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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 of kemari 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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