The Soma Nomaoi, a millennium-old equestrian tradition in Minamisoma, Japan, has rescheduled its annual events to May to mitigate the risks associated with rising temperatures.

相馬野馬追之祭是日本南相馬市一項擁有千年歷史的騎馬傳統，現已將年度活動重新安排在五月舉行，以降低氣溫升高所帶來的風險。

The Soma Nomaoi originated as a military training exercise for mounted warriors and has maintained a documented continuity for at least four centuries, persisting through significant regional disruptions, including the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Historically, participation was restricted to the samurai class until the dissolution of the feudal system in the late 19th century, with gender-based restrictions being lifted following World War II.

相馬野馬追之祭起源於騎馬武士的軍事訓練，紀錄顯示其延續至少四個世紀，即使經歷了重大的區域性動盪，包括 2011 年的東日本大地震及其後福島第一核電廠事故，依然得以保存。在歷史上，直到 19 世紀末封建制度解體前，參與資格僅限於武士階級，而性別限制則在第二次世界大戰後被取消。

Recent meteorological trends have necessitated a strategic rescheduling of the event. The Japanese meteorological agency has introduced a specific designation for 'cruelly hot' days, coinciding with a record-breaking summer in the previous year. The physiological strain on participants—who wear approximately 25 kg of armor over traditional kimonos—and the equine participants became untenable during the peak summer months. This culminated in the 2023 iteration, where over 100 horses and numerous humans required medical intervention for heatstroke, resulting in two equine fatalities. Consequently, the 2024 event was transitioned to late May, with temperatures recorded at approximately 18°C.

近期的氣象趨勢使得該活動必須進行策略性改期。日本氣象廳為「酷暑」日引入了特定定義，且去年夏季氣溫創下紀錄。參與者需在傳統和服外穿著約 25 公斤的盔甲，這對參與者及馬匹造成的生理壓力在盛夏期間變得無法負荷。這在 2023 年達到頂峰，當時超過 100 匹馬與眾多人員因中暑需要醫療干預，並導致兩匹馬死亡。因此，2024 年的活動移至五月下旬，當時記錄溫度約為 18°C。

Despite this operational adjustment, the festival faces systemic threats to its longevity. The high cost of equine procurement and maintenance, compounded by the demographic decline associated with Japan's aging population, has led to a steady reduction in participant numbers. While the temporal shift is viewed by local institutional representatives as a positive step for participant welfare, the long-term viability of the tradition remains a subject of concern for veteran practitioners.

儘管進行了此項操作調整，該祭典仍面臨影響其長久生存的系統性威脅。昂貴的馬匹購置與維護成本，加上日本人口老化導致的人口下降，使得參與人數穩定減少。雖然當地機構代表認為時間上的調整是保障參與者福祉的積極步驟，但對於資深從業者而言，該傳統的長期可行性仍是令人憂慮的問題。

The Soma Nomaoi has successfully transitioned its schedule to avoid extreme heat, though it continues to face challenges regarding demographic shifts and operational costs.

相馬野馬追之祭已成功調整日程以避開極端高溫，但仍持續面臨人口結構變遷與操作成本的挑戰。