[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 FestivalThe big event will be held over 4 days.

On the final day, the battle of Kawanakajima, which is recreated on the riverbed of the Mogami River that flows through the city, will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time. That's what I think.

Young people dressed in armor engage in heated battles, and you can see that even the audience gets excited.

You can experience the splendor of the Sengoku period during the festival, such as the Wutei Ceremony held the night before the battle.

In this article, we will of course introduce 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 Yonezawa Uesugi Festival?

The Yonezawa Uesugi Festival is a festival that represents spring in Yonezawa, a northern country that is held every year from April 29th to May 3rd in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture.

This festival commemorates Uesugi Kenshin, a famous warlord from the Sengoku period, and his vassals.The festival begins with the annual festival held at Matsumisaki Shrine on April 29th, the anniversary of Uesugi Kenshin's death. During the festival, there will be a procession led by warriors, and a reenactment of the battle of the Uesugi corps.

In addition, you can enjoy various events and gourmet food related to the Uesugi Festival in the shopping streets of Yonezawa City, where you can enjoy the collaboration between the Sengoku period and modern times.

This is a festival not to be missed for those who are interested in Japanese history and culture, as well as those who like historical dramas, military commanders, and swords.

Want to know more about Yonezawa Uesugi Festival?

The festival is an event where the citizens come together to enjoy the festival, with folk songs performed and a parade of drum and flute corps by elementary school students near Uesugi Shrine.

The most popular of these are the reenactments of the warrior procession and the Battle of Kawanakajima. The role of Uesugi Kenshin, who leads the majestic cavalry warriors, will be played by an ordinary man selected at an annual audition.

The warriors are played by high school students and ordinary people from the city, and the naginata squad is played by female junior college students from the city, and although they are not professionals, they show off their amazing acting skills.

What is the Wutei style of the eve festival?

``Kenshin Uesugi held a military ceremony every time he went to war about 70 times and prayed to the gods and Buddha for victory.This
ceremony was based on his strong belief that he would defeat injustice on behalf of the gods and Buddha.''

In the eve festival, the Bu-tei ceremony, held on May 2nd, in the evening, the Bu-tei-style corps wearing Uesugi Kenshin's armor, helmets, flag accessories, etc. parades from Yonezawa Castle Ruins Park to Uesugi Shrine.

By the time the Bu-tei-style corps arrives at Uesugi Shrine, it begins to get dark, and the ``Gotensui'' ceremony and ``War God Kansho'' ceremony are held solemnly under the light of bonfires to pray for victory and safety. .

To further encourage the participants, there is a demonstration of gunnery that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Yonezawa clan, and the sound of the gunners carrying heavy matchlock guns on their shoulders and firing all at once reverberates in your stomach.

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INFORMATION

2023 Event Schedule

• 4/29 (Sat/Holiday)
  Opening Festival/Around Denkoku-Mori 9:00~ Opening Ceremony
  9:30~ Stage Event
  10:00~ Uesugi Shrine Regular Festival
  11:15~ Folk Dance Nagashi (Traditional Yonezawa Shincho Hanagasa) Alternating Ondo Parade)
  13:00~ Stage event
  
• 4/30 (Sunday)
  10:00 - Matsumisaki Shrine Annual Festival The deities enshrined at Matsumisaki Shrine include Takayama Uesugi, Kagekatsu Uesugi, Kanetsugu Naoe, Kagekatsu's chief retainer, Hirasu Hosoi, Takayama's teacher, and Totsuna Takemata, who assisted Takayama.・Yoshimasa Kanto is enshrined here.
  
• May 2nd (Tue)
  16:30 ~ Takemasa style corps procession [Uesugi family mausoleum → Uesugi Shrine] 18:30 ~ Takemasaki ceremony / Denkoku no Mori square
  Prayer for victory in battle, Kenshin Uesugi's departure ceremony.
  
• May 3rd (Wednesday/Holiday)
  9:30am - Mikoshi Togyo/Start location to be determined Uesugi Shrine Omikoshi and city elementary school drum and flute corps will parade.
  10:20~ Uesugi Corps Procession / Start in front of Kojo Elementary School
  Head out to Kawanakajima!
  A procession of warriors marches majestically through the city. 14:00~ Battle of Kawanakajima/ Clash between Uesugi and Takeda on the Matsukawa riverbed!
  We will reenact the biggest battle to the death in Sengoku history.

Excerpt from of Yonezawa Tourism and Products Association <Yonezawa Uesugi Festival>

GOOGLE MAP

All the military commanders are here! A total of 700 warriors jostle

The main event is a reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima, which will be held on May 3rd .
``The Battle of Kawanakajima is an event (war) that is said to have taken place between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin in an attempt to expand their territory during the Sengoku period.' '

The decisive battle began with the signal gun of the Uesugi army's matchlock gun, and a reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima, said to be the largest deadly battle in the history of the Sengoku period, was held on the riverbed of the river running through the city, where approximately 700 warriors from both sides mingled together. The attack scenes and the actual river crossing scene of Takeda's troops are all packed with excitement.

The climax is a famous scene in which Uesugi Kenshin single-handedly attacks the Takeda army and reenacts his one-on-one combat with Takeda Shingen, making you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Sengoku period.

The paid seats are located almost in the center of the venue, so you can see the entire battle going on. However, since the event takes place over a wide area of ​​the riverbed, you can feel the atmosphere even from a distance.

Every year, armored warriors are recruited for the Battle of Kawanakajima, so if you apply in advance (pay for costumes, etc.), you can participate in the festival.

*Please note that applications for this year's participation are now closed.

summary

It is no exaggeration to say that the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival is the festival that citizens look forward to the most of the year, as it exudes the joy of spring that has finally arrived after a long winter.It is a festival that recreates historical picture scrolls in modern times. As a grand festival, many people come from outside the prefecture.

Why not visit the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival during Golden Week, where you can experience a few days that will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time? You can also enjoy strolling around in a rental kimono!