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Riders dressed in samurai regalia and bearing standards recreate an ancient ritual. (© Haga Library)
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Riders swarm as they struggle to snatch the sacred flags. The victors, in high spirits, then dash up the hillside to present their prize to the commander-in-chief camped at Nakamura Shrine. (© Haga Library)
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The nomakake ritual is said to be unchanged since ancient times. (© Haga Library)
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Brightly clad horses and their handlers create an enchanting scene. (© Haga Library)
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The trek to Morioka takes four hours. (© Haga Library)
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The umaire ritual features sturdy farm horses racing through a flooded rice paddy. (© Haga Library)
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A horse and rider dash through the paddy, spraying mud as they go. Such stunning shots are almost always guaranteed a top place finish at the festival’s photo contests. (© Haga Library)
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Women plant rice seedlings to the sound of taue (rice planting) songs. (© Haga Library)
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