Soma Nomaoi is a festival in Minamisoma city of Fukushima prefecture. The festival has been happening for more than 1000 years and normally it lasts three full days with lots of events, of which the most impressive are the ones performed by samurai horse riders.
This year (2011) the festival was much smaller and the main event that was a horse-riders' parade, was on saturday the 23rd of July. Other major events could not happen because they couldn't use some of the areas in Minami Soma...
more »Soma Nomaoi is a festival in Minamisoma city of Fukushima prefecture. The festival has been happening for more than 1000 years and normally it lasts three full days with lots of events, of which the most impressive are the ones performed by samurai horse riders.
This year (2011) the festival was much smaller and the main event that was a horse-riders' parade, was on saturday the 23rd of July. Other major events could not happen because they couldn't use some of the areas in Minami Soma where it was traditionally held as they are within the 20 and 30 km zones from the nuclear plant. Also many people were mourning family members they lost during the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, and many costumes and armors were destroyed or lost in the sea. The horse-riders that take part are from old samurai families and they wear armors that can be more than 100 years old.
The festival was held this year because the king of Soma: Soma Michitane (head of the Soma family) who is in charge of the festival said it should be held. The festival was important for delivering the message that despite the damage Minami Soma had , people are still holding on, living their lives and keeping a fighting spirit. Also for protecting the history and culture of this area. Minami Soma went through many crises like war and famine but the festival never stopped from happening. The victims of the disaster asked for the festival to happen again so is was also organized for them, to cheer them up and lift their spirits.
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