【Part 4】What is the Divine Banner Battle?

At the heart of the Soma Nomaoi festival is the “Shinki” sacred banner, inscribed with the names of the Soma Myoken Three Shrines (Soma Ota Shrine, Soma Odaka Shrine, Soma Nakamura Shrine). This banner is a piece of cloth approximately 35 centimeters wide and 150 centimeters long, color-coded: red for Ota Shrine, yellow for Odaka Shrine, and blue for Nakamura Shrine.

In the past, Nakamura Shrine's sacred banner was white. However, during the era when the Nomoi was held during the rainy season (early July), the white banner was sometimes difficult to see under cloudy skies. Therefore, it was changed to blue to improve visibility. This change is passed down as an example of the evolution and ingenuity of the Nomoi.

The Divine Flags and the Role of the Gunja

The divine flags are not mere pieces of cloth. They are sacred symbols and the centerpiece of the competition. The whips carried by the officials called “gunja” are adorned with the flags of the Sanmyoken (red, yellow, white). This signifies their deep connection to the divine flags and underscores their role in supporting the entire festival.

The Spectacular “Sacred Flag Contest”

The Sacred Flag Contest is a particularly captivating part of the festival. In this event, the sacred flag is placed inside a fireworks shell and launched high into the sky. When the shell bursts open, the sacred flag falls from within. Warriors on horseback must use their designated whips to snare the sacred flag. In this contest, grabbing it by hand or using any other type of whip is strictly forbidden.

The warrior who captures the sacred flag races up the winding slope toward the summit of Honjin Mountain, where the commander-in-chief awaits. Upon reaching the peak, they report their victory, present the captured flag, and receive various rewards.

Rewards for the Sacred Flag Contest

The victorious warrior in the Sacred Flag Contest receives the following rewards:

Shinto Shrine Amulets

They receive an amulet from the shrine whose emblem was on the captured sacred banner (Ōta Shrine, Odaka Shrine, Nakamura Shrine). For example, capturing the red banner earns an amulet from Ōta Shrine.

Replica of the Sacred Flag

The actual sacred flag obtained is enshrined at Honjinzan, so warriors cannot keep it. However, due to numerous requests for “We want the sacred flag itself!”, replicas of the same specifications have been presented in recent years.

Local Business Prizes

Local businesses and shops sponsor various prizes. In 2019, prizes included “gift certificates, industrial fans, miso soup & egg soup mix, two bottles of sake, detergent sets, one-shoulder bags, oil gifts, mini umbrellas, kitchen paper, and rice crackers.” The prizes change every year, making what will be awarded part of the fun.