Nomaoi Matsuri

Nomaoi Matsuri (Horse Festival)

July 23-25Eight villages take part in the Horse Festival held in Haramachi, Japan, in July. Hibarino moor provides the open space where men on horseback wearing ancient armor and helmets reenact a military muster that was originally organized by a former lord of the fief. Other festival events that take place on the moor include the breaking of wild horses, horse races, and games, while in town there is a procession of men and their horses and a parade of shrine floats.
CONTACTS:
Haramachi City
2-27 Motomachi, Haramachi-shi
Fukushima-ken, 960-8035 Japan
81-2-4422-2111; fax: 81-2-4424-5214
www.city.minamisoma.lg.jp
SOURCES:
JapanFest-1965, p. 165