Many women wore "Happi" coats (robes that reach to the hips ... wanted to take part to help bring excitement to this town and festival," said 59-year-old civil servant Emi Tachibana, one of ...

Sources said prefectural government officials also observed festival participants repeatedly hitting the horses with traditional “happi” coats or ropes. Although such behavior “cannot be ...

This festival has been celebrated for centuries ... However, they will remain fully clothed, dressed in traditional happi coats, and avoid the traditional violent clash of near-naked men in ...