Japan allows women into bullfighting’s ‘sacred’ ring

JAPANESE bullfighting organisers have lifted a long-standing ban on women entering the sport’s “sacred” ring, in an attempt to modernise the activity for the #MeToo generation.

Much like the sport of sumo, in “togyu” bullfighting, women are barred from the ring, which is ritually purified before matches with salt and sake.

However, organisers of a fight in Yamakoshi, north of Tokyo, on Friday, allowed Yuki Araki, a female bull owner, to lead her animal into the ring.

“Equality for men and women is a trend of the times,” said Katsushi Seki, of the Yamakoshi bullfight organisation. “By opening the ring to women, we hope this traditional bullfighting will continue far into the future.”

Unlike Spanish-style bullfighting which ends with a matador slaying the animal, “togyu” is a bloodless match between two bulls locking horns, with great pains taken to ensure the animals do not gore each other.

“I’m glad that local people openly welcomed us,” Ms Yuki, 44, told Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

It comes as Japan’s staunchly traditional sport of sumo faces growing pressure over its strict men-only rules.

Sumo officials were criticised after women, including at least one nurse, were shooed out of a sumo ring as they tried to help a man during a medical emergency. Officials also tried to stop girls from participating in a children’s sumo event in Shizuoka prefecture, citing unspecified “safety concerns”.

Officials who met last week failed to reach a decision on reversing the menonly rule, which stems from the sport’s link to the Shinto faith.