Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Aug 27, 2005 21:48:04 GMT -5
PENDLETON — The Wild West will meet the Far East at the 2005 Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Night Show. Seven samurai warriors from Haramachi City will be the guests of the Round-Up Board of Directors and the city of Pendleton.
The warriors, who perform at the horse racing festival in Pendleton’s sister city every July, will don their armor and mount borrowed horses to appear in three events.
The samurai will be in the Happy Canyon Night Show on Sept. 15. They will then ride in the Westward Ho! Parade on Sept. 16 as well as give a demonstration at the Round-Up grounds at 12:30 p.m. that same day.
“It’s an interesting connection and expansion of our sister city relationship on a very large level,” Round-Up President Tom Weeks said. “The people in our area will be exposed to an entirely different aspect on how horses are used in various cultures.”
Soma Nomaoi — the name of Haramachi City’s festival — is said to have begun more than 1,000 years ago when wild horses were released to assume the role of the enemy. According to legend, the horses that were captured were considered sacred and offered to Myoken, the god of military arts.
The festival has changed in many ways throughout the years. Today, more than 600 mounted samurai, clad in armor and helmet, dash along riding wild horses. The warriors have a sword at their sides and carry their family banners.
Pendleton City Manager Larry Lehman was excited about the visit was well.
“It’s going to really be something else,” he said. “What an honor it is that they wanted to do this. We’re really hoping the people will get to the Round-Up grounds early on Friday to see this.”
Finding horses for seven samurai warriors was a complicated task that saw help coming from near and far, spearheaded by Melissa Joseph of La Grande.
“It’s been a challenge,” Weeks said. “Many individuals with little or no ties to Round-Up in La Grande and Boise as well as close by are helping.”
Round-Up and Happy Canyon arranged for the horses and the city has made the hotel arrangements for the delegation from Haramachi City. All travel expenses, however, are being paid by the visitors themselves, Lehman said.
Within their social status, there are different ranks of samurai with different privileges that have been in place since the 12th Century. The highest rank of samurai warriors are those allowed to fight while on horseback.
While samurai do not have an official status in Japan today, their descendants receive high esteem from other members of the Japanese population, according to the publication, “Asian Art Mail.”
The samurai will be part of a contingent of 29 from Pendleton’s sister city during Round-Up and Happy Canyon week.
www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=42913
The warriors, who perform at the horse racing festival in Pendleton’s sister city every July, will don their armor and mount borrowed horses to appear in three events.
The samurai will be in the Happy Canyon Night Show on Sept. 15. They will then ride in the Westward Ho! Parade on Sept. 16 as well as give a demonstration at the Round-Up grounds at 12:30 p.m. that same day.
“It’s an interesting connection and expansion of our sister city relationship on a very large level,” Round-Up President Tom Weeks said. “The people in our area will be exposed to an entirely different aspect on how horses are used in various cultures.”
Soma Nomaoi — the name of Haramachi City’s festival — is said to have begun more than 1,000 years ago when wild horses were released to assume the role of the enemy. According to legend, the horses that were captured were considered sacred and offered to Myoken, the god of military arts.
The festival has changed in many ways throughout the years. Today, more than 600 mounted samurai, clad in armor and helmet, dash along riding wild horses. The warriors have a sword at their sides and carry their family banners.
Pendleton City Manager Larry Lehman was excited about the visit was well.
“It’s going to really be something else,” he said. “What an honor it is that they wanted to do this. We’re really hoping the people will get to the Round-Up grounds early on Friday to see this.”
Finding horses for seven samurai warriors was a complicated task that saw help coming from near and far, spearheaded by Melissa Joseph of La Grande.
“It’s been a challenge,” Weeks said. “Many individuals with little or no ties to Round-Up in La Grande and Boise as well as close by are helping.”
Round-Up and Happy Canyon arranged for the horses and the city has made the hotel arrangements for the delegation from Haramachi City. All travel expenses, however, are being paid by the visitors themselves, Lehman said.
Within their social status, there are different ranks of samurai with different privileges that have been in place since the 12th Century. The highest rank of samurai warriors are those allowed to fight while on horseback.
While samurai do not have an official status in Japan today, their descendants receive high esteem from other members of the Japanese population, according to the publication, “Asian Art Mail.”
The samurai will be part of a contingent of 29 from Pendleton’s sister city during Round-Up and Happy Canyon week.
www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=42913
