Organizers of an annual horse festival in Japan where riders dressed as samurai re-enact battles said Tuesday they were considering changing dates for the gathering next year, after sunstroke affected 111 animals, killing two of them.
Japan has recorded its hottest average July temperatures in over 100 years, and on Tuesday heatstroke alerts were in place in 26 out of 47 prefectures, with the mercury forecast to hit 38 Celsius in places.
At least 111 horses -- and dozens of people -- needed treatment for sunstroke at the Soma Nomaoi festival in Fukushima prefecture from July 29 to 31, after temperatures touched 35 degrees, the hottest in five years, organizers said.
Two of the animals died, they said.
The annual three-day event, which features more than 400 participants dressed as medieval samurai warriors fighting on horseback over flags that are shot overhead by fireworks, attracted more than 120,000 people, reports said.
Yoshichika Hirata, a member of the festival's executive committee, told AFP that changing the date of next year's event to a cooler period would be discussed at a meeting on Thursday.
"We sprinkled water on the track for the first time, as extreme heat was expected. We used three water-sprinkler cars, but water dried up quickly," Hirata said.
One horse died during last year's festival, after which a majority of riders supported a plan to change the date, according to a survey done in December.
© 2023 AFP
27 Comments
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factchecker
Neigh doubt about it. The heat galloped that day.
3RENSHO
STOP tormenting these defenseless animals!!! Datte, datte, datte sah, maitoshi doori--this is what we always do, every year, therefore [we are unable to change the schedule]...
Jimizo
These noble fellow mammals have been at our side building our civilizations for centuries.
Treat them with the respect they deserve.
Chabbawanga
In this heat it just takes a little common sense.
sakurasuki
It's more than battle reenactment, it's actual battle for those animal to stay alive.
That place as one prefecture of Tohoku that considered cool place but not anymore.
Organizers is fortunate enough that no life is missing suffering from heat stroke.
kurisupisu
Isn’t there a vet in attendance at these events?
At least it wasn’t kids running around…
Sanjinosebleed
Absolute morons! Think outside the box for god sake! How about doing it in October or April???
No…we can’t change….muppets!
wallace
Horses should never be maltreated for any reason.
Alongfortheride
If they had that many animals there then there was most likely and onsite Vet, He/She should have the power to say call it off.
EFD
Don’t these horses know that it’s just summer and hot? No sign of global warming….
Reginald Bok
So cruel and so sad.
Tradition is sometimes revolting in Japan.
tamanegi
But sadly this is Japan and three decades here has taught me that the show must always go on..
nosuke
Reminds me of the movie from Tom cruise the last samurai
sf2k
Now change sports days for Kids likewise
Yuuju
Japanese have many things that I respect them for but such cruelty is what I will never understand, accept or approve. Simply cruel and disgusting.
Mark
So Bad, so how many more horses must die before the dates are changed, Greed is so Ugly.
Mark
Should change to camels instead of horses! what!? did you say change?? that is a No No word around here, Nah we have always used horses, MURI
garypen
This makes me so angry and sad.
ClippetyClop
Agreed. More angry than sad. The horse owners are negligent here.
Bloke in the back of a k-truck with a watering can probably.
Give the horses a sprinkle too. Maybe some cold water and strong fans between gallops. Use your imaginations.
Mr Kipling
Japan's over riding philosophy at work... Tradition before common sense.
nosuke
Suck to get heat stroke i a read what the prognosis is like after your are lucky to survive it at the emergency room. Hopefully they will learn a lesson but never the case extreme events should not be held in the hottest times.
JeffLee
I don't think any outdoor mass event should be held during summer in this part of the world, also keeping in mind the scout jamboree in Korea and all the other dangerous fiascos that happen every year. Swimming might be an exception.
Japan is a paradox
Any animal should not be maltreated for any reason.
wallace
Japan is a paradox
The article is about horses.
Mat
Next year, put some humans in a horse costume and have them run the track themselves. See how they like it.
wallace
Go and troll somewhere else.
sunfunbun
Whether it's racing at the Kentucky Derby or a Samurai event, horses are mistreated.
Those race type horses are often bred as the elite stature of the species, but with human intervention, likely have underlying deficiencies that expose them to injury.
Horses naturally evolved, and not meant to be ridden, even though humans think so.
Humans always put ourselves over everything else. It's such a falsehood to think we are spiritual animals, when 'spirituality' exists with everything on earth, but we're the only things that have to consciously label it, and not naturally live it, like horses set free from the saddle.