On Monday, November 4 (public holiday), we will be holding the “Soma Nomaoi Armored Horse Race,” an important intangible folk culture asset of Japan.
Instead of the usual fanfare music, we will enjoy a rendition of Hatsuba no Kai (lit. conch shell for the horse races). Before the race, there will be a ceremony featuring the blowing of the Reigai (lit. conch shell of thanks) and singing of the folk song Soma Nagareyama.
Soma Nomaoi is a long-standing traditional event in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture and has been described as “the world’s greatest horse festival.”
Don’t miss the chance to see the brave and heroic mounted warriors galloping before your eyes, up close and personal.

Be sure to visit our PR booth for Soma Nomaoi, where you can also purchase specialty products from Fukushima Prefecture.

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[Soma Nomaoi Armored Horse Race]

Date

Monday, November 4 (public holiday)

Time

From around 4:50 P.M. to 5:10 P.M.

Location

Oi Racecourse, Main Horse Track

Details

(1) Nomaoi Ceremony (blowing of the conch shell, folk song Soma Nagareyama, etc.)
(2) Armored horse race by mounted warriors

[The Relationship Between TCK and the Soma Nomaoi Festival]

The Soma Nomaoi festival has been held at Oi Racecourse (TCK) 25 times since the first event on August 28, 1977. The last event was held was in 2019, and this will be the first time in five years after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Soma Nomaoi festival is held every May in the Soma region, featuring over 400 brave mounted warriors, and is described as “the world’s greatest horse festival.” The Armored Horse Race, the highlight of the event, sees these warriors racing at full speed, their ancestral banners streaming in the wind.

TCK and Soma Nomaoi share a deep connection. In the past, Soma Nomaoi was featured as part of Japan Family Day, an event introducing Japanese culture, during the TOKYO CITY CUP at Santa Anita Park in the United States, a sister racecourse to the Oi Racecourse.

The Soma Nomaoi event at TCK is a culmination of great efforts from related organizations such as Minamisoma City, the Minamisoma Tourism Association, and the Nakanogo Equestrian Club. On the day of the event, after a performance of the ancient folk song Soma Nagareyama, young warriors, dressed in white headbands and without helmets, will race across the main track. We can all look forward to a truly magnificent display of the armored horse race.