Kemari - Images From Japan: July 2002
The game of 'kemari' is thought to have spread to Japan in the seventh century AD from China, where the earliest form of football - Tsu Chu originated.
'kemari' is basically a form of "keepy-uppy" and was originally
played by aristocrats in a special area marked out by trees. This 'pitch'
was called a 'kikutsubo' - a 'tsubo' being 3 square meters. The object
of the game is to keep the ball (an 8-inch diameter deerskin stuffed with
sawdust) in the air for as long as possible by kicking it from one player
to the next. Each player is allowed as many touches as necessary to control
the ball before passing it on.
The game gradually spread from the upper classes to the rest of society
between the 10th and 16th centuries before losing popularity.
The game today survives
as a festival occasion ('matsuri') played by Shinto priests in various
shrine festivals across Japan.
The 1400 year-old game of 'kemari' being played by priests at Shiramine Shrine Kyoto, Japan. No goals, no offside, no yellow cards.
Photographs İMaciej Kanert
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