JAPAN: Competitors dig deep in Japan's national hole digging contest to win a cash prize and coveted golden shovel

Record ID: 466194

  • Title: JAPAN: Competitors dig deep in Japan's national hole digging contest to win a cash prize and coveted golden shovel
  • Date: 6th February 2012
  • Summary: NARITA CITY, CHIBA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 5, 2012) (REUTERS) SIGN THAT READS IN JAPANESE "ALL JAPAN HOLE DIGGING COMPETITION" AND ORGANIZERS ON STAGE ORGANIZERS HOLDING UP GOLDEN SHOVEL AWARDED FOR FIRST PLACE CROWD CHEERING PARTICIPANTS STARTING DIGGING PARTICIPANT DIGGING GROUP DIGGING MORE OF GROUP DIGGING GROUPS DIGGING MEN IN HOLE DIGGING SHOVELS BEING USED TO DIG HOLE MEN DIGGING IN HOLE PARTICIPANTS STARTING DIGGING
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAANS189ZH93SNQDO4QX3L6EOU0
  • Story Text: More than a thousand people gathered on the outskirts of Tokyo on Sunday (February 5) with their shovels, buckets and ladders to dig their way to victory in the Japan All-National Hole Digging Competition.
    The contest, now in its 12th year, offers 100,000 yen($1,280 USD) and a golden shovel to the team that can dig the deepest hole in 30 minutes.
    The main prize is for deepest hole but there are also other categories diggers can strive for such as the most creative hole and the most original team costume. There is also a category for holes dug only by children.
    Eight-year-old Noriki Ishii was disappointed with the hole he dug.
    "What's really disappointing is that I wasn't able to dig as much I wanted. Much less than I expected, I'd say I couldn't dig at all," Ishii said.
    A record 259 teams participated in the event this year.
    One of the organizers of the event, Narita Dream Dairy Farm Tourism Section Manager Taku Suzuki, explained that this event was originally created as a way to get people to visit the farm which sees a sharp decrease in visitors during the winter months despite promotional events to attract visitors.
    "So we decided instead to go for something that has both an impact and is easy to understand in addition to being able to be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults," he said.
    The winning team dug 3.39 metres (approx 11.12 feet) to take home the prize money and golden shovel which they will need to bring back next year.
    Those who didn't win said the experience was still rewarding.
    "The whole team did their best and I really feel that we became closer as a result of this," said construction worker Tomoyuki Tsumita of his team mates.
    Once the contest is over, farm staff use heavy machinery to refill the holes. During the warmer months, the competition site is used as a campground.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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