Colorful is an appropriate term to describe the boats and the costumes of their crews. With one man at the rudder to steer the boat, another stands at the bow with a drum, beating out a ferocious pace for the paddlers to maintain. During the races, viewers shout noisily in support of their favorite teams. The most famous traditional dragon boat race is held in Itoman City, a community with a long history of fishing for its livelihood and where the races are called hare. In keeping with past customs, the Itoman hare is held on the fourth day of the fifth month in the Chinese, or lunar calendar.
Many spectators gather to see the race.
Interestingly, it is noted that the Itoman hare normally marks the end of the rainy season, or tsuyu, and the beginning of summer. All Rights Reserved.