"Soma nomaoi" A japanese traditional festival / 相馬野馬追 July 24, 2010

[sahraoui2910]

Mabo san, I wonder if you live in Soma? If so, you must be struggling daily right now with the whole town, with the aftermath of the disaster. This 'Soma' clicked to me suddenly (this video is among my favourite). Hope you're fine, and all your family and those samurais and local people. My deep condolences to those deceased. This year, there may be no Soma Nomaoi festival taking place... ? No matter, it'll recover some day. Wish all the survivors will thrive. Take care. Gambare Tohoku!

[hawaiianstyleinjapan]

WOW!!! So nice festival.

[rss313]

とっても面白いしてえ！　同じ祭りに行きたい

[sahraoui2910]

Wow, is this horse racing or festival, in traditional warrior uniform? the man who fell over, I hope he's all right? Are all these warriors, ordinary people? Splendid, but it may be a bit too hot in July, dressed like that...

[mabo3]

Hi sahraoui2910 !

Yes, this is a traditional festival of Samurai warriors dressed with "Kabuto"( a warrior armor). Unfortunately, there is no living Samurai in Japan, so they are ordinary citizen.

The man fell from a horse was sent by an ambulance after the accident. I think he is all right.

As you imagine, it's very hot in Japan, but Samurai have to accept the hotness...it's kind of "Bushido".

[sahraoui2910]

Thanks for reply mabo3, I see, even bearing the extreme heat, is part of masculinity, right? Have these people trained for this festival, or they can ride horses easily from the beginning? Because that horse racing in warrior uniform, not everyone can do naturally? (although I've seen many warriors like this in Kurosawa films, for example)