1. Motobu (Okinawa) shot from mountains above the town

2. People moving into the entrance of the Motobu Bullfighting Arena.

3. People walking down the slope towards the arena.

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi Masahiro: Secretary of the Motobu Town Bullfighting Association:

"The Motobu Town Bullfighting Association was founded ten years ago and today's meeting celebrates the anniversary."

5. Bulls arriving at the arena.

6. Bull being led to the stables before the contest.

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese): Matsuda Masahiru, Veteran Owner & Member of the Motobu Town Bullfighting Association:

"This region is the home of Togyu (Bullfighting.) Togyu is a traditional Okinawan pastime and we really enjoy it."

8. Miyagi San sharpening the horns of his bull. The Bull is called Taishoshinryu and is ranked Ozeki, one rank below the top level Yokuzuna.

9. Miyagi sharpening the horns of his bull.

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi Masahiro:

"We sharpen the Bull's horns and when we do this the Bulls know they are going to fight. As the Bulls get excited so to do their owners who really want their bull's to win."

11. Various the Ozeki bout featuring Taishoshinryu, Mr. Miyagi's bull.

12. Miyagi San's daughters and nieces cover their eyes in a tense moment. Taishoshinryu is also their family pet.

13. Various bullfight and spectators

14. Miyagi San urges on his Bull.

15. Two members of the U.S. Navy on leave watch the fight..

16. The fight is concluded. Taishoshinryu wins

17.SOUNDBITE (English): Robert Wilson U.S. Navy Okinawa. Along with his colleague this is the first time he has watched Togyu:

"It was fun, it really was. I have to admit it was fun I enjoyed it. Great spectacle, again very powerful animals, you know, wrestling basically kind of like Sumo. Sumo. Sumo wrestling is the best I can describe it."

18.Shot of a lower ranked fight that lasted approximately twenty three minutes

SOUNDBITE (English): Robert Wilson:

"I don't think there is an animal rights issue just from this vantage point right here. It's kind of the way that nature kind of handles..You've gotten nature you watch the rams butt heads. It's the same thing with these Bulls, these animals right here

19. Salt

20. Miyagi San rubs salt onto his bull's horns. This is the final stage of the sharpening process. Salt is applied both to prevent infection and to harden the horns.

21. Various bull fight and spectators

22. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi:

"Everyday I take care of my Bull with the aim of making him strong. So in a word, the animal rights (perspective) or view that the Bulls are being badly treated, I don't really care about."

23. The new champion (Yokuzuna) being washed down after his victory.

24. The previous Yokuzuna in his stable. His wounds being sterilised with alcohol.

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Member of US Navy stationed at Kaneda, Okinawa:

"Viewing the bulls in their stables, they were being groomed, well taken care of. It's different in dog fights or cock fights where you have two roosters going at it to where the is only one ultimate goal, which one kills the other. I did not see that here."

26. Bull in stable after fight.

27. Wounds around the bull's horns.

28. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyahara Makoto, The Okinawa Prefecture Veterinary Surgeon working in the prefecture's Department of Health & Sanitation in Naha:

"As long as animals are not subjected to more than necessary levels of distress, the ruling in (Okinawan state law) is that (Togyu) does not constitute animal abuse."

29. Various wounds incurred during fight.

30. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyahara Makoto:

"It is extremely difficult to draw the line but making an animal fight to the death for human gratification or subjecting the animals to levels of cruelty that spectators perceive as being cruel, the possibility that the animals are being subjected to abuse is high."

31. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi Masahiro:

"In a contest itself probably one or maybe two bulls die per year but naturally bulls that loose, loose their fighting spirit and as I said before if a bull can't fight I simply regard it as meat and it will be slaughtered for that purpose" (Note. Regarding deaths in the arena Miyagi San is only talking about Motobu, not Okinawa as a whole.

32. Children (Miyagi San's daughter and nieces) riding on the back of Taishoshinryu, Miyagi San's victorious Ozeki Bull and celebrate.

LEAD IN:

Bull fighting or Togyu, as its known in Japan, began as a form of recreation in rural communities.

In the past it was practiced in many parts of the country but now with the exception of a few regions the sport is mainly confined to Okinawa.

STORY LINE

The town of Mobitu located on the Northern coast of Okinawa is host to six bullfights each year. Earlier this month (Sunday 1st April ) a special tournament was held in honour of the Motobu Bullfighting association.

Miyagi Masahiro Secretary of the Motobu Town Bullfighting Association says the event is to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the association.

Bullfighting is more generally associated with countries like Spain or Mexico but although differing in many respects from Spanish or Mexican variants, the sport has had a long history in Japan and particularly in Okinawa.

Matsuda Masahiru now in his mid seventies. He owns two bulls and has been participating in Togyu since his childhood. He sees bullfighting as an essential part of Okinawan culture.

This is a view shared by the Okinawa prefecture government who promote 'Togyu' both as a cultural asset and as an aid to developing tourism. Local support for the events is strong - the arena and adjacent stables were built and are maintained by the Motobu Town council.

Unlike Spanish or Mexican counterparts bull fighting is a contest between two bulls. Victory or defeat is decided in most cases when one bull backs out of the contest and concedes to his opponent.

There are no picadors or matadors, but owners join their bulls in the ring, urge them on and have a close relationship with the animals that they rear for the purpose of fighting.

Miyagi Masahiro explains how he, other owners and the bulls themselves get extremely excited about the contest from the moment that they begin to sharpen the animal's horns.

Another way the sport differs from Spanish or Mexican counterparts is that there does not seem to be any significant local or international opposition against Togyu on the grounds of animal rights.

Robert Wilson from the U.S. Navy stationed at Kaneda said he enjoyed the fight and likened it to Sumo. He added that he does not think the sport is cruel.

Miyagi Masahiro says he is not concerned with people who think the bulls are mistreated.

Another member of US Navy who had seen the fight and visited the stables said that the bulls are well groomed and well taken care of. He says there is no evidence that the animals are being forced to fight to the death as is common with cock fights and dog fights.

Miyahara Makoto the Okinawa Prefecture veterinary surgeon and explains how Togyu stands with regard to state law. He adds that it is difficult to know where to draw the line and there is a high possibility that the animals are being subjected to abuse.

Miyagi Masahiro says that one or two bulls die each year in Motubu. Bulls that are no longer good fighters are slaughtered for meat.

But Taishoshinryu at least might escape the butcher if when he eventually tires and loses his fighting spirit. His rescuers come in the form of Miyagi San's daughters and nieces who have taken him on as their family pet.

Keyword-animals wacky

SHOTLIST:

1. Motobu (Okinawa) shot from mountains above the town

2. People moving into the entrance of the Motobu Bullfighting Arena.

3. People walking down the slope towards the arena.

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi Masahiro: Secretary of the Motobu Town Bullfighting Association:

"The Motobu Town Bullfighting Association was founded ten years ago and today's meeting celebrates the anniversary."

5. Bulls arriving at the arena.

6. Bull being led to the stables before the contest.

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese): Matsuda Masahiru, Veteran Owner & Member of the Motobu Town Bullfighting Association:

"This region is the home of Togyu (Bullfighting.) Togyu is a traditional Okinawan pastime and we really enjoy it."

8. Miyagi San sharpening the horns of his bull. The Bull is called Taishoshinryu and is ranked Ozeki, one rank below the top level Yokuzuna.

9. Miyagi sharpening the horns of his bull.

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi Masahiro:

"We sharpen the Bull's horns and when we do this the Bulls know they are going to fight. As the Bulls get excited so to do their owners who really want their bull's to win."

11. Various the Ozeki bout featuring Taishoshinryu, Mr. Miyagi's bull.

12. Miyagi San's daughters and nieces cover their eyes in a tense moment. Taishoshinryu is also their family pet.

13. Various bullfight and spectators

14. Miyagi San urges on his Bull.

15. Two members of the U.S. Navy on leave watch the fight..

16. The fight is concluded. Taishoshinryu wins

17.SOUNDBITE (English): Robert Wilson U.S. Navy Okinawa. Along with his colleague this is the first time he has watched Togyu:

"It was fun, it really was. I have to admit it was fun I enjoyed it. Great spectacle, again very powerful animals, you know, wrestling basically kind of like Sumo. Sumo. Sumo wrestling is the best I can describe it."

18.Shot of a lower ranked fight that lasted approximately twenty three minutes

SOUNDBITE (English): Robert Wilson:

"I don't think there is an animal rights issue just from this vantage point right here. It's kind of the way that nature kind of handles..You've gotten nature you watch the rams butt heads. It's the same thing with these Bulls, these animals right here

19. Salt

20. Miyagi San rubs salt onto his bull's horns. This is the final stage of the sharpening process. Salt is applied both to prevent infection and to harden the horns.

21. Various bull fight and spectators

22. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi:

"Everyday I take care of my Bull with the aim of making him strong. So in a word, the animal rights (perspective) or view that the Bulls are being badly treated, I don't really care about."

23. The new champion (Yokuzuna) being washed down after his victory.

24. The previous Yokuzuna in his stable. His wounds being sterilised with alcohol.

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Member of US Navy stationed at Kaneda, Okinawa:

"Viewing the bulls in their stables, they were being groomed, well taken care of. It's different in dog fights or cock fights where you have two roosters going at it to where the is only one ultimate goal, which one kills the other. I did not see that here."

26. Bull in stable after fight.

27. Wounds around the bull's horns.

28. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyahara Makoto, The Okinawa Prefecture Veterinary Surgeon working in the prefecture's Department of Health & Sanitation in Naha:

"As long as animals are not subjected to more than necessary levels of distress, the ruling in (Okinawan state law) is that (Togyu) does not constitute animal abuse."

29. Various wounds incurred during fight.

30. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyahara Makoto:

"It is extremely difficult to draw the line but making an animal fight to the death for human gratification or subjecting the animals to levels of cruelty that spectators perceive as being cruel, the possibility that the animals are being subjected to abuse is high."

31. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Miyagi Masahiro:

"In a contest itself probably one or maybe two bulls die per year but naturally bulls that loose, loose their fighting spirit and as I said before if a bull can't fight I simply regard it as meat and it will be slaughtered for that purpose" (Note. Regarding deaths in the arena Miyagi San is only talking about Motobu, not Okinawa as a whole.

32. Children (Miyagi San's daughter and nieces) riding on the back of Taishoshinryu, Miyagi San's victorious Ozeki Bull and celebrate.

LEAD IN:

Bull fighting or Togyu, as its known in Japan, began as a form of recreation in rural communities.

In the past it was practiced in many parts of the country but now with the exception of a few regions the sport is mainly confined to Okinawa.

STORY LINE

The town of Mobitu located on the Northern coast of Okinawa is host to six bullfights each year. Earlier this month (Sunday 1st April ) a special tournament was held in honour of the Motobu Bullfighting association.

Miyagi Masahiro Secretary of the Motobu Town Bullfighting Association says the event is to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the association.

Bullfighting is more generally associated with countries like Spain or Mexico but although differing in many respects from Spanish or Mexican variants, the sport has had a long history in Japan and particularly in Okinawa.

Matsuda Masahiru now in his mid seventies. He owns two bulls and has been participating in Togyu since his childhood. He sees bullfighting as an essential part of Okinawan culture.

This is a view shared by the Okinawa prefecture government who promote 'Togyu' both as a cultural asset and as an aid to developing tourism. Local support for the events is strong - the arena and adjacent stables were built and are maintained by the Motobu Town council.

Unlike Spanish or Mexican counterparts bull fighting is a contest between two bulls. Victory or defeat is decided in most cases when one bull backs out of the contest and concedes to his opponent.

There are no picadors or matadors, but owners join their bulls in the ring, urge them on and have a close relationship with the animals that they rear for the purpose of fighting.

Miyagi Masahiro explains how he, other owners and the bulls themselves get extremely excited about the contest from the moment that they begin to sharpen the animal's horns.

Another way the sport differs from Spanish or Mexican counterparts is that there does not seem to be any significant local or international opposition against Togyu on the grounds of animal rights.

Robert Wilson from the U.S. Navy stationed at Kaneda said he enjoyed the fight and likened it to Sumo. He added that he does not think the sport is cruel.

Miyagi Masahiro says he is not concerned with people who think the bulls are mistreated.

Another member of US Navy who had seen the fight and visited the stables said that the bulls are well groomed and well taken care of. He says there is no evidence that the animals are being forced to fight to the death as is common with cock fights and dog fights.

Miyahara Makoto the Okinawa Prefecture veterinary surgeon and explains how Togyu stands with regard to state law. He adds that it is difficult to know where to draw the line and there is a high possibility that the animals are being subjected to abuse.

Miyagi Masahiro says that one or two bulls die each year in Motubu. Bulls that are no longer good fighters are slaughtered for meat.

But Taishoshinryu at least might escape the butcher if when he eventually tires and loses his fighting spirit. His rescuers come in the form of Miyagi San's daughters and nieces who have taken him on as their family pet.

Keyword-animals wacky