event is performed in competition between the Eastern area of the town and the Western side. It begins with "Omatsutori" on January 7, where the two sides try to compete over kazaritake (ornamental bamboo) and two bamboos (isamitake and awasetake) tell the fortune regarding any bumper crop. The isamitake and awasetake activities, where bamboo branches are hooked and pulled, are joined in by young and old alike while the audience cheers. Although it is said that there used to be a few similar examples of this kind of New Years event in Japan, this one in Ōmi is the only remaining one. This event was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on December 28, 1987. Sister city relationship Yamagata, Nagano References The need for community involvement in schools - a Japanese case study Omi no take no karakai The Joetsu goodo Travel Guide Mindat.org - the mineral and locality database External links Dissolved municipalities of Niigata Prefecture Itoigawa, Niigata