Kikuma Festival

Each year in mid-October in Kikuma, Imabari City, an exciting horse race marks an ancient festival at Kamo Shrine. The festival is said to have originated in the Muromachi period (1336–1573), about 500 years ago, and draws on a similar festival held in Kyoto. Boys up to 15 years of age race on horseback up the 300-meter approach to the shrine. The horses, decorated with colorful saddles and accessories, are called otomo-uma, (accompanying horses) because they accompany the portable shrines carried during the festival. The event is held each year to pray for family safety and a good harvest and includes lion dancers and other performers. The festival is an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Ehime Prefecture.