Connecting the Community with the Future through Soma Nomaoi — IHI’s Soma Works Helps Carry On a Local Tradition
IHI’s Soma Works participated in Soma Nomaoi, a traditional event held in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture from May 23 to 25, 2026. Passed down for more than a thousand years, Soma Nomaoi is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property held to pray for peace and tranquility in the region.
A total of 199 IHI Group employees participated, serving in roles such as guarding the mikoshi portable shrine, carrying the gohōren sacred palanquin, portraying the Four Guardian Deities, carrying flags, and performing devotional duties. Together with members of the local community, they helped carry on this traditional event. Employees who took part said, “I felt the community’s strong commitment and unity in passing this tradition from parents to children and grandchildren,” and “I gained renewed, profound respect for the festival after realizing that it is a sacred ritual that participants and their families approach with great seriousness.” The experience also provided an opportunity to learn how the support of many people—including local residents, businesses, and visitors—carries the tradition into the future.
The trust built with the community and the growth of employees fostered through such engagement provide a foundation for business continuity and the creation of new value. The IHI Group will continue to contribute to preserving and revitalizing local culture.
