Come and take part in: 100m sprint, 3-legged race, Wheelbarrow race, Waiter’s race, Pillow Fight, Wellie Toss, Tug-O-War, Rope throwing,
Come and watch: Bagpiping, Highland Dancing
Come and arrange yourselves into a 7-man team to compete individually at 3-legged race, Bagpiping, Dancing, Pillow Fight, Rope throwing, Wellie Toss and as a team for Tug-O-War
If you have a tartan, wear it!
Bring your tartan and have it Kirked
Entry by Donation (the bigger the better)
At Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club (KRAC), in Isogami Koen

Scottish Highland Games are held all over the world. They are even held in Japan.

We used to have two Highland Games, one in Tokyo and one in Kansai. Now we have only the Kansai Highland Games, founded in 1989.

Nowadays the population of Scotland is approximately 5.5 million, less than the population of Osaka. However it was not always so. There used to be less than that, with only five or six people living on an island and some villages with only sixteen or less people.

Meeting prospective marriage partners was all but impossible and so for that reason, and many others, the Highland Games evolved. People from surrounding areas could gather at the Games and by watching the Heavy Events, landowners could assess the strengths and fortitude of prospective workers for his land. The Laird could asses the pipers and choose one for his personal household, The young girls could assess the young men at the Heavy events where some of the events showed the suitability of the lad as a prospective husband.

One such event, Tossing the Caber, n which the aim was to keep the caber in a straight line finishing with the head at the 12 o’clock position. This showed that the man who tossed it would be well able to toss tree trunks across streams to bring them safely home to build his steading. It should be noted that there are many small but swift flowing rivers in Scotland. A bad throw would see the tree trunk float out to sea.

The girls could watch the young lads at the Highland Dancing, viewing the dances that were traditional for men, and young lads could watch the girls at the Highland Dancing as they showed off their posture and grace with dances such as The Lilt and the Flora MacDonald dance.

Now the Games are held for pleasure. Come and enjoy yourself by participating or just watching. There will be Sprints, 3-legged races, Wheelbarrow races. Waiter’s races, a Pillow Fight, A Wellie Toss, A Rope Throwing contest, a 7-man team contest Bagpiping, Highland Dancing and a Tug-O-War. We will also be Kirking the tartan.

Traditionally when Scots went abroad to fight their family often went with them and before a battle the wives would take the tartan to church and ask the minister to bless the tartan and keep the wearer safe. This event is not done in Scotland but is often done at Games around the world.
Interested? Contact us at kansaihighlandgames@sin-cos-group.com