J-Vlog 10: Nara Antler Cutting Ceremony

On October 9th, 2011 I attended the annual "Antler Cutting Ceremony" in Nara. They have been doing this ceremony for hundreds of years to protect the trees, and people from the territorial deer in the fall during mating season. It doesn't hurt them to cut the antlers off, so don't worry! This Ceremony was SO much fun to watch, it was really intense! One of my favorite trips in Japan so far. C:

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• japan
• j-vlog
• study
• abroad
• osaka
• japanese
• nara
• antler
• cutting
• ceremony

[saularonne]

NCCAW (National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare - Australian governament) has concerns that harvesting, without the use of appropriate analgesia (pain relief) is a painful procedure. Cutting deers' antlers before maturation, and without adequate pain relief, is cruel and should be prohibited.

[oneeyedme]

@saularonne If you have a problem, take it to Japan and see if they give half a shit. :U

[ColonelFerguson]

OMG THIS IS HORRIBLE!! Animal cruelty!! How could anyone do such a thing! The poor animal's cute little nose is bleeding!!! I'm calling PETA on you.

[oneeyedme]

@ColonelFerguson Yah I noticed the bleeding nose and was like 'wtf how did that happen."

But yah, the reason why I even want to clarify them not getting hurt is because

1. The internet is full of morons (which means they will ignore/not see my comment)

and

2. When I first put pics of this up on facebook my Mom commented "What is the point of this other than pure cruelty?!"

I was like wow, really mom?

[Zombielolcats]

...At least they gave it a pillow. :<

[ColonelFerguson]

@japanascope Haha yeah, I was joking when I said all that, the OP's a friend of mine.

[japanascope]

@ColonelFerguson Well, this is at Nara Park in Nara, Japan. I've been there before. It's a big park and the deer live pretty peacefully there and seem to be well taken care of. When I went there, there were a lot of tourists and some of the deer seemed stressed out. Some Japanese kids were taunting the deer as well. But there are places in the park where the deer can go to get away from humans.

[ColonelFerguson]

I lol'd at the deer eating that guy's shirt.