Latest news with #Hosokawa
Yomiuri Shimbun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Hundreds of Samurai Riders Ride High Fukushima Pref. Festival; Soma Nomaoi Festival Attracts 35,000 Spectators on Sunday
The Yomiuri Shimbun Mounted Samurais with banners on their backs gallop the circuit in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on Sunday. The Soma Nomaoi festival's main event was held on Sunday in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, where about 35,000 spectators enjoyed a scene that seemed straight from a heroic picture scroll of the Warring States period. Nomaoi is a traditional festival in the Fukushima's Soma region that lasts for three days. On Sunday, the second day, the Kacchu Keiba horse racing was held on a 1.2-kilometer circuit course. Mounted samurai clad in armor galloped through the circuit with their helmets off, their banners streaming behind them with mud splashed on their faces. Starting this year, the requirement for women to be 'under 20 years old and unmarried' was removed. Miwa Hosokawa, a 39-year-old woman from Minamisoma, participated in the event for the first time in 20 years. She was the winner in the Shinki Soudatsusen battle for the sacred flag, where hundreds of mounted samurai fight to capture sacred flags that are shot into the air. 'I'm happy to be able to feel like a human and a horse in one,' said Hosokawa. 'I am overjoyed to be able to participate in Nomaoi again.' The last day on Monday features Nomakake, in which the participants catch bare horses with only their hands, will be held to complete the three-day event.
Asahi Shimbun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
1,000-year-old horse riding festival throws out gender rules
Miwa Hosokawa, center, holds the sacred flag in her mouth after capturing it during a May 25 event that took place at this year's Soma-Nomaoi in Fukushima Prefecture. (Wataru Sekita) MINAMI-SOMA, Fukushima Prefecture—Eight women were among a multitude of entrants who rode in the 'Soma-Nomaoi' (Soma wild horse chase) festival, an annual three-day event that dates back around 1,000 years. This year's large turnout was the result of the festival eliminating rule restrictions exclusive to female participants for the first time ever. Previously, only unmarried women under 20 were allowed in the saddle. Miwa Hosokawa, 39, was able to join for the first time since she was 19 and wore a traditional "jinbaori" samurai surcoat at the May 24 opening ceremony. The surcoat had been sewn by her mother, Tamiko, who passed away two years ago. Hosokawa also battled other riders in a May 25 event where each fought to capture a sacred flag as it fell back toward earth after being shot into the sky with fireworks. The crowd of about 35,000 fans roared their approval when she caught the flag and Hosokawa broke down in tears. 'I feel my mother was looking down on me,' she said. 'I hope the (relaxed conditions) will allow more women to take part in order to preserve this traditional event.' After the decision was made in February to do away with the age restriction for women, 31-year-old Ayano Uehara, who works for the Soma city government, began taking horse riding lessons so she could join the Soma-Nomaoi. She had been helping support the festival as a city government employee until last year. Seeing a man who was a former classmate taking part sparked Uehara's interest in participating. For her first festival, Uehara chose to ride in the parade through city streets with riders dressed in samurai attire rather than enter one of the competitions. 'Based on this experience, I want to think about what is needed to hand down the traditional event,' she said. Uehara added that in future years she wants to participate in the event to capture the sacred flag and another where entrants race around a track dressed in samurai armor. Hosokawa, meanwhile, had decided to solely concentrate on the flag capturing event because she felt the race was too physically demanding. The rule change also means more potential for Hosokawa's life outside the festival. While she has a common-law husband, she has not formally married because of the now-defunct condition that only single women can sign up. 'With the single woman condition also eliminated, I want to think about marriage after things settle down a bit,' she said.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
EDO TOKYO TIMELESS EXHIBITION Decided to Be Held
It also includes workshops where you can experience Japan's traditional craftsmanship! TOKYO, February 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 9, 2025, Tokyo Metropolis will hold the "Edo Tokyo Kirari Project's EDO TOKYO TIMELESS Exhibition: Encountering Tokyo's Time-Honored Brands at Wakeijuku" at Wakeijuku in Bunkyo-ku, famed as the former residence of Marquis Hosokawa. Tokyo Metropolis has implemented the Edo Tokyo Kirari Project, based on the concept of "Old meets New," to hone the traditional skills, products of long-established shops, and so on throughout Edo-Tokyo from new perspectives and to spread their value and appeal in Japan and overseas as a brand that represents Tokyo. This time, we will hold a hands-on exhibition to have many people learn about this project furthermore. This exhibition will see 39 model businesses participate, each offering the value and appeal of historical, traditional industries in new forms. We will exhibit each model business's techniques and products to allow visitors to see and experience in person the traditional skills of food, clothing, and shelter that Edo-Tokyo boasts to the world. In addition, we will offer workshops where visitors can experience and enjoy each business's techniques, such as Kumiko woodcraft and Kumihimo braiding. The exhibition will also feature special products created in collaboration with Parisian designers, which were exhibited at the French international trade fair Maison&Objet Paris. Enjoy traditions beloved and passed down over the ages, from Edo to Tokyo, from various perspectives. Please see our special article for details about the Event Overview Name: Edo Tokyo Kirari Project's EDO TOKYO TIMELESS Exhibition: Encountering Tokyo's Time-Honored Brands at Wakeijuku Dates and times: 10:00 - 17:00, Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 9, 2025 *10:00 to 16:00 on the last day only. Venue: Wakeijuku Honkan (former Marquis Hosokawa residence) 1-21-2 Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112- 8682 *No parking is available, so please do not come by car. Admission: Free (costs apply to joining the workshops, etc.) Organizers: Tokyo Metropolis, Edo Tokyo Kirari Project Details: Displays, workshops, sales, etc., related to the techniques and products of Edo Kirari Project model businesses Overview of the Edo Tokyo Kirari Project & Links Website: Special article on exhibition: Instagram: Facebook: Overview of WakeijukuWakeijuku Honkan (former Marquis Hosokawa residence) is a typical early Showa-era mansion of Kazoku (Japanese peerage). It was built in 1936 by Marquis Moritatsu Hosokawa, the 16th head of the family. In 1955, Kisaku Maekawa purchased the former Marquis Hosokawa house and its over-23,000 m2 estate from the family and established a male students' dormitory called Wakeijuku within the grounds. Aside from once or twice a month, the grounds are normally closed to the public, but they will be open during this three-day event. Wakeijuku Honkan (former Marquis Hosokawa residence) Official Sitehttps:// View source version on Contacts Inquiries about the Edo Tokyo Kirari ProjectPlanning and Coordination Section, General Affairs Division, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government2-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Japan 163-8001Tel: +81-3-5320-4685E-mail: S0290106@ Sign in to access your portfolio
