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[Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture] Travel back in time to the Sengoku period? The Battle of Kawanakajima is reenacted in Yonezawa in the Reiwa era. Eliminate and eliminate infections!
[Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture] Travel back in time to the Sengoku period? The Battle of Kawanakajima is reenacted in Yonezawa in the Reiwa era. Eliminate and eliminate infections!
Held in Yonezawa City, Yamagata PrefectureUesugi FestivalIt's a big event that takes place over four days
On the final day, the Battle of Kawanakajima is recreated on the banks of the Mogami River that runs through the city, and it's so spectacular that it feels like you've traveled back in time
Young men dressed in armor engage in a fierce battle, and you can see the excitement building in the audience as well
During the festival, you can experience the splendor of the Warring States period, including the Emperor Wu ceremony on the eve of the battle
In this article, we will introduce not only the festival schedule and access, but also the background of the festival itself and information on the kimono dressing experience that tourists can enjoy
What is the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival?
The Yonezawa Uesugi Festival is a representative spring festival of the northern region of Yonezawa, held every year from April 29th to May 3rd in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
This festival commemorates the famous Sengoku period general Uesugi Kenshin and his retainers. It begins with the annual festival held at Matsusaki Shrine on April 29th, the anniversary of Uesugi Kenshin's death, and continues with a procession led by a warrior dressed as Uesugi Kenshin, as well as a reenactment of a battle by the Uesugi army
Additionally, in the shopping districts of Yonezawa city, you can enjoy various events and gourmet food related to the Uesugi Festival, creating a collaboration between the Sengoku period and the present day
This is a festival that cannot be missed by anyone interested in Japanese history and culture, or anyone who loves period dramas, warlords, swords, etc
Want to know more about the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival?
The festival is an enjoyable event that brings together the local community, with events such as folk song performances and a drum and fife parade by elementary school students from near Uesugi Shrine
The most popular of these are the warrior procession and the reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima. The role of Uesugi Kenshin, who leads the majestic mounted warriors, is played by an ordinary man selected through auditions held every year
The warriors are played by high school students and ordinary people from the city, and the naginata team is made up of female junior college students from the city, and although they are not professionals, they show off their impressive acting skills
What is the Emperor Wu ceremony for the eve of the festival?
"Uesugi Kenshin held a military ceremony each time he went into battle, some 70 times, and prayed to the gods and Buddhas for victory. This ritual was based on his strong belief that he would defeat injustice and wrongdoing on behalf of the gods and Buddhas."
The Emperor-style pre-festival, held on May 2nd, begins in the evening with a procession of Emperor-style troops dressed in the armor, helmets, and flags of Uesugi Kenshin, parading from Yonezawa Castle Ruins Park to Uesugi Shrine
By the time the Emperor Wu's army arrives at Uesugi Shrine, it is beginning to get dark, and the Gotensui ceremony and the War God Kanjo ceremony, which are held solemnly in the light of bonfires, are held to pray for victory and safety in battle
To further inspire the troops, there was a demonstration of artillery techniques that have been passed down through the generations in the Yonezawa domain, and the sound of the artillery team members shouldering their heavy matchlock guns and firing them all at once reverberated deep into your stomach
April 29th (Saturday, national holiday) Opening Festival / Around Denkoku-no-Mori 9:00~ Opening Ceremony 9:30~ Stage Event 10:00~ Uesugi Shrine Annual Festival 11:15~ Folk Dance Parade (Alternating Parade of Traditional Yonezawa Shincho and Hanagasa Ondo) 13:00~ Stage Event
Sunday, April 30th, 10:00am - Matsusaki Shrine Annual Festival The deities enshrined at Matsusaki Shrine are Uesugi Yozan, Uesugi Kagekatsu, Kagekatsu's chief vassal Naoe Kanetsugu, Yozan's teacher Hosoi Heishu, and Takemata Totsuna and Misato Yoshimasa, who assisted Yozan.
Tuesday, May 2nd , 16:30 - Takenoshiki Military Procession [Uesugi Family Mausoleum → Uesugi Shrine] 18:30 - Takenoshiki / A ceremony to pray for victory at the Denkoku-no-Mori Square and to mark Uesugi Kenshin's departure for battle.
May 3rd (Wednesday, national holiday) 9:30am - Mikoshi procession / Starting location to be determined. Uesugi Shrine's mikoshi and the city's elementary school drum and fife corps will parade. 10:20am - Uesugi Army Procession / Starting in front of Kojo Elementary School . Heading out to Kawanakajima! A majestic warrior procession will parade through the city. 2pm - Battle of Kawanakajima / The fierce clash between Uesugi and Takeda on the Matsukawa Riverbank! A reenactment of the largest deadly battle in the history of the Warring States period.
A full lineup of warriors! A total of 700 warriors will be fighting in the battle
The main event will be a reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima, which will be held on May 3rd . "The Battle of Kawanakajima is an incident (battle) that is said to have taken place between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, who were trying to expand their territory during the Sengoku period. "
The decisive battle begins with the firing of a matchlock gun by the Uesugi army, and a powerful reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima, said to be the deadliest battle in the history of the Sengoku period, unfolds on the riverbank that runs through the city, with scenes including an all-out attack by a total of about 700 warriors from both sides, and an actual river crossing by the Takeda troops
The climax of the film is when Uesugi Kenshin charges into the Takeda army alone, recreating the famous scene of his one-on-one battle with Takeda Shingen, which is so dramatic it's almost as if you've traveled back in time to the Sengoku period
The paid box seats are located almost in the center of the venue, so you can see the entire battle, but since the battle is held across a large area of the riverbed, you can still get a good feel for the atmosphere even from a little distance away
Every year, armored warriors are recruited for the Battle of Kawanakajima, so if you apply in advance (costume fees apply), you may be able to participate in the festival
*Please note that applications for this year's event are now closed
summary
It is no exaggeration to say that the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival is the festival that locals look forward to the most in the year, as it is like an explosion of joy at the arrival of spring after a long winter.It is a grand festival that recreates a period picture scroll in modern times, and many people from outside the prefecture visit
During Golden Week, why not visit the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival, where you can experience a few days of time as if you've traveled back in time? You can even enjoy strolling around in a rental kimono!
I'm originally from Tokyo, but I've lived in Yamagata Prefecture for 30 years. Nowadays, I am able to speak the dialect and become a local. He goes to the nearby prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima about two to three days a month to gather information. I belong to the middle-aged group who loves cats, local sake, and side dishes. (The icon is a beloved cat)
![cdcbffca33a8c5ebfea62dd97bd3b524_m](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cdcbffca33a8c5ebfea62dd97bd3b524_m-150x150.jpg.webp "[Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture] Let's go to the "Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival" and enjoy the shining orange lights in the silver world! You can also enjoy Yamagata gourmet food.")
