AMA_SHOWCASE_v4

KEMARI • ケマリ
The traditional game of Kemari is played in Heian Period dress (794-1185)
This Kemari was played at the Shiramine Jingu, a shrine to the God Seidai Myojin who
is popularly known as the god of sports, and especially soccer and the day is celebration
of the Emperor Junnin who is buried at the shrine.
It is a non-competitive sport.The object of Kemari is to keep one ball in the air, with all players cooperating
to do so. Players may use any body part with the exception of arms and hands – their head, feet, knees,
back, and depending on the rules, elbows to keep the ball aloft. The ball, known as a mari, is made of
deerskin with the hair facing inside and the hide on the outside. The ball is stuffed with barley grains to
give it shape. When the hide has set in this shape, the grains are removed from the ball, and it is then
sewn together using the skin of a horse.
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The one who kicks the ball is called a mariashi. A good mariashi makes it easy for the receiver to
control the mari, and serves it with a soft touch to make it easy to keep the mari in the air.
Matthew Ashton travels to Japan to cover the traditional game
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of Kemari in Kyoto
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