A bullfighting tournament organized by the Yaeyama Bullfighting Association. You can see some impressive fights. It is also held during the Obon festival.
This marathon attracts participants from all over the country. There are three courses: the full course, 24km, and 10km. The course that circles roughly halfway around the island allows you to fully experience the island's natural beauty, from the sea to the mountains.
The Chiba Lotte Marines' spring training camp on Ishigaki Island began in 2008. You can watch the first and second team players practice up close.
On March 3rd of the lunar calendar, women enter the sea to purify themselves and pray for good health. This custom is also known as Hama-kudari.
The Yaeyama Sea Opening Festival is held at different locations on Ishigaki Island, the islands of Taketomi Town, and Yonaguni Island. Various events, including a treasure hunt in the sand, are held to kick off the summer.
This triathlon competition consists of a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride, and a 10km run. There are also solo and group relay categories.
Also known as the New Year for fishermen, rowing races are held to pray for a good catch and safe voyages. On Ishigaki Island, the races are held at three locations: Ishigaki Fishing Port, Shiraho Fishing Port, and Funakoshi Fishing Port.
An event hosted by Orion Beer where people can enjoy live music and other outdoor performances while drinking beer. Many local residents attend.
A variety of sea-related events will be held around Ishigaki Port, including yacht ride experiences, a petting zoo, and live music on board.
An event for gazing at the starry sky. Events include dimmed lights stargazing parties, starry sky weddings, and live evening entertainment.
This annual event is held to give thanks for the past year's bountiful harvest and to pray for a bountiful harvest in the coming year. Each region has its own unique features, such as flag-raising, votive dances, stick fighting, lion dances, and tug-of-war.
The Obon festival is celebrated in various places with lively performances such as Angama, lion dances, and Eisa. Angama is a unique Yaeyama event in which masked Ushumai and Nmi bring their children and grandchildren to invited homes to dance and engage in unusual dialogue.
The day after the old Bon festival, lion dances and other dances are performed in various places to ward off evil spirits and pray for good health.
The three major festivals in the northern part of the prefecture are the Nosoko Tindra Festival, which includes events such as singing the "Tindra Bushi" song; the Mermaid Village Hoshino Summer Festival, held in Hoshino, where the mermaid legend is based; and the Akashi Eisa Festival, which is held in Akashi on the middle day of the Obon festival.
This is a singing competition for "Tubaraama," a lyrical song representative of Yaeyama. Only those who have passed the rigorous preliminary round can participate.
This event marks the end of the year's rituals and is a prayer for a bountiful harvest in the coming year. Processions led by the Milk God and votive performances are held in various places.
The island's largest festival is held over two days and is a grand affair with many events, including a large citizen parade, live performances, and fireworks.
This pottery festival is held over two days every December. Pottery artists from Ishigaki Island and studios from the remote islands of Yaeyama come together, attracting many visitors every year.