An illustrated scroll of battle between Katakura and Sanada forces! Local report of the 17th Oni Kojuro Festival [Miyagi Prefecture]

On October 5th, 2024, the 17th Onikojuro Festival was held in Shiroishi City, which marks the 70th anniversary of its establishment as a city.

This is a festival that represents Shiroishi City and is held every year in early October. This article is a local report with plenty of photos of the event

What is the Onikojuro Festival?

The Oni Kojuro Festival is a festival that has been held since 2008, with the main venue being the Honmaru Square of Shiroishi Castle in Shiroishi City. The highlight of the festival is undoubtedly the main event, "The Summer Campaign of Osaka: The Battle of Domyoji .

the three-story tower of Shiroishi Castle, which has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Castles in Japan" is definitely worth seeing!

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

There is also a castle with a castle tower in Miyagi! Shiraishi Castle, the castle of Katakura Kagetsuna, the senior retainer of the Date family [Miyagi Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/26489

Speaking of famous castles in the Tohoku region, there are Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture, Aizuwakamatsu Castle in Fukushima Prefecture, and Sendai Castle in Miyagi Prefecture! I would like to say that, but unfortunately, Sendai Castle does not have a castle tower. However, this does not mean that there are no castles with castle towers in Miyagi Prefecture. Shiroishi City is located in the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture. Here is Shiroishi Castle, which was once the residence of the Katakura family, who served as senior vassals to the Date family. This time we will introduce such "Shiraishi Castle"! What is Shiroishi Castle? Shiroishi Castle is a Hirayama castle located in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is also known as Masuoka (Masuoka) Castle. There are extremely few historical materials related to Shiroishi Castle, and ``when and by whom...''

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Other events at the 2024 event included the Sakaki-ryu Omachi Kagura , traditional ladder climbing an Iaijutsu demonstration by the Shiroishi Iaido Association and the Sendai Kai Genbu-tai; Kagetsuna Bayashi by the Otakazawa Children's Taiko Association ; and by the Oshu/Sendai Hospitality Group Date Bushotai, attracting approximately 8,000 tourists from within and outside the prefecture.

In addition, it appears that another stage event was also taking place at Smile Square in the center of Shiroishi City

Main event: "Osaka Summer Battle: Battle of Domyoji"

The main event, "The Battle of Domyoji in the Summer Siege of Osaka," is one of the actual battles that took place during the Summer Siege of Osaka in 1615

Katakura Kojuro Shigenaga the second head of the Shiraishi Katakura family, led the Date army as the vanguard, defeating Goto Matabei, Susukida Kanesuke and others, earning him the name "Oni Kojuro"

Sanada Yukimura was a latecomer and fought against the Katakura unit , saw Shigenaga, the enemy commander, as a man of both wisdom and bravery, and there is an anecdote that he entrusted his daughter, Oume , to him, and at the Oni Kojuro Festival, this series of exchanges with Sanada Yukimura is reproduced.

By the way, there are several historical sites in Shiroishi city that provide evidence to support this anecdote

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Three historical sites that surround the connection between Katakura Shigenaga and Sanada Yukimura, the vanguard of the Date family, "Oni Kojuro" [Miyagi Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/32462

In Shiroishi City, there are historical sites connected to Sanada Yukimura and his descendants, who were enemies but united by a strange bond during the Summer Siege of Osaka, a battle that led to the Tokugawa Shogunate's annihilation of the Toyotomi clan. This time, we will introduce three such sites. Three Historical Sites Related to Sanada Yukimura: The Summer Siege of Osaka took place in 1615. Because Katakura's head, Kagetsuna, was bedridden and unable to participate, Katakura Kojuro Shigenaga, who would later become the second head of the family, led the Date forces as the vanguard. He defeated Goto Matabei, Susukida Kanesuke, and others at the Battle of Domyojiguchi, making the name "Oni Kojuro" known throughout the country...

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Onikojuro Festival <Information>

• Name: 17th Onikojuro Festival
• Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024
• Location: Shiroishi Castle Honmaru Square and other locations
• Official URL: http://onikojuro.jp/

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Aoiwa

Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs.