Horse Runs into Spectators at Soma Nomaoi; Three Hospitalized
Three people were taken to hospital after a horse bolted from the course at the Soma Nomaoi festival on May 24, 2026, in Minamisoma, officials said.
The Soma Nomaoi festival’s armor horse race, known as kacchu keiba, was underway on May 24, 2026, when a mounted rider was thrown and the horse ran off the course into a crowd, injuring several people, organizers and the Soma Regional Wide-Area Fire Department said. Emergency services received a 119 call at about 12:55 p.m. Japan Standard Time reporting that a horse was out of control at the Hibarigahara Festival Ground in Minamisoma’s Haramachi Ward.
Horse Runs from Course, Three People Taken to Hospital
Officials said the falling rider’s mount crossed the demarcated route and struck spectators after leaving the track. A local festival staff member reported the animal collided with three or four people near the passage between the course and the stands.
Ambulances transported three injured individuals to nearby hospitals, the Soma Regional Wide-Area Fire Department confirmed. Authorities said the injuries were not life-threatening, and one person was observed to be bleeding at the scene.
Incident Occurred During ‘Kacchu Keiba’ Armor Horse Race
The incident happened during one of the festival’s principal events, the kacchu keiba, where riders dressed in traditional armor race on horseback. According to event staff, a single horse that had started its run threw its rider and then bolted off the designated course.
Festival staff described the sequence as the horse surging through the corridor separating the audience from the track and running onto a public road connected to the Hibarigahara grounds before making contact with people outside the venue. Organizers immediately halted activities and coordinated with emergency responders.
Emergency Response and On-Site Measures
Soma Regional Wide-Area Fire Department units and other emergency services arrived quickly following the 119 call and treated victims on site before hospital transport. Local medics assessed the injured and reported that, based on initial checks, there were no life-threatening conditions.
Organizers said they worked with police and medical teams to secure the area and prevent further escalation. The festival’s safety officers are reviewing the incident to determine whether additional immediate measures are required for the remainder of the day’s program.
Organizers Report Additional Injury Information
The Soma Nomaoi executive committee acknowledged receiving reports that another person may have been hurt, beyond the three transported to hospital. Committee representatives said they were seeking to verify that information while cooperating with emergency services.
Officials declined to offer detailed medical updates on individual victims, citing privacy and the need for confirmation from hospitals. The committee said it would release further updates once authorities complete their on-site investigations.
Venue and Local Impact in Minamisoma
The accident occurred at the Hibarigahara Festival Ground, a long-standing site for the annual event in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture. The area connects directly to surrounding roads, a factor organizers will likely examine in assessing crowd and course separation.
Local authorities indicated they would review crowd-control arrangements and the passageway configuration that allowed the horse to leave the course. Nearby residents and businesses reported increased traffic as emergency vehicles accessed the site.
Cultural Significance of Soma Nomaoi and Safety Concerns
Soma Nomaoi is a centuries-old samurai-era horse festival that draws participants and spectators from across the region and beyond. The event, designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, features mounted processions, ritual horse chases, and the controversial kacchu keiba armor races.
Organizers emphasized the festival’s historical and cultural importance, but the accident underscores inherent risks in live equestrian events. Officials said they would balance preserving tradition with strengthening safety protocols to protect participants and the public.
The Soma Nomaoi executive committee and local authorities said they will continue coordinating with emergency responders and medical facilities, and will provide a fuller account of the incident and any follow-up safety measures after investigations conclude.
