Kyoto Festival: Trick Riding Festival at Fujinomori Shrine (Kakeuma Shinji)

Horses once played a big part in Japanese military endeavors as the samurai warrior class rose and fell from power, but these days there aren’t many chances to see horses up close in Japan. Still, in homage to their role on the battlefield one shrine in southern Kyoto, Fujinomori Shrine, performs a traditional trick riding ritual each year. The current program includes seven different tricks said to be based on riding moves warriors would employ to avoid arrows, conceal themselves from enemies, and gather information, Every year in early May the kakeuma shinji, (trick riding ritual), is held during the Fujinomori Festival. The gods of Fujinomori are known for their dominion over military prowess and victory, which is why the warrior-inspired horsemanship is used as an offering for their entertainment. Of course, the many people who gather to watch the event enjoy it as well! Riders, called “noriko“, range from local men who are the latest in a generations long tradition to men from other prefectures who bec