Photo/Illutration Armored samurai warriors compete to take a red-colored sacred flag at the Soma-Nomaoi festival in Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on May 26. (Masaaki Kobayashi)

MINAMI-SOMA, Fukushima Prefecture--An action-packed 1,000-year-old festival here, featuring armored samurai warriors on horseback, was held two months earlier than usual to avoid the grueling summer heat.

One of the “Soma-Nomaoi” (Soma wild horse chase) festival’s main events, a parade of costumed warriors and their horses through the streets of Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, was held on May 26.

They also competed in horse races and battles to take a sacred flag at the festival’s main venue, Hibarigahara-saijochi, in the city.

About 390 horses participated this year and about 73,000 spectators attended that day. 

The three-day festival has been held in the Soso district of the prefecture for about 10 centuries, traditionally at the end of July--but this year, it was moved up to late May.

The highest temperature on the day of the festival was 26 degrees, a reasonable temperature for both people and horses.

At the main event last year, the thermostat hit 35.2 degrees.

Masatsugu Hoshi, 38, and his 10-year-old horse participated in all the festival’s events this year, including a 3-kilometer street parade.

Hoshi said he suffered from heat stroke at last year’s festival and his horse was also exhausted, so they had to retire halfway through the event.

“This time, both of us were fine right up to the end. I hope the festival will continue in a reasonable way for both horses and humans,” he said.

Another participant Tatsuo Nishiuchi, 44, said, “Horses were always exhausted by the heat, but this year they were in good spirits.”

“We need to be flexible and change the way the festival is held in order to carry on the tradition,” he said.

About 33,000 spectators gathered at Hibarigahara-saijochi, 5,000 more than last year.

Mayumi Masubuchi, 61, who came to see the festival for the first time from western Tokyo, said she had given up on ever seeing the festival because of the sweltering heat in July.

However, once the date was moved up, she was able to attend.

“The sound of flags blowing in the wind during the armored horse race was very powerful, and I was able to experience the real thrill of the event” she said.

According to the festival organizer, 17 people, including riders and spectators, were treated for heat stroke at first-aid stations this year--59 fewer than last year.

According to the Minami-Soma police station of the Fukushima prefectural police, a male participant and a female spectator were seriously injured with broken bones after being kicked by horses.

A 72-year-old armored samurai warrior was kicked in the leg while leading his horse on foot, breaking a bone in his left thigh.

A 62-year-old woman from Yokohama was kicked in a horse stable at the main venue, breaking a bone in her left arm. The stable was open to the paying public.

(This article was written by Yasushi Okubo and Yukiko Sakamoto.)

Related News