Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

MINAMISOMA, Japan, May 25 Kyodo - People dressed as armored warriors compete in a horse race during the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2025. (Kyodo)

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

People dressed as armored warriors compete in a horse race during the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

People dressed as armored warriors compete in a horse race during the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

People dressed as armored warriors compete in a horse race during the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

People dressed as armored warriors compete in a horse race during the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

People dressed as armored warriors compete in a horse race during the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor take part in the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 24, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor take part in the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 24, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor take part in the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional horse festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 24, 2025.

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor take part in the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2024.

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor take part in the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2024.

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor take part in the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2024.

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Traditional horse festival in northeastern Japan

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor take part in the annual "Soma-Nomaoi" traditional festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2024.

Horseback warrior appears in Joban Expressway ceremony

Horseback warrior appears in Joban Expressway ceremony

YAMAMOTO, Japan - A horseman of the traditional "Soma Nomaoi" festival adds zest to a ceremony in the Miyagi prefectural town of Yamamoto on Dec. 6, 2014, as the northeastern Japanese town was fully connected with Namie town in Fukushima Prefecture on the Joban Expressway. Parts of the expressway section between the two towns had not opened.

Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

SOMA, Japan - A horseback rider wearing old style riding gear participate in "yoinorikeiba" of the Soma-Nomaoi, a 1,000-year-old traditional festival, in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2014. The number of participants almost returned to the level before the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

SOMA, Japan - Horsemen dressed like samurai warriors compete at the Hibarigahara field in the city of Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, during the Soma-Nomaoi festival on July 26, 2014, the first day of the three-day event. The district is known for horse breeding and the festival is said to have its origin in the early 10th Century.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

SOMA, Japan - Horsemen dressed like samurai warriors compete at the Hibarigahara field in the city of Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, during the Soma-Nomaoi festival on July 26, 2014, the first day of the three-day event. The district is known for horse breeding and the festival is said to have its origin in the early 10th Century.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

SOMA, Japan - Horsemen clad in armor and helmets parade in the city of Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 26, 2014, as the traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival starts a three-day run. The district is known for horse breeding and the festival is said to have its origin in the early 10th Century.

Soma-Nomaoi festival starts in Fukushima Pref.

Soma-Nomaoi festival starts in Fukushima Pref.

SOMA, Japan - The Soma-Nomaoi, a 1,000-year-old traditional festival, begins in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 26, 2014.

Soma-Nomaoi festival parade in Hawaii

Soma-Nomaoi festival parade in Hawaii

HONOLULU, United States - Horseback riders of the Soma-Nomaoi festival, a national important intangible folk culture in Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, parade through Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 15, 2014, during the 35th Anniversary Pan-Pacific Festival.

Soma-Nomaoi festival parade in Hawaii

Soma-Nomaoi festival parade in Hawaii

HONOLULU, United States - Horseback riders of the Soma-Nomaoi festival, a national important intangible folk culture in Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, parade through Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 15, 2014, during the 35th Anniversary Pan-Pacific Festival.

Fukushima horse chase festival

Fukushima horse chase festival

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Men chase a horse in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on the last day of the three-day Soma Nomaoi traditional wild horse chase festival on July 30, 2012. The annual event was held in an almost fully reinstated form after it was scaled down last year in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - A warrior procession marches on a street in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 28, 2012, in a wild horse chase festival. The three-day Soma Nomaoi, a traditional event dating back more than 1,000 years, began in an almost fully reinstated form after it was scaled down last year in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - A warrior procession marches on a street in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 28, 2012, in a wild horse chase festival. The three-day Soma Nomaoi, a traditional event dating back more than 1,000 years, began in an almost fully reinstated form after it was scaled down last year in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - A warrior procession marches on a street in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 28, 2012, in a wild horse chase festival. The three-day Soma Nomaoi, a traditional event dating back more than 1,000 years, began in an almost fully reinstated form after it was scaled down last year in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

Horse chase festival in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - A warrior procession starts from Soma Nakamura Shrine in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 28, 2012, in a wild horse chase festival. The three-day Soma Nomaoi, a traditional event dating back more than 1,000 years, began in an almost fully reinstated form after it was scaled down last year in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster.

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - Participants of the Soma Nomaoi (Soma Wild Horse Chase), an annual festival in Fukushima Prefecture that traces its roots to 10th-century feudal Japan, leave the Soma Nakamura Shrine in Soma city, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 23, 2011, to kick off the three-day event.

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - Michitane Soma (on horseback), 36, who is the eldest son of the 33rd patriarch of the former Soma clan, walks past a house heavily damaged by the March 11, 2011 tsunami, in the city of Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 23, 2011. The rider was participating in the Soma Nomaoi (Soma Wild Horse Chase) on the first day of the three-day event, an annual festival that traces its roots to 10th-century feudal Japan.

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - Participants of the Soma Nomaoi (Soma Wild Horse Chase), an annual festival in Fukushima Prefecture that traces its roots to 10th-century feudal Japan, offer silent prayers for those who perished in the March 11 quake and tsunami disaster, in the city of Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 23, 2011, the first day of the three-day event.

Samurai festival in Fukushima

Samurai festival in Fukushima

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Performers wearing samurai armor on horseback vie for a red flag (C, top) in the Shinki (God flag) Sodatsusen battle during the Soma Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24, 2010. About 38,000 spectators were treated to the show.

Samurai festival in Fukushima

Samurai festival in Fukushima

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Performers wearing samurai armor on horseback run in the Katchu Keiba race during the Soma Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24, 2010. About 38,000 spectators were treated to the show.

Samurai festival in Fukushima

Samurai festival in Fukushima

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Performers wearing samurai armor on horseback run in the Katchu Keiba race during the Soma Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24, 2010. About 38,000 spectators were treated to the show.

Samurai festival in Fukushima

Samurai festival in Fukushima

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Performers wearing samurai armor on horseback run in the Katchu Keiba race during the Soma Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24, 2010. About 38,000 spectators were treated to the show.

Armored men compete in flag-catching game in Fukushima festival

Armored men compete in flag-catching game in Fukushima festival

MINAMISOMA, Japan - An armored man (C) on horseback successfully catches a blue flag, one of the three flags scattered from fireworks in a flag-catching game during the three-day traditional Soma Nomaoi Festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24.

Armored men compete in 1,000-m horse race in Fukushima festival

Armored men compete in 1,000-m horse race in Fukushima festival

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Armored men on horseback run through a 1,000-meter race course during the three-day traditional Soma Nomaoi Festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24.

'Soma Nomaoi Festival draws tourists

'Soma Nomaoi Festival draws tourists

HARAMACHI, Japan - Thousands of tourists and locals watch horses carrying armed warriors run in the field in Haramachi, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24 in the annual 'Soma Nomaoi Festival' that dates back more than 1,000 years.

Traditional 'Soma Nomaoi Festival' held in Fukushima

Traditional 'Soma Nomaoi Festival' held in Fukushima

HARA, Japan - Armed warriors race on horseback during the ''Soma Nomaoi Festival'' at Hibarigahara, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24. Some 22,000 spectators enjoyed the traditional race, which dates back more than 1,000 years.

Traditional "horse-chasing" festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional "horse-chasing" festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Horsemen dressed like samurai warriors dash on a 1,000-meter circuit at the Hibarigahara field in the city of Minamisouma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 24, 2016, during the second day of the wild horse-chasing festival called "Soma-Nomaoi." The festival, which is said to have a history dating back to the early 10th century, attracted around 43,000 spectators. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Traditional "horse-chasing" festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Traditional "horse-chasing" festival in Fukushima Prefecture

Horsemen dressed like samurai warriors compete to grab sacred flags shot into the air with fireworks at the Hibarigahara field in the city of Minamisouma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 24, 2016, during the second day of the wild horse-chasing festival called "Soma-Nomaoi." The festival, which is said to have a history dating back to the early 10th century, attracted around 43,000 spectators. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

"Wild horse-chasing" festival held in Fukushima town

"Wild horse-chasing" festival held in Fukushima town

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor parade from a shrine as a three-day wild horse-chasing festival begins in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 25, 2015. Called Soma-Nomaoi, the annual summer festival in the Soma-Futaba region of Fukushima in northeastern Japan, which is known for horse breeding, is said to have a history dating back to the early 10th century. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

"Wild horse-chasing" festival held in Fukushima town

"Wild horse-chasing" festival held in Fukushima town

Horsemen dressed in samurai armor parade from a shrine as a three-day wild horse-chasing festival begins in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 25, 2015. Called Soma-Nomaoi, the annual summer festival in the Soma-Futaba region of Fukushima in northeastern Japan, which is known for horse breeding, is said to have a history dating back to the early 10th century. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Horsemen dressed like samurai warriors race on a 1,000-meter circuit at the Hibarigahara field in the city of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, during the Soma-Nomaoi festival on July 26, 2015. The district is known for horse breeding and the festival is said to have its origin in the early 10th century. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Horsemen dressed like samurai warriors compete for 40 shrine flags shot into the air with fireworks during the Shinki Sodatsusen, one of the highlights of the three-day Soma-Nomaoi festival, on Hibarigahara field in the city of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 26, 2015. The district is known for horse breeding and the festival is said to have its origin in the early 10th century. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Traditional Soma-Nomaoi festival in Fukushima Pref.

Horsemen dressed like samurai warriors compete for 40 shrine flags shot into the air with fireworks during the Shinki Sodatsusen, one of the highlights of the three-day Soma-Nomaoi festival, on Hibarigahara field in the city of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 26, 2015. The district is known for horse breeding and the festival is said to have its origin in the early 10th century. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

The Soma Nomaoi traditional ritual is performed at the J-Village soccer training center in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 25, 2021, before the start of the Tokyo Olympic torch relay.

'Soma Nomaoi Festival draws tourists

'Soma Nomaoi Festival draws tourists

HARAMACHI, Japan - Thousands of tourists and locals watch horses carrying armed warriors run in the field in Haramachi, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24 in the annual 'Soma Nomaoi Festival' that dates back more than 1,000 years. (Kyodo)

Samurai festival in Fukushima

Samurai festival in Fukushima

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Performers wearing samurai armor on horseback run in the Katchu Keiba race during the Soma Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24, 2010. About 38,000 spectators were treated to the show. (Kyodo)

Samurai festival in Fukushima

Samurai festival in Fukushima

MINAMISOMA, Japan - Performers wearing samurai armor on horseback vie for a red flag (C, top) in the Shinki (God flag) Sodatsusen battle during the Soma Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 24, 2010. About 38,000 spectators were treated to the show. (Kyodo)

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - Michitane Soma (on horseback), 36, who is the eldest son of the 33rd patriarch of the former Soma clan, walks past a house heavily damaged by the March 11, 2011 tsunami, in the city of Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 23, 2011. The rider was participating in the Soma Nomaoi (Soma Wild Horse Chase) on the first day of the three-day event, an annual festival that traces its roots to 10th-century feudal Japan. (Kyodo)

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

1,000-year-old festival opens in Fukushima

SOMA, Japan - Participants of the Soma Nomaoi (Soma Wild Horse Chase), an annual festival in Fukushima Prefecture that traces its roots to 10th-century feudal Japan, leave the Soma Nakamura Shrine in Soma city, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 23, 2011, to kick off the three-day event. (Kyodo)