Soma Nomaoi is more than a festival where horses race and fight for flags. It is a living warrior picture scroll that conveys samurai traditions and aesthetics to the present day. Its dignity is underpinned by the costumes worn by the mounted warriors and the language they exchange.
This article explores the efforts to maintain and restore the dignity of tradition and the samurai pride embodied in it through regional differences in Nomaoi costumes and an anecdote about the "samurai language" reconstructed by former military strategist Nakajima Miki.
1. Colors of Each Region: The Aesthetics of Armor and Jinbaori
The Soma Nomaoi is made up of five "villages," each with its own unique traditions and roles. These regional differences are also clearly evident in the costumes of the mounted warriors.
| District Classification | Main Clothing | Characteristics and Background |
| South of Nakano-go | Light "jinbaori" (battle coat) | A style that emphasizes mobility. |
| Kita-go and Uda-go | Heavy "armor" | Valued the status of the domain of the supreme commander (lord). |
The military strategist is in a position to oversee all of these villages, so he must take into consideration the traditions of each village. The story of the new military strategist, Monma Mitsukiyo, who did not stick to the traditions of his own Nakano Village, but instead accepted the requests of the other villages and greeted them in armor, was an example of the coordination skills and political judgment that were extremely important in achieving harmony among the organizations.
2. Revival of “Samurai Speech”: The Creation of Tradition
The greatest achievement in restoring the dignity of Nomaoi was the reconstruction of the "samurai language" by former military strategist Nakajima Miki.
2.1. A Fading Tradition
When Nakajima was younger, participants' speech patterns were an extension of everyday conversation, such as "Brother, let's go!", and the solemnity of the Nomaoi festival was in danger of being lost. He was saddened by this and keenly felt the need to restore the dignity that Nomaoi should have.
2.2. Reconstruction through Self‑Study and Workshops
Nakajima studied the samurai language and mannerisms appropriate for Nomaoi on his own by watching NHK's period dramas and history programs. He then held study sessions and provided thorough instruction to ensure that participants understood this.
This act was not simply a reproduction of past traditions, but could also be called a "creation of tradition." He re-staged speeches and phrases that were once on the verge of obsolescence in a way that was appropriate for modern Nomaoi.
“People come from all over the country to see this — I don’t want them saying, ‘What kind of event is that?’”
Nakajima's words reflect the strict stance he took in balancing the event's role as a tourist attraction with the pride of samurai warriors. Eleven years of hard work, including a ban on wearing baseball caps during the procession, laid the foundation for the orderly Nomaoi we see today.
3. Efforts to Preserve and Restore Tradition
The aesthetics of the Soma Nomaoi are by no means immutable. They are the “fruit of the creative efforts” of predecessors such as Mr. Nakajima, and are maintained and refined day by day through the “coordination and adaptability” of current warriors such as Mr. Monma.
Nakajima's words reflect the strict stance he took in balancing the event's role as a tourist attraction with the pride of samurai warriors. Eleven years of hard work, including a ban on wearing baseball caps during the procession, laid the foundation for the orderly Nomaoi we see today.
