KYOTO — A shrine in this west Japan city on Jan. 4 showcased the first game of ancient “kemari” Japanese football in an annual event that takes place at the start of each new year.
Held at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward, the event saw eight members of the Shukiku Hozonkai (kemari preservation society), wearing colorful traditional clothing, cooperating to keep a white deerskin ball aloft primarily by kicking.
Unlike soccer, kemari is not a contest between players but a game in which all participants keep a ball airborne for as long as possible, kicking gently with the right foot without bending the knee. Players communicate their intent verbally, taking or asking responsibility for continuing the ball’s flight, with spectators applauding for particularly long rallies.
Emperor Meiji (1852-1912), a kemari enthusiast, ordered that the society be established to preserve the game. During the event on Jan. 4, the society introduced ceremonial rituals and demonstrated foot skills to onlookers. Chairperson Takashi Yamamoto, 76, commented, “I’d like people to understand that the spirit of kemari is to value harmony and wish for a world without conflict.”
(Japanese original by Yoko Minami, Kyoto Bureau)
In Photos: Ancient ‘kemari’ Japanese football event kicks off 2026 at Kyoto shrine
AloJapan.com