Tanzan-jinja

Kemari is elegant ball game that was popular among court nobles in ancient Japan. Mountains in fresh spring verdure offer the perfect backdrop for this traditional event at Tanzan-jinja Shrine. Wearing beautiful kimono, performers kick and pass the ball gracefully. Tanzan-jinja enshrines Kamatari Fujiwara, a 7th century figure and the vassal of a prince. Legend has it he and the prince met at a kemari game, and so the Shrine hosts the ancient ball game biannually in spring and autumn in commemoration of this historical event.