International Equestrian Film Series: The Horses of Fukushima
Free Program, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 1-3 p.m.
Horse cover (detail), northern Japan, 1868-1912. The Textile Museum Collection 2021.17.8. Brick Freedman Collection.
Inspired by the exhibition Adorning the Horse: Equestrian Textiles for Power and Prestige, a special series this spring brings global equestrian cultures to life with an international selection of films. Join us for a screening of The Horses of Fukushima, a Japanese film following the story of rancher Shinichiro Tanaka who raises horses for the Soma Nomaoi ("chasing wild horses") festival in Minamisōma, Fukushima.
Following the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, Tanaka returned to find his surviving horses starving and refused to obey the government’s orders to kill them. The film’s director Yoju Matsubayashi spent the summer helping Tanaka care for his horses. In documenting their rehabilitation, Matsubayashi has produced a profound meditation on animals who live as testaments to the tragic bargain human society made with nuclear power. The film won the “Muhr Asia Africa Documentary Best Film Award” at the 2013 Dubai International Film Festival. Watch the trailer
Japan, 2013, 74 minutes, in Japanese with English subtitles. Note: Some scenes contain graphic animal imagery.
About the Exhibition
For millennia, horses have captivated humans with their beauty, strength and majesty. From Türkiye to Japan, civilizations have elaborately costumed these prized animals. In Adorning the Horse: Equestrian Textiles for Power and Prestige, a magnificent selection of saddle blankets, horse covers and other equestrian textiles from the past 1,300 years communicates the significance and status of horses and their riders. Learn more about the exhibition
How to Participate
This program is free and will take place in person at the museum. Space is limited, so please register in advance to reserve your spot.
Additional Information
Photos and/or videos of attendees of this program may be taken and shared on social media, websites or marketing materials. Please contact MuseumEd
gwu [dot] edu (MuseumEd[at]gwu[dot]edu) if you have questions about photography or recordings at this program.