FUKUSHIMA, Japan: Armoured horsemen thundered around a racetrack on Sunday (May 24) during the main festival day of the Soma Nomaoi, an ancient equestrian event in Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, that drew about 40,000 spectators.
The traditional festival, which is said to have a history spanning more than 1,000 years, has been designated by the government as an important intangible folk cultural property.
The event featured Katchu Keiba armoured horse racing, in which mounted warriors clad in samurai armuor raced around a roughly 1.2-kilometre track.
Another highlight was the Shinki Soudatsusen battle, where riders competed to seize sacred flags launched into the sky by fireworks.
During Sunday’s horse race, a mounted warrior fell from their horse, and the animal bolted off course.
According to the event organizer, six people, including spectators and staff members, were injured after they were struck by the horse or caught in the incident.
Two of them are believed to have suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital by ambulance. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening. - The Japan News/ANN
