是让两头公牛相互顶撞来比拼力量和耐力的斗牛活动。裁判宣布较量的开始，同时对公牛在角突中展示出的活力和意志力进行评估，以此决定它在下轮斗牛中的对手。小千谷的角突每年5～11月在小千谷斗牛场举行。

规则

角突开始，由训牛师（日语中称作“势子”）带领公牛入场，沿顺时针方向绕场一周后，两头公牛面对面抵角互顶。直到裁判宣布较量结束，训牛师才可进场将双方分开。裁判喊停的时间点通常在其中一头牛即将全面压制另一头之时。一场角突时长大约5分钟，规则上有严格的限制以确保公牛不会受伤。

训牛师

开场时，训牛师拍打公牛臀部让它往前冲，口里还高喊“yoshita——”即当地方言“上！”的意思。一旦公牛表现出过强的攻击性，角突就会被叫停，这时训牛师又要上场执行将两头斗牛拉开的艰巨任务。训牛师这一工作对速度、直觉和技巧都有很高要求，需要掌握多方面技能，除了运用绳索，还要具备驱赶发怒的公牛以避免冲突的快速反应能力。

牛

产自岩手县的南部短角牛因其体型和对小千谷寒冬的适应能力受到青睐。这些身躯庞大的公牛初登斗牛场时大约3岁，体重一般在700～1100公斤。有些斗牛入场时会发出一连串低吼咆哮，说明它们已经迫不及待要和对手搏斗了。

活动程序

在小千谷每年5～11月的角突季中，每月会选取一天举办角突，每次大约有15～20场，对决阵容会提前几天发布。当天的最后3场角突被称为“终三番”，出场选手是之前的角突中最强壮的几头公牛。总冠军在每年11月的最后一场角突中诞生，这个荣誉属于整个角突季最无畏、最坚忍的斗牛。

牛主人

参与角突的公牛的主人可以是个人、家庭、友人团体或公司。拥有这样一头牛意味着要每天付出全部的精力给它喂食、梳理、练习并清洁。进入现代社会前，公牛因在犁田和运货上劳苦功高而被视作家庭一员，通常和主人住在同一个屋檐下。如今的牛主人大多将牛养在小千谷东山地区斗牛场附近的共用牛舍中。

斗牛场

斗牛场位于小千谷东山地区的山间，设有露天位和顶篷位，场外设有出售小吃、清酒和角突相关产品的货摊。斗牛场附近有一块庞大的牛形巨石，可惜在2004年的新潟中越地震中裂成了两半。这块巨石现在被当做地区复兴的象征和地震遇难者纪念碑。

角突在每年5～11月间每月举办一次，建议提前查询票价和座位。斗牛场提供现场英语解说。