Pig Rodeo Poster for 2008
Imagine riding on the back of 285 pounds of oinking and squealing flesh for a chance at several hundred dollars. Well that is what 40 men and women did at the 26th annual “Pig Rodeo” on August 13th, 2009. The event is held every year in town of Mikame, which is part of Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture in west Japan.
During the rodeo the pig and riding contestant are released into a small ring, around 30 feet in diameter. The pig then proceeds to shake off the rider, who holds on for dear life, in a matter of seconds. There is a 50,000 yen (about $500 USD) prize for the person who holds on the longest.
Ten pigs were used in this year’s contest; each was around one year old and all were bred in Japan.
The event is part of the Seiyo City Mikame Summer Festival, and is gaining fame each year. Other unique events at the festival include “human curling”, a contest that involves sticking people in large plastic tubs and casting them off into the sea via a large conveyer belt. There is also a traditional Japanese summer fireworks show.
If you want to see the event, remember there’s always next year!
Watch a video of the Pig Rodeo by Asahi Shimbun
(Update August 19th: here is the video on youtube)
Read more random Japan articles by the Japan Travel Examiner
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