Matsumoto castle

Matsumoto castle is the most beautiful castle in Japan. There's no comparison among other Japanese castles. And for the visitors from the world, it is also obvious. 

However, this castle doesn't have minimum site for saying a castle area. If we say this, some people would be angry. In Matsumoto castle site, there is a beautiful main tower and a main compound only.

Matsumoto castle main tower

The Matsumoto castle is one of symbolic buildings in Japan. If people select the most symbolic building in Japan, many would recommend this castle. We agree their recommendation, so, we visit it this time.

Castles made in the Sengoku era had the fate to be attacked by the enemy. Then they had many devices, equipment, and buildings to prevent enemy's assaults. If there aren't complexes of defensive equipment, are they really to be "castle"? In the Himeji castle, many remains still exist. So, we agree with the fact that it was only Japanese castle chosen as one of the world heritage sites.

And also we visited the Hikone castle already. This castle lost most of buildings. But, almost site still exist even though peripherals were drained because of development. As for the Hikone castle, we can imagine its huge scale by looking at remains and castle-mountain.

From south side

When we think of the Matsumoto castle, almost all site of it was developed and destroyed. Because it had built in the flat area. There is a part of outer moat at the north-east side of the center compound. And there is a Nino-maru compound in the east of the central compound. However, these things don't help our understanding of the heyday. How large the Matsumoto castle site was?

These things aren't crucial for us. Once more we ask you, is there any castle more beautiful than the Matsumoto castle? 


Go to Matsumoto castle

Matsumoto castle is in Matsumoto city Nagano prefecture. It's 300 kilometers east of Osaka city. We remember Shinshiro city Aichi prefecture where Nagashino castle reside is 200 kilometers from Osaka city. So, we thought we had to prepare well considered itinerary.

If we choose train, the means of transportation becomes the JR train. From Shin-osaka to Nagoya, we can choose Shinkansen, and from Nagoya to Matsumoto a express train "Wide-view Shinano". That'll be the best route we can choose. And, it takes approximately 4 hours and half.

overnight bus

We thought it was the best itinerary we could choose. But, we needed to pay 115 US$ par 1 adult. We thought it would be a little heavy expenses for us.
Consequently, we tried to use an overnight bus. From Osaka JR station to Matsumoto JR station, the fare was 55 US$ par 1 adult. It would be a half of the JR train's fare.

This overnight bus starts Osaka station at 9:40PM, and arrives Matsumoto station at 6:20AM next morning. Then, we need to ride the bus almost 8 hours and 40 minutes. But, we supposed we could take sleep, so if the transit time would be double, it's not so important for us .

Booking of this plan is very easy. We can use the Internet for reservation and pay at convenience stores. If you need immediate response, you can use telephone for reservations. We came up with the conclusion to try the overnight bus.
 
We got on the overnight bus at Shin-osaka bus stop for our personal reason. The fare was same at each bus-stops around Osaka city. The bus stopped several bus-stops around Osaka city and Kyoto station. Then, it finally stopped at a rest area near Kyoto city at 12 p.m. for nature stop. 

After this, the bus was running all night long. At 5 a.m. the next morning, it stopped at a rest area near Matumoto city for another nature stop. After this, the bus stopped at several bus-stops around Matsumoto city. And finally, it stopped at the Matsumoto station at 6:20 a.m..
 

Bus stop of Shin-osaka station


If you are used to getting on overnight buses, it doesn't matter. But, a person in our group spent a very hard night. He explained the situation below. He noticed the distinctive smell of the bus. It was immediately he got on it. Then, he thought it would be a terrible night, and his anxiety came true.

While the bus turned many corners and stopped at intersections, he started to feel sick. Between midnight and early morning, he was troubled with the sounds from the engine and the air conditioner. He couldn't sleep all night. 
 
As a lesson from this incident, when you try a novelty, you should think long and hard. In some cases, your travel will be screwed up. By contrast, some of our friends like traveling on an overnight bus. For the honor of overnight buses, we add this explanation.


Go up to the main tower

In truth, we want to say let's attack Matsumoto castle, but there is only a beautiful main tower surrounded a inner moat. So, we cannot say attack Matsumoto castle this time. If some enemy tried to attack, it would be destroyed soon.

We think this castle wasn't a defensive castle also in its heydays. This castle was made by Hirajiro style. We suppose using this style was a little specific at that period. So, it was made to push itself to other people around its territory. That would be the true reason the load of Matsumoto castle's enormous main tower. 


Map of Matsumoto castle (Matsumoto city HP)

The charm of Matsumoto castle is concentrated in the complex of the main tower. There are full elements, when you explain the beauty of Japanese castles. 

Black walls are represent the atmosphere of the Sengoku era. And the triangle of the three buildings is the biggest attraction of it. These are the main tower, the small tower of "Inui", and "Tatsumi" turret. 

By the way, we read a description of a guidebook why there are few windows on Matsumoto castle. It said this was good for the battle. But, we didn't think this description was true. Many of other castles at that time also have few windows.

Furthermore, Matsumoto castle doesn't have a balcony at the highest floor. That's not good for the battle, but for preventing coldness of this district.

inside is dark

The central compound is surrounded by an inner moat. The width of the southern part is approximately 60 meters. That was because the effective range of general arquebuses was the same. And we heard the depth had been 3 meters. However, we saw the bottom of it very closely. We supposed the depth was approximately half a meter. If it has 3 meters length actually, the rest must be a pile of sediment!

The city area of Matsumoto is in a basin and surrounded by tall mountains all around. Rain that falls in the mountains soaks into the ground. And it comes down to the center of the basin. Then we can see flowing wells in many places of Matsumoto city. And also, some flowing wells are under repair as appropriate sightseeing spots recently. We come to think of that the moats of Matsumoto castle don't depend on rivers but these flowing wells.

Kuro-mon

We entered the central compound from the gate named "Kuro-mon" or the black gate. Unfortunately, this gate isn't original. It was reconstructed in 1960. Kuro-mon gate, a small gate belonged and earthen walls surrounds the entrance area consist the defensive formation called "Masugata".

Masugata formation of the gate was adopted almost all castles at that era. And it was considered as the most defensive construction at the entrance device. We couldn't enter the inside of Kuro-mon. There was the residence (or palace) of the lord In the central compound when this castle was made.
But the fire destroyed it in 1727. And after 1727, they didn't reconstruct their residence there and they used this area as a garden. 

Nothing but the main tower

As soon as we entered the inner space, we saw the main tower in front of our sight firstly. Nothing but the main tower is there. We were overwhelmed by the great force. Famous aspect of the main tower is the south side over the inner moat, and we used to see it too many times. However, we didn't use to see this side of it. It was also splendid.

Going to the main tower along a passage of the north side, we walked to the center compound almost half around. The entrance is between the center tower and the small side tower named "Inui-syoutensyu" or north-west small tower.

We went up to "Inui-syoutensyu" first. And moved to the center tower, and went up to the top floor. After that, went down to another small tower named "Tatsumi-tsukeyagura" or south-east turret. From there on, beautiful kind of viewing platform called Tsukimi yagura or turret for viewing the moon is there. Under the viewing floor is a exit. All we could do is touring this main tower. So, we felt a lack a little. 

 

Periphery

There is another compound named "Ninomaru" at the east of the central compound. There is a vestige of another residence named "Ninomaru-goten" in it, formerly second residence of the lords. And also this residence was destroyed by another fire in the Meiji period. No wooden building is remained and only brick mark of the residential area on the ground. If you are good historian, you may understand how the residence is, but ….

Taiko-mon

East side of Ninomaru compound is faced to an outer moat, and there is another gate named "Taiko-mon" or drum gate. This gate was reconstructed in 1999. It is only building in this compound. What's more we also couldn't enter it.  So, we are unsatisfied a little more.

outer moat

By the brochure description, there had been some battle towers somewhere, but we couldn't find any signs. Furthermore, there had been threefold moats and many gates. We couldn't see too.


The south area of the main tower is a huge park. Tourists take a short rest and have a relaxing time before or after entering the main tower. Adding one more thing, it's a little wasteful because it's only for this purpose. We should use this space for aother purpose.

At the corner of the park, "Matsumoto city museum" is there. That's a very common museum, many this and that. We think it's a pity.

Finally, we want to say as a "Osiro-freak", it's a shame only one spot there, even though it's the most beautiful Japanese castle. We want to find more. We came to think of one suggestion about "Matsumoto city museum". While this huge building is there, we hope to be used for Matsumoto castle.

For example, making a one-fifth model in cross section of the main tower. It will be 6 meters high, because main tower has 29.4 meters hight. It'll bring surprise. Furthermore, we want to see the full compound area model under wide pellucid full-floor. Then we can walk around where we want and see every building from a perspective of "Drone" machine.

What's this monument?

400 meters south of Matsumoto castle, there is "Metoba river". This river was the southern end of castle wide-compound. Between this river and "Yohasira shrine" is "Nawate street".

Nawate street

There are many interesting shops. And many tourists visit there especially Sundays. We wonder this is a symbol of this street?

Arquebus 3

Nagashino battle standard festival

"Nagashino battle standard festival" started half-century and a few years ago. It might belong to the category of new ones just getting started.

We don't think this festival is famous around Japan. Neither not famous among international tourists. If someone already knows, he might be a big fan of Japanese festivals or he lives near "Nagashino" town now.



Nagashino battle standard festival

And, you need one more information. If you don't know the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, it's difficult to understand why Arquebuses are fired in this festival so many. Many fake Samurai warriors wearing armors gather in this festival site. They are who belong to several Arquebus-shooting groups and these groups play shooting-performances of Arquebuses all day long. Because this festival features the Battle of Nagashino, the battle Arquebuses played a very important role.

To say precisely, the incident drawn on "the folding screen of the Battle of Nagashino" wasn't happened here. Because this famous battle happened at the two main battle-fields. And the Nagashino castle was one of them which is the event site of this festival, however, the battle drawn on the folding screen happened at another battle-field.

Strands are everywhere

This battle separated to the former part and the later part. The former part was the siege of Nagashino castle, and the later part was the field-operations at Shitaragahara. In this field-operations, guns were used collectively never before. As a result, this tactics became very famous. However, that is another story.



Nagashino castle ruins

Now, we would like to look back over the history of Arquebuses quickly. The principle of matchlock guns was invented in China. But, practical invention was attained by some Europeans. By the description of an European historian, matchlock's anchor-hold and mobile-power weren't so superb than other traditional ordinary weapons first.

Nevertheless Europeans improved and refined their new weapon for many years. And, finally they made this new weapon assuring safe operation.
Why they put up with the inconvenience? That's because when this weapon was used, the user army troops needed less further extra practice to put into real battle field. When some army troops brought up their new arrow-soldiers, they needed a few years. By contrast, to bring up musket-soldiers, they only needed a few days!

Opening ceremony (shinshiro city HP)

On the contrary, Japanese didn't understand this most important point of using musket guns. Unexpectedly, they established new Budo named Hou-jyutsu. They chose the way of practicing new musket-soldiers in which they spent long and strict time until the completion of their study. If the battles continued, this decision was denied by the employers. However, battles were over so the decision was agreed.

Japanese couldn't improve musket's power in the technical aspect. Then they developed their weapons strangely. For example, they thickened the body to improve the power. The result showed that musket-soldiers had to bring very heavy muskets and they could not move quickly. So, some soldiers couldn't operate these weapons. As for the operations they had to practice their physical strength and used weapons with predefined actions.

Performance of Arquebuses

"Yonezawa-han Koshiki-jyu Hozonkai" is a group of the descendants of Yonezawa-han's Houjyutsu-ka, who attend this festival over half a century. Their special Arquebuses are over 20 kilograms. Furthermore, reaction force are awful as strong as the power to make shooter's shoulders broken when they don't behave correct performance.

Big size Arquebus (Shinshiro city HP)

We think these Arquebuses aren't useful for the action in the real battle field. However, their ancestors used these weapons in the very famous war named "the Siege of Osaka castle" in 1615.

Practicing of their physical performances and having great passion are behind the performance. It is very typical Japanese approach.


The venue and the festival schedule

We're sorry to do a little top-heavy explanation. Let's go to the festival place.
The main event site is Nagasino castle ruins. It's in Shinshiro-city Aichi-prefecture, same as "Shitaragahara historical museum". The traffic route is also same, you should ride 2 more stations, and you can arrive the place named "Nagashino-jo".

Running in board

The distance from the station to the event site is approximately 10 minutes by walk. You attend the festival now, then you can follow other audiences of the festival. You may reach the event site easily.

Festival schedule is below.
It's almost same every year.

The date of the festival   May 5th
Relevant events are held on May 3rd and 4th, but performances of Arquebuses are only 5th.

"Kattsen-Gyoretsu" or the parade   9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Many attendees wear fake Samurai battle armors   

Only some votaries and local people go to see the parade, and other people wait the arrival of the parade at the event site. 

Performance of Arquebuses 1   9:30 a.m. to 10:00 am
This is the event for the people wait the starting ceremony.

We tried to visit there at the starting time of  this performance, but it's too difficult to make this timing. Because, you have to ride JR local train from Toyohashi-station to Nagashinojyo-station for approximately 1 hour. You may ride a train at Toyohashi-station around 8:30 a.m.. Accordingly, you have to leave Osaka-station very early in the morning.



Kassen-gyoretsu (Shinshiro city HP)

Ceremony   10:45 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.

Performance of Arquebuses 2   11:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Performance of Arquebuses 3   12:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Performance of Japanese Archery by wearing battle armors   12:30 a.m. to 01:00 p.m.

Performance of Arquebuses 4   01:20 p.m. to 01:50 p.m.

Performance of Arquebuses 5   01:50 p.m. to 02:20 p.m.

Performance of Arquebuses 6   02:30 p.m. to 03:00 p.m.  And, Finishing of the festival

Scenes of Ceremony

Performance of Arquebuses

This festival is featuring the battle famous for the big success of Arquebuses. Therefore, almost all performances are shootings. The performances are held 6 times by next 3 groups 2 times each.

"Nihon Zensoujyu-shageki Renmei"
or Japan muzzle-laders associations committee

"Yonezawa-han Koshiki-jyu Hozonkai"
or the traditional gun-performance association of the feudal domain of Yonezawa
 
"Nagashino Shitaragahara Teppou-tai"
or the musket troops of Nagashino and Shitaragahara region

 Today's event site isn't wide enough, so musket troopers separated small groups. Whole members unison-firing weresn't practiced.

On the other hand, we had seen about 10 troopers unison-firing at another festival of Okazaki-city. Compare with it, today's festival was held at closer range than Okazaki-city's. We felt strong live feeling by tremendous gun-sound! 

Performance of archers

Between 3rd performance of shooting and 4th, archer's performance was demonstrated. Archers released arrows practically. Besides, musket-gunmen didn't fire true bullets. Taking these things into consideration, we preferred to archer's performance instead.

Furthermore, musket-gunmen seemed to use kind of modern contraptions, that hadn't existed in the Sengoku era. Even that small difference made us spoiled the fun of Arquebuses.

2 to 3 minutes were necessary for musket-gunmen to prepare the next firing, even though they used such kind of modern contraptions.

They performe wearing armors

For archers, only bows and arrows were necessary in the battle field. But, for musket-gunmen, muskets and bullets were not only necessities, they needed other many little items, for example fire starters, gunpowder cases and so on.

items necessary for gun shooting

Each item was not so difficult to handle, but if you forgot to bring, dropped, or broke them, you couldn't fire your musket. Thus, musket-gunmen sharpened these items and came up with using the skills not to fail in the battle fields. However, the idle time after the first shot to the next wasn't shortened by their innovations.

We could meet performers by chance

By contrast, less than 30 seconds were needed for archers to switch places with the first group and the second one. And also there were no idle time between the first shot and the next in their unison-releasing. The targets were soon filled with arrows. However, the distance to the target was only 20 meters. So, we supposed the conditions were a little advantageous for archers.

We could see armored people closely

The event site was an empty space where was filled with the carpet of green grass and no buildings. There were only performers and audience. Gentle breezes and mild weather made us satisfied. It was a really beautiful festival day!  　

Sight words: Okazaki city

In the previous article, we wrote about "Ieyasu-Gyoretsu" or the festival of Okazaki city. We wrote incident which happened in the festival only.

So, we would like to describe stories about "Iga-Hachimangu" shrine where the parade started and "Okazaki-jo park" where the parade finally arrived. And we also talk about several of sight words of Okazaki city.



Iga Hachimangu's entrance 

"Iga-Hachimangu" is the shrine where Tokugawa Ieyasu's ancestor of his five generations before established about 550 years ago. So, this shrine has a long and honorable history. It was chosen as the place that "Ieyasu-Gyoretsu" started.  

Ema

In this shrine, we can dedicate a "Ema" or a formal wooden block in which we write something we dream. For example, when we have very difficult problems, we ask the shrine for favors of the divine grace. And in a new year's week, we dedicate our gratitude by visiting and worshipping.

By the way, we found this diagram at this shrine. This diagram is a result of a event named "Mushateki-sinji" or "divine event by a selected warrior".

According to the home page, this event has been continuing long time from the date Tokugawa Ieyasu lived. But, its origin isn't clear. And in this event, several concerns which are done kind of horoscopes, which are agriculture, commerce and industry. More specifically, for example, rice for staple food would be abundant or not, weather throughout the year would be nice or not. These problems are especially conclusive for the people at the date. And also they couldn't overcome these problems more than now.

As a result of a horoscope using bows and arrows, they asked these problems for the deity. We suppose this is like the oracles of Apollo in ancient Greece. 

They told the fortune

In the Iga-hachimangu shrine, people divine the fortune using bows and arrows at the beginning of every year. In this event, selected warriors shoot arrows toward targets. How each arrow hits the target is important. Comparing with predetermined shapes, they do horoscopes this year's fortune of several concerns.

This year's results were shown by Chinese characters in this diagram. We suppose this event is far-fetched for our sight-words. Thus, we introduce only its outline.

Okazaki-jo park

Then, we headed to "Okazaki-jo park" next. This park was the Okazaki castle once. However, its compound was completely changed at some stage in the past.

Original Okazaki castle was rebuilt on a large scale at the period of after the Battle of Sekigahara. It was made like a hira-jiro or a castle on a plain, and it was surrounded by many moats at that time. 

However, most of moats were disappeared now. Furthermore, it was located at a connecting point of two big rivers at that time, but the point was moved and the size of the rivers was changed in the past. So, we can't find the original compounds, ramparts, walls, and turrets now. Almost all were renovated not referring to the originals. There are a building like the main castle tower and several stone walls, however, this Okazaki-jo park isn't a castle any more.

After a short time at the beginning of the Meiji era, "Han" or the regional feudal government was denied. After "Han", "Ken" or the prefectural government was made. This new prefectural government was controlled by the central government. And the central government disliked existence of the fortresses. And ordered the destruction of all castles.

Most of castles were destroyed at this time. However, a few castles survived in several reason. And, during WW2, survived castles were destroyed by the damage from bombings and so on. But most of destruction of the castles were caused by the Meiji central government.

In the case of the Okazaki castle, new prefectural government dutifully obeyed the central government, then the area of the Okazaki castle changed into a park of citizens.

Reconstructed main tower

The building like the main tower was made in 1959. At that time, there was a boom of reconstruction of Japanese castles. People began to consider that they wanted to travel somewhere for their leisure. Many traveled around Japan. And they were fond of visiting castles. Many cities ausorities hoped to reconstruct their castle's main tower because most of them had been destroyed by the order of the Meiji central government.

The Okazaki castle main tower is exactly what every regional cities made. Its surface was designed after the original main tower, because the Okazaki city had a few old photos of it. But, inside is completely different from the original. Because they had no information of the inside and used their imagination. 

By the way, there are so many cherry trees inside the Okazaki-castle park. And there are so many viewing spots of cherry blossoms. In addition, there are a shrine, many refreshment shops, a playground, and so on.


Sight words of Okazaki city 

Now, we found these sight words, when we walked around Okazaki city.

fig.1; O-ha-ra-i

fig.2; Cha-ya

fig.3; Cha-shi-tsu

fig.4; Ta-ke-chi-yo

"O-ha-ra-i"
What is "Oharai"? We found this sign in front of a parking space of Iga-hachimangu shrine. To say precisely, "Kuruma no okiyome, oharai" is the correct writing of the sign.

Most of Japanese people believe both Deities and the Buddha. "Oharai" is related with Deities. When we pray to a deity of Japan, "Guuji" or the chief priest of the shrine help us how to behave in front of the deities. And, he chants "Norito" or the words of prayer of a Shinto shrine.
　
By the teachings of Shinto, we pile up "Kegare" or uncleanness bit by bit. If you live with a lot of uncleanness everyday, you may meet an unfortunate event suddenly. Therefore we should visit shrines and be refreshed our uncleanness many times.

When we finish prayer, we can feel refreshed. If one of the destinations of the travel is a shrine, we are sure to pray there. For Japanese people, visiting shrines and praying is one of musts.  

Generally speaking, "Kuruma no okiyome, oharai" is in the same frame of the Shinto teachings. New cars are also suffered "Kegare" as long as they are driving. For the drivers and new cars, "Okiyome" or refreshment ceremony is important. And also "Oharai" or cleaning ceremony is good for the driver and the new car.

If you happen to have a traffic accident, you can escape a serious situation. It may depend on the number of "Kegare".
Do you have such kind of cleansing ceremony in your custom?


"Cha-ya" and "Cha-shi-tsu"
Next, we think what are "Chaya" and "chashitsu" together. These are facilities of Okazaki-castle park too.

Chaya in Okazaki-castle park

We took some pictures of Chaya. These are like souvenir shops. By contrast, we didn't take a picture of Chashitsu, because it was surrounded by hedges. We have some pictures of Chashitsu located in other places. From these pictures, we can get the feeling of the profound ambience. Consequently, you might taste formal Japanese tea. 

Cyashitsu

In literal meaning, "Chaya" is a little shop offer tea. We have a feeling of this word that it's for ordinary people. Travelers of citizen class visited and ate Dango or rice puddings and drank a cup of tea in front of these shops, if they were in the Edo era.



Another chaya in okazaki-castle park

On the other hand, "Chashitsu" is a formal space where some high class people taste tea and play kind of tea ceremony. We suppose that these facilities were in a corner of handsome houses, if they were in the Edo era. In these facilities, people taste "Omatcha".
Do you remember these words?


"Ta-ke-chi-yo"
"Takechiyo" is a boy's name. Usually, the name "Takechiyo" was associated with the childhood name of Tokugawa Ieyasu. However, that isn't the only thing we want to explain. 

A son who succeed feudal lord was same as a prince of a country. His followers hanged hope on him. People knew the name "Takechiyo" was same as childhood name of Tokugawa Ieyasu who had become the ruler of Japan. So, many feudal lords named his son "Takechiyo" hoping his son's glory.

The reason this name was loved was not only it meant a ruler's  childhood name but also words used in it were considered lucky. "Take" means bamboo. And, bamboo grows straight rapidly. So, it's a good sign for boys, especially successor's boys. "Chiyo" means millenary. So, people imagined longtime prosperity from this word.

To think of girl's name of feudal lords, there comes "Tsuru-hime". "Tsuru" means a crane. Japanese people have a very good impression for a crane, because a crane is a symbol of long life. "Hime" means princess. So, she will be a very lucky girl because of her lucky name.

Arquebus 2

Next destination is?

Where do we go finding of Arquebuses next?
Another answer is visiting a firing performance.

There are many regional festivals featuring Japanese history all around Japan. At some festivals, firing Arquebuses performances are the main feature. Furthermore, some of the performances are quite expectable. So, we selected one festival and visited Okazaki city of Aichi prefecture this time.

Firing performance of  real Arquebuses

The festival's name is "Ieyasu-Gyoretsu". And we can view a firing performance of real Arquebuses. It's held at the 2nd Sunday of April every year. 

It is also a season of cherry blossoms viewing. This festival's main venue is near the Okazaki castle which is one of famous cherry blossoms viewing sites. 

This year's festival was held when 'sakura' or cherry blossoms was fully bloomed. So, there was tremendous number of audience came to see this festival and fully bloomed cherry blossoms. 

Okazaki city of Aichi prefecture
Ieyasu-Gyoretsu
Okazaki castle

"Ieyasu-Gyoretsu" is literally a parade. However, the festival has two parts of performances. The first half is the parade in which over 700 attendees wear fake Samurai battle armors of the Sengoku era. And the later half is the short play of the attendees in which firing Arquebuses are held.

Then why the parade is called "Ieyasu-Gyoretsu"? Ieyasu-Gyoretsu's Ieyasu means Tokugawa Ieyasu. And he was born at the Okazaki castle, so he is the most famous person in Okazaki city even now.

We think you know Japanese history very well, so, you also  memorize that Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo shogunate or feudal government of the Edo. Citizens of Okazaki city proud the fact and they treat him as a honarary citizen.

Tokugawa Ieyasu
the Edo shogunate


Ieyasu-Gyoretsu parade (from Okazaki City HP)

Originally, this festival featured Honda Tadakatsu. Honda Tadakatsu was also one of very famous Sengoku warriors. He was a senior vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Accordingly, he is also a celebrity of Okazaki city even now. This festival was originally held at October 18th when Honda Tadakatsu had died around 400 years ago.

 According to Honda Tadakatsu's legendary story, he was invulnerable like Wyatt Earp, a famous American sheriff. He fought at countless battles and had no injury throughout his whole life. Moreover, in another this kind of story, one enemy general saw him fighting bravely in front of his group. And that general said 'How disappointing! He would be my senior vassal in my side!' So, he was loved as a brave warrior by so many famous Sengoku lords. 

Honda Tadakatsu

Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu at Okazaki castle

How to visit the festibal site?

Compared with Shitaragahara historical museum, visiting Okazaki city is far convenient. We also start Osaka station.

Osaka station ⇒ Shin-osaka ⇒ (Shinkansen Super Express "Nozomi") ⇒ Nagoya ⇒ (Meitetsu Super Express) ⇒ Higashi-Okazaki ⇒ (by walk) ⇒ Event site

If you start at 8 o'clock from Osaka station, you will arrive Higashi-Okazaki station (the nearest station of the event site) around 10:30. Higashi-Okazaki station is very convenient for the travelers.

Meitetsu Super Express

The festival starts afternoon. Then, if you want to visit the event site at starting time, you should start your exploration at 9:30. But, we suppose there will be a tremendous turnout, so you'd better arrive a little earlier for your seats.

Appreciate the event

"Ieyasu-Gyoretsu" starts 1:30 from the Iga-hachimangu shrine which is located approximately 2 kilometer north of the Okazaki castle.

Iga-hachimangu shrine

Parade starts Iga-hachimangu shrine

Parade goes through  (from Okazaki City HP)

The parade goes down to south  through downtown of Okazaki city. They arrive at the venue (a dry riverbed of the Otsu river near the Okazaki castle) around 3 o'clock. 

Otsu-gawa

Okazaki castle (from Okazaki City HP)

Event was held at dry riverbed

In front of the main event area is a bank of Otsu river covered with stair-like concrete bank. This concrete bank becomes seats of the audiences.

Firing real Arquebuses performances were held 2 times in this event.

Trenendous people come (from Okazaki City HP)

First one started at 2 o'clock. Almost around 1 o'clock there was no empty space around us. There was tremendous turnout. (This event is hugely popular!)

The parade arrived at 3:30. Front of the parade were boy warriors, and after the boy warriors, many groups continued.

Parade of girls warriors

The horsemen also attend

After arriving them, the second firing performance was held again. Then the short play by the hundreds warriors were held. After the event, darkness was all around.


Performance of firing Arquebuses

Why we can see real Musket matchlock guns firing performance? Because there are some groups of firing Arquebuses or Musket matchlock guns in Aichi prefecture. Then, these groups come to warm up this festival.

Firing Arquebuses are performed at many regional festivals featuring Japanese historical episode. According to a book on Arquebuses, 43 groups are active in Japan and they act firing perfomances at 125 festival sites every year.

The firing in "Ieyasu-Gyoretsu" is performed by Aichi-prefecture-kojyu-kennkyuukai-houjyutsutai (愛知県古銃研究会砲術隊). Ten and more member fired useing their own Arquebuses. 

The performances were held in several styles. First, they fired in unison. And next, the fire was held in order. And next, by small groups.

Aichi-prefecture-kojyu-kennkyuukai-houjyutsutai

Performance of firing

Sound of gunfire and smell of powder covered around the event site. Each Arquebuses didn't load a ball. They fired only blank cartridges. However, terrible roar dominated the site. The members put on their performance orderly and briskly.

The performance time was only 20 minutes. Nevertheless, we were captured the world of Arquebuses.


The end of Arquebuses

High-tech weapon in the Semgoku era, "Hinawa-jyu" was experienced many changes. And ironically saying, it became like performance repeater now.

Hinawa-jyu

As soon as Arquebuses were introduced in Japan, domestic producing soon spread all over Japan. The tecnical system was completed before introduced, so Japanese had no time developing technology. Consequently, Japanese people at that time focused on mass production only. The Sengoku era was soon ended several decades later. Therefore, further technical development wasn't needed.

After this moment, focus point was changed from technical innovation to manners. They needed the information how to improve their shooting technique but to innovate their guns performance. Arquebus shooting changed from high-tech weapon to one of Budo or training of personal ability.

Furthermore, the technique of shooting changed one of martial arts named "Hou-jyutsu". The way of behavior was sharpened in the Hou-jyutsu world. However, no innovation produces no importance.

Hou-jyutsu

By contrast, the technological innovation of guns was continued in Europe. When Japanese met Europian people again, the technical difference in guns was poles apart.

And at the period when 250 years had passed after the end of the Sengoku period, people payed no attention to old Arquebuses. They made every effort to get new-type guns.  Until Arqurbuses became useless in the battle fields of Japan, approximately 300,000 were produced in total. Almost were discarded in a very short interval at the end of Edo shogunate. The guns we looked at in "Sitaragahara historical museum" were only 100 among 300,000.

Guns are continuously used in battle fields nowadays. Their importance isn't unshakable in modern age time. We suppose necessity of guns have never desuetude. In addition, the technology of weapons has been ever developed. Modern guns are totally changed to the forms from Arquebus-like shape.

Nowadays, most of all Japanese have no necessity to be face-to-face with guns. They changed such people who would be surprised even with the sound of Arquebus performance. This phenomenon may testify that they live in peace.

When enjoy Arquebus performance, we can't help considering our ancestors effort to accomplish our peaceful life.

Opinion described here is personal one's. And we're a little afraid these descriptions aren't accurate somewhere. Please accept all of them in your big-heart.