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Japanese bullfighting lifts 'men-only' rule

34 Comments
By Toru Yamanaka

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the ring, which is ritually purified before matches with salt and Japanese sake.

...and then the bulls poop on it.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

So women are not allowed to enter the sumo ring but they can enter the bull ring!?:-/

3 ( +4 / -1 )

What's next? Women making nigiri sushi?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Animals fighting for the pleasure of human's should be banned everywhere.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

"Equality for men and women is a trend of the times," said Katsushi Seki, an official with the Yamakoshi bullfight organisation."

But the practice of humans as spectators to "baited" animal fighting defies the trend of the times.

And you gotta love this comment, "..togyu is a bloodless match between two bulls locking horns, with great pains taken to ensure the animals do not gore each other..."

A bloodless match? I doubt there are too many bloodless matches - and even if so I'm sure there must be injuries.

The act of inciting fear & fury in animals for pleasure is leagues behind what many consider to be decent.

Hope it's not part of the "Cool Japan" promo.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

A bloodless match? I doubt there are too many bloodless matches - and even if so I'm sure there must be injuries.

Love all the folks jumping on the bandwagon of ignorance. Making comments without knowing wtf they are talking about.

You talk like you "know", but you know jack, there are hardly any injuries, and there is almost never any blood, as the handlers do their damnedest to prevent goring.

Watch a match, before commenting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-2LWDGV8Lw

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Animals fighting for the pleasure of human's should be banned everywhere.

This isnt cock fighting, nor dog fighting, it's a bulls version of sumo.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

How noble of them letting women be allowed to kill bulls. The whole idea of this "sport" is so barbaric in and of itself.

I do hate when people comment without reading the article.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Yubaru - you sound like the one going off half-cocked.

And you said there "are hardly any injuries". So there are injuries.

And you said there's "almost never any blood". So it's not bloodless.

But that 's not my major beef(?) - it is as I stated being thrilled by animals coerced into fighting doesn't seem to be "A Trend of the Times".

And puleez - don't bring human fighting for wealth & fame into the equation, esp when many choose it as a career.

Ask a Bull what he thinks.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

How about the cows? Are they allowing the girls into the ring too?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I didn't even know they had "bull-fighting" here, and I doubt very much it's all that "traditional" or has a long history. Glad they took this MAJOR step in history, but I doubt sumo will follow suit.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

another victory for gender-equality.... great to be living in such enlightened times isn't it....

and looks like the bulls are just having their legs pulled.... loving every minute I'm sure.....

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7bm9ad/photos-from-a-tsunotsuki-bullfight-in-japan

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Only happens in Okinawa.

I am rather surprised, a comment like this from you, did YOU read the article? It isn't from nor about Okinawa.

But on Friday, organizers lifted the prohibition and allowed female bull owner Yuki Araki to lead her animal into the ring in Yamakoshi, north of Tokyo, after a fight on the opening day of this season.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Yes correct it happens on the mainland too!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Zichi....much respect!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

cracaphat Today  04:18 pm JST

How noble of them letting women be allowed to kill bulls. The whole idea of this "sport" is so barbaric in and of itself.

Killing what? Time?

Enlighten yourself first how this so-called 'barbaric' pastime is taking place before barking nonsense here.

https://youtu.be/gJRKcLXDjEo

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Ask a Bull what he thinks.

They must be kind of agreeable to the idea. Can you for example get two rabbits to fight each other? At least I had not yet heard of such a sport. If the animals don't have at least some natural aggression (like us), it'll be hard to force them into something as dynamic as a fight.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

If the female has horns, then why not?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It may be a so called bloodless sport, but i would not fancy being very close to two bad tempered and pumped up bulls in a ring, I wonder how many owner get gored? My friend has a farm and he had a bull, it was very placid, one day we was walking it across the farm yard and it wanted to go in a different direction to the one we was going in, the awesome power is unreal, he just walked off with us in tow behind him, we had a chance of stopping him from going where he wanted to go.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

maybe this isn't as dangerous as cock or dog fighting, which can lead to harm and fatalities, but this still looks stupid to me.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

cracaphat, please reread the article.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Another gender-equality victory?

All too often nowadays whenever women insist on gender equality in a sport or activity, they don't fully realize the risks involved or fully accept responsibility for their actions.

Whenever a woman is injured, scarred, maimed or killed or whatever, the next thing they demand is increased safety measures and protection --- much to the detriment to the men's enjoyment of the sport. Note the men in the photo are not wearing any protective gear and the bull's sharp horns are exposed. The men in the ring understands the risks and accepts it as part of the sport. That will change when women get actively involved in the ring.

Next demand is the abolition of the sport, citing "it's too risky and too dangerous."

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Kazuaki Shimazaki: "Can you for example get two rabbits to fight each other?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW8RrBzsZD4

And, of course, the book "Watership Down".

What happens to the 'Sumo bulls' after they retire from the ring? While they are alive and active in Nihon, I would guess that these bulls live lives very similar in their cow stable to how Sumo live in their Sumo stable. And the bulls which do not make the selection cut are ground up as youngsters into YOUR hamburger. Which have the better life do you think?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

maybe this isn't as dangerous as cock or dog fighting, which can lead to harm and fatalities, but this still looks stupid to me.,

Having an opposing opinion is one thing, calling it "stupid" is another. Just because it does not make any sense to you, (lack of knowledge about the culture and people no doubt) does not make it "stupid".

I wonder how many owner get gored? 

None

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Next demand is the abolition of the sport, citing "it's too risky and too dangerous."

Simple answer no, I guess however, you personally want to see women denied equality.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Simple answer no, I guess however, you personally want to see women denied equality.

@Yubaru, there you go again....

I never said I wanted to see women denied equality.

If women are willing to accept the risks inherent in this kind of sport, fine.....I have no issues. It's the ones who wants to prove their "equality", blames men and the rules when something goes unfavourably, instead of accepting responsibility for their actions or just can't compete on equal terms that has no business being in this or any kind of dangerous sport.

Let's hope Yuki Araki and her bull competes favourably on "equal" terms.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I'm glad they explained that Japanese bullfighting is nothing like Spanish/Mexican bullfighting, where the bulls are murdered. But, there is still something a bit uncivilized and barbaric about having animals fight each other for our entertainment, even if they aren't harmed.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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