In Japan, a samurai horse festival that’s taken place at the height of summer for more than 1,000 years was moved to late May in 2024 in response to climate change–fueled extreme heat that caused riders and spectators to collapse and horses to die from heatstroke.
For more than a millennium, Japan has celebrated its samurai heritage with armoured horseriders charging through the countryside during its annual Soma Nomaoi festival. Up until two years ago, the…
