Article Kemari 蹴鞠

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A game of kemari (蹴鞠), a ball game introduced from China around 1,400 years ago, was recently played on the grounds of Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) in Nara. Played with a deerskin ball, kemari was once a popular pastime among court nobles. Today it is generally known as a graceful game in which players keep the ball in the air and prevent it from touching the ground. The version performed at Kasuga Taisha, however, is known as manyō kemari (万葉蹴鞠). It recreates an older style of play believed to be more competitive than the form seen today.

Kemari

A nonprofit in Nara attempted to determine the format of this older style and added points that are scored by kicking the ball into the opponent's territory. The style was revived to coincide with the 2002 FIFA World Cup cohosted by Japan and South Korea. The nonprofit has continued to stage performances at the shrine. At the event on May 23, competitors dressed in ancient costumes split into two teams and played a match. Kenta Irimajiri, a freestyle soccer player, also captivated the crowd with a display of his footwork.
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