Japanese name：相馬野馬追（そうまのまおい）
Event period：May
Venue：Fukushima
A millennium-running, magnificent festival of Tohoku
【history】
Soma no Maoi is a traditional event in Fukushima Prefecture with a history of more than 1,000 years.
Its origin is said to be that the warlord Taira Shomon of the Heian period released wild horses in Shimoso Province and drove them into the horses for military training.
Later, the Soma clan, a descendant of the shogunate, moved to Tohoku and inherited this event as a shrine.
In the Edo period, the form of the festival was established, and it has continued to be protected as the pride of the region since the Meiji era.
While overcoming the earthquake and changes in the social situation, the “living history” that the local people have worked together to inherit is still alive.
【Feature】
The greatest attraction of the Soma Nomaoi Festival is the overwhelming sense of realism created by armored horsemen actually riding horses. It is not merely a tourist event, but a ‘sacred ritual’ held as a festival of the Soma Sanyo Myoken Shrines (Nakamura, Ota, Odaka), which is also a distinctive feature.
The main highlights are as follows:
１．A spectacular procession of about 400 armored warriors
２．Exciting competitions using real horses (armored horse races and sacred flag contests)
３．Traditional structure with roles divided by region
４．A valuable festival that conveys the memory of samurai culture to the present day
５．Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan
From 2024, to cope with extreme heat, the event period has been changed from the traditional July to the last week of May, making it easier for people to participate.
【Content】
■ Day 1: Departure Ceremony
At Soma Sanmyoken Shrine, the warriors declare their departure and march toward the main camp.
The gleam of armor and the neighing of horses signal the beginning of the festival.
■ Day 2: Parade and Armored Horse Racing
The parade through the city streets looks like a historical picture coming to life.
In the afternoon, armored warriors wearing white headbands race on horseback in the armored horse races, sending waves of excitement through the audience.
■ Day 3: Sacred Flag Snatching Battle
The climax of the festival.
Brave horseback warriors compete to seize the sacred flag that is launched high into the sky in a magnificent ritual.
The sound of hooves, the dust rising, and the warriors’ fighting spirit merge together, enveloping the venue in intense energy.
How was it? There are still many fun things in Japan. Please be sure to try them when you visit Japan.
Let’s Enjoy！
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