Minamisoma Festival

Ohayo gozaimasu students,

Former samurai culture is a big part of Minamisoma's heritage. For over a 1000 years this area of Fukushima prefecture has been used as a military training ground for samurai warriors. When the samurai first started training here under the direction of a Daimyo, or feudal lord, they captured wild horses to use. The Festival which takes place every July is one of the most popular festivals in Japan, much like the Kentucky Derby. During the festival, men whose ancestors were samurai here during the feudal period participate in events that recall their past history. Perhaps you are familiar with the Civil War reenactment that takes place in Perryville, I think, every June; it is very similar to that activity. Participants must research the attire they will use, the weapons, the tack for their horses, and the manners the samurai used. Originally, the samurai would capture wild horses to use in the training exercises, then the samurai would release them to return to the wild. Today, the participants release wild horses that they have captured also, but the horses that they use in the festival activities are their own horses and go back home with them.
More about the samurai tomorrow.