Sep 16, 2013 - 1 min read

Fujisaki Hachimangu Grand Festival

Horse-chasing through the Kumamoto streets

By Mandy Bartok

Community writer

Revelers at the Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine Festival

A horse balks at entering the Shimotori shopping arcade

Each horse is attired in the colors of the group it represents

Drummers and trumpeters accompany each group

A group makes its way down Shimotori shopping arcade

Kumamoto welcomes autumn with a raucous festival of murky origins. Originally called the Boshita Festival (though the name was later retired due to alleged anti-Korean connotations), the five-day celebration culminates in an uma-oi, an equestrian event where groups of followers "chase" their respective steeds through the streets, dancing, drumming and blowing trumpets. The parade kicks off on the precincts of Fujisaki Hachiman Shrine at 6am, with ceremonies and costumed samurai but latecomers can catch the horse-chasing excitement anywhere along the parade route through the Kamitori and Shimotori arcades. (Fear not - all horses are carefully controlled.)