Ashizoroe shiki of Kamo horse race 足汰式
2022
Kamo Ashizoroe shiki takes place though Aoi matsuri and Saiohdai Gyokei no Gi were canceled due to COVID-19.
- Dates 5/1/2022
- Tickets available at 11:30 Kyochi horse racing starts around 13:00
- East side seat 500 JPY West side seat 1,000 JPY
- Check the Kamigamo shrine official web site.
Ashizoroeshiki is a ritual held prior to Aoi matsuri festival in Kyoto. It is held on 1st of May at Kamigamo shrine. In this ritual, the pairs and turns of Kamokurabeuma are decided. It has a long history: In 2019, the 953th Asizoroeshiki will be held on 1st of May.
The reserved seats 有料観覧席
The both side of the course, there are reserved seats. The east side (the left in the photo) is 500 yen for each and the west side (the right in the photo) is 1,000 yen for each. If it was a sunny day, we would get suntan. When horses run, it is prohibited to hold parasol because it reflects sunlight and make them frightened. It is banned to use strobe of camera for the same reason.
The horses
Ashizoroeshiki is a ritual held prior to Aoi matsuri festival. Emperor Horikawa asked manor of Kamigamo shrine to dedicate horses because of its importance. Due to this historical fact, the horses attend in Asizoroeshiki has name of manors. Following a custom, horses dedicated by Mimasaka no Kuni Shidorinosyo (Okayama prefecture) and Kaganokuni Kanazuno sho (Ishikawa prefecture) made a pair. The pair runs preceding the other horses.
Norijiri, the jockeys are descendants of the Kamo clan. They starts practicing around 10 years old to prepare for the future Kurabeuma.
The saddles and stirrups are extraordinary beautiful with genuine silver inlaid work. They are dedication of Keisyunin. She is a mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. She visited frequently Kamigamo shrine to pray for a birth of boy child. Thanks to the Deity of Kamigamo shrine, she gave birth to Yoshimune, she dedicated the equipment for Kamokurabeuma.
Chozu no gi 手水の儀於庁屋
Norijiri, the jockeys of Kamokurabeuma attend a ritual to purify them at Chonoya.
Omuchi Arai no Gi お鞭洗いの儀
In front of Kamoyamaguhi shrine, the sub-shrine of Kamigamo shrine, Jockeys put their horsewhip in the stream to purify them.
Joba Ashiarei no Gi 乗馬足洗いの儀
At Narano Ogawa stream in Kamigamo shrine, horses are purified with the water of the stream. This has another purpose: to get rid of heat from the legs.
After the horses, the jockeys purify themselves with the water.
Ketsuke no Gi 毛付の儀
At the Babaden, the judges know the conditions of the horse.
The horses start walking at the goal to start in zigzag way. It is called “Kyusetsu Nanka.” It means they walk to the south turning 9 times in zigzag. In the walk, they understand the condition of the course.
This is a traditional fence called Rachi. It is made of bamboo and leaves to make the damage to horse and spectator minimum.
Kuchi 駆馳（くち）
12 horses runs in the course. The judges decide pairs of them and their turns.
In Ashizoroe shiki, the jockeys in Noue （狩衣）outfit.
On the other hand, they are in Hoh（袍）, the dancing outfit because winner used to dance in front of the emperor in ancient times.
Kyochi 競馳（きょうち）
In Kyochi, the horses runs in a pair decided in Kuchi.
Tasukinori no Gi 襷乗の儀（たすきのりのぎ）
After Kyochi, the jockeys give theri prayers to Kamigamo shrine in front of the Torii gate.
They head for Babaden to make the judges sure that their decision were right or wrong.
Kanpai no Gi 勧盃の儀
In this ritual, Ashizoroe shiki finishes.
Access to Kamigamo shrine
From JR Kyoto station
Take subway Karasuma line and get off at Kitaoji station. From Kitaoji bus terminal adjacent to Kitaoji station, take the bus no. 37 and get off at Kamigamo misonobashi bas stop.
