By YASUHIKO SHIMA/ Senior Staff Writer
July 12, 2025 at 17:53 JST
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako meet Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and first lady Luvsandorj Bolortsetseg on July 12 on the outskirts of Ulan Bator to watch the horse racing event of the Naadam festival. (Pool)
ULAN BATOR--Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched how Mongolians race horses in a wild prairie setting on July 12 during a traditional festival to showcase the country’s nomadic sports and arts culture.
The Naadam national festival also features Mongolian wrestling and archery. One event involves throwing the shagai, or a sheep’s ankle bone, to hit a target.
The winners are treated as national heroes.
Naruhito and Masako were welcomed to the venue on the outskirts of the Mongolian capital by Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and first lady Luvsandorj Bolortsetseg.
They spent time in a traditional Mongolian ger and exchanged pleasantries.
They then moved on to view the race of 5-year-old horses. More than 100 horses were entered in the event and children rode the animals for a distance of about 20 kilometers.
The imperial couple used binoculars to follow the horses over the finish line and Naruhito could be seen taking photographs.
The imperial couple attended the Naadam opening ceremony on the previous day.
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