Nara, Nara Japan

An annual 300-year old event at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Shika-no-Tsunokiri or deer antler cutting ceremony is held at the deer enclosure along the path to the Omotesando the shrine. Deer become aggressive during the mating season, and as it is believed they become a danger to themselves and to humans, they are corralled at the shrine and their antlers sawn off by volunteers (seko) wearing happi coats. A running deer is chased and caught. Water is given to it to make it calm down, and the antler is cut off.

10/14/06

Why worry about the danger of the antlers?

The deer at Nara park roam freely There are hundreds of them. They were once considered messengers of the gods. They have bedome a symbol of the City and have been declared a national treasure. The deer are not exactly tame, but they will come right up to you and ask to be feed.