Eisah (From mid August to end of August) This religious festival is a significant part of the old bon (Buddhist festival). On the last day of the old bon festival, a procession of shamisen (a three-stringed musical instrument similar to a guitar) players, drummers and dancers visit homes as they sing songs. Eisah is a festival of ancestor worship.

Naha Hahrii Dragon Boat Races (May 3 to 5) Adopted from China more than 500 years ago, the dragon boat races are held annually to pray for the fishermen's safety and a big catch for the year. The young men from Naha, Kume and Tomari compete in the main hahrii, and there are other races for boys and occupational organizations. Servicemen from the U.S. marines participate in some of the races. Each year more than 150,000 spectators show up at the hahrii boat races.

Tug-of-War (October 10) This event is held annually on October 10 as a part of the Naha Festival. The main rope is 172 meters long, 1.5 meters in diameter and weighs 27 tons. Tens of thousands of people divided into east and west teams tug on thin ropes that branch out of the main rope. This event was first held in 1935 and was discontinued for a while, but it resumed since 1969 as a traditional event. The tug-of-war is held on Route 58 where traffic is closed off during the big event. Attracting roughly 200,000 people, the annual tug-of-war represents the power and energy of the Okinawans.

The All-Island Bullfighting (May and November) There is a bullfighting performance held somewhere in Okinawa every Sunday. The tradition began as entertainment for rice farmers during the agricultural off-season. Today bull fighters from all Okinawa islands get together in spring and fall. Unlike the Spanish, Okinawan bullfighting involves bulls only. The fights excite the spectators as gigantic animals weighing almost one ton collide with each other.