10 – 11 September 2022・Location: Yubikannomori Park (有備館の森公園) and surrounding areas, Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture...

A Festival Celebrating Date Masamune and Senai Culture!

Iwadeyama in Osaki has long been associated with lord Masamune Date. In fact, he spent 12 years there during his youth before moving to Sendai. This festival was first held in 1964 when the Masamune Date Peace Statue (政宗公平和) was moved from Sendai Castle to the ruins of Iwadeyama Castle.

The festival features an incredible parade of samurai dressed in splendid costumes, reminiscent of the picture scrolls from the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period). This scene reflects a historical event occuring over 400 years ago, where Masamune led 3,000 soldiers to Kyoto.

Leading the warriors are 30 long flags with the Hinomaru (日の丸 rising sun) painted in gold on a dark blue background that sway backwards and forwards in the sky as the warriors march. Ashigaru (soldiers marching or fighting on foot) wear three-foot tall gold pointy headgear as well as black lacquer armor with a gold star pattern. The mounted warriors, on the other hand, wear black Horo cloaks decorated with golden half-moon patterns and are equipped with Daisho and Tachi golden swords. Their horses wear extravagant body armor lavishly decorated with fierce animals, such as leopards, tigers, bears, and peacocks.

Their eccentric and flamboyant attire astonished the people of Kyoto who began calling them "Datemono" (lit. People or things from Date) in admiration. This is believed to be the origins of referring to stylish people as "datenomono".

This parade of warriors is reproduced to this day and can be enjoyed at the festival on September 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Don't miss out on this unique festival celebrating Date culture in Osaki!

Official Page (Japanese): masamunekou-maturi.jp

Time:

• September 10: 12:00–21:00
• September 11: 13:00–16:00