[Verification] Tradition or Lives? Background and New Challenges Behind Soma Nomaoi's Shift from July to May

The Soma Nomaoi, with over a thousand years of history, has long been held in late July. However, starting in 2024, its timing has been significantly changed to late May. This decision is highly unusual in the preservation of traditional events, representing the agonizing answer of modern mounted warriors to the ultimate question: “Tradition or life?”

This article examines the urgent background leading to the timing change and explores the risks and challenges the new May schedule poses for the Nomaoi.

1. The Battle Against Extreme Heat: Crossing the Threshold

The primary reason for the timing change is the intense summer heat caused by global warming.

The 2023 Nomaoi was held amid scorching heat, with temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F). This harsh environment pushed both riders and horses to their limits.

• Impact on Riders: New military strategist Mr. Mitsukiyo Monma received IV drips starting three days before the event and continued receiving them on the day itself. Despite this, he was forced to dismount temporarily during the procession.

• Impact on Horses: Mr. Sumi Sakamoto's horse showed signs of heatstroke, forcing him to withdraw from the sacred flag contest. Furthermore, there have been past incidents where horses died from heatstroke.

Military Advisor Monma revealed that the change, originally planned for 2025, was brought forward due to the horse fatalities and the high number of emergency transports. This was a pragmatic decision by the event organizers prioritizing the lives and safety of both humans and horses over maintaining tradition.

2. Background and Circumstances of the Schedule Change

The Soma Nomaoi had long been held in July as a traditional event following the lunar calendar. However, clinging to this historical basis threatened the very continuation of the tradition itself.

Item Old Date New Date Reason Late July Late May Ensuring human and horse safety amid extreme heat Traditional custom Prioritizing life and safety 2023's extreme heat was the deciding factor Impact Increased risk of heatstroke and horse deaths Heavy rain Increased risk of horses becoming agitated Pursuit of tradition's sustainability

3. New Challenges Presented by the May Schedule

While avoiding the major challenge of extreme heat, the May schedule presents new risks and challenges for the Nomaoi.

3.1. Rain Risk and Protecting Traditional Horse Gear

Late May marks the onset of the rainy season, increasing the likelihood of rain. The Monma Gunshi (Military Strategist) expresses concern that many pieces of armor and horse gear, made of “leather and lacquer,” could deform or deteriorate if exposed to water.

• Challenge: Urgent measures are needed to protect historical equipment from water damage (preparing rain gear, enforcing strict storage methods, etc.). Adaptation strategies for traditional materials and modern climate change are required.

3.2. Horse Vitality and Rider Skill

Cooler weather introduces new problems regarding horse health management.

• Challenge: Horses, which were docile in the heat, risk becoming “too energetic” in cooler weather. The military strategist Monma is increasingly wary of the potential for accidents like falls or runaways, as controlling the horses becomes more difficult. This demands even higher levels of equestrian skill and control from the mounted warriors.

4. Shifting Tradition from “Preservation” to “Utilization”

This change in the event's timing demonstrates the community's “flexibility for transformation” in the face of multiple crises confronting the Soma Nomaoi (earthquake disasters, climate change, declining birthrates and aging population).

Rather than clinging to tradition as “unchanging,” the attitude of ‘utilizing’ and “renewing” it is the only path to connect a thousand-year-old tradition to the future. The shift to a May date is a major step toward this goal and will serve as an example to the world of the resilience (robust recovery capacity) needed for traditional events to adapt to modern society and survive.