A former village in central Japan that was hit by a powerful earthquake 20 years ago is continuing to stage traditional bullfights as a symbol of the region's reconstruction.
"I hope this community will survive by continuing the bullfights," said Tomie Matsui, 42, head of the Yamakoshi bullfighting association, which organizes the ushi no tsunotsuki event in the Yamakoshi district of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.
The district, formerly the village of Yamakoshi, was devastated by the quake that struck the Chuetsu central region of the prefecture on Oct. 23, 2004, killing 68 people and injuring 4,805 others.
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