 Most viewed - Battle of Sekigahara Festival 2008 関ヶ原合戦祭り
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On Oct. 18-19, 2008, the town of Sekigahara held a special festival to commemorate the Battle of Sekigahara. The last time they did this was in 2000 for the 400th anniversary of the battle. The main venue was near the town hall.538 views
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Plastic samurai armor233 views
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Water tower painted in Sekigahara motif.230 views
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A woman samurai215 views
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I caught one. Pure mochi (no adzuki bean paste inside). It was a very impressive and enjoyable festival.201 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara Festival, 2008198 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu retainer at the Battle of Sekigahara Festival, 2008186 views
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Fierce samurai168 views
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The finale was the throwing of mochi.159 views
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Ishida Mitsunari151 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sasaoyama.148 views
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A few matchlock gun battalions gathered on the Sasaoyama stage.140 views
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Load, get ready, and...130 views
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Ieyasu retainer121 views
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This man wore authentic samurai armor, over a century old, made of metal. A family heirloom.120 views
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A sword demonstration. He's cutting up a straw pole. That's one sharp knife. These people have licenses to carry these guns and swords.116 views
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Ishida Mitsunari loses the battle, and is executed.116 views
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And Tokugawa Ieyasu.113 views
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At 11 am, the gun battalions arrived.112 views
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There are a number of matchlock gun battalions in Japan, and they often demonstrate the guns at festivals like this.111 views
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Mock combat with a spectator.110 views
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They are all dressed in colorful samurai armor.108 views
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This man wore newer samurai armor made of plastic.107 views
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Ishida Mitsunari106 views
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105 views
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A few lifesize mascots walked around the foot of Sasaoyama. This is Chacha Hime, the oldest Azai sister who became Yodogimi.100 views
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Shimasako-nyan, a cat based on one of Ishida Mitsunari's retainers. しまさこにゃん100 views
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Spear-wielding women warriors (with foxy makeup on).99 views
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All these samurai were gathering at Sasaoyama for a procession to the Fureai Hiroba Square where a mock battle would be staged. This is Lord Shimazu Yoshihiro.98 views
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Smoke signal on Mt. Sasaoyama. Also notice the bell on the left.97 views
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They get ready to fire their matchlock guns. (No bullets)97 views
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FIRE!! Those guns make a huge noise.97 views
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Matchlock gun warrior97 views
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97 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan, another cat, was the most popular.97 views
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Apparently they had women warriors too. Or maybe they did not have enough male actors to fit into the samurai costumes.95 views
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Sword demo94 views
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94 views
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Mini banners for all the clans who battled at Sekigahara.94 views
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94 views
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Matchlock gun warrior posing for pictures.93 views
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93 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan and his calligraphy brush92 views
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The Sekigahara samurai warriors arrived Sasaoyama at noon.92 views
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Ishida Mitsunari91 views
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91 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu leaving Sasaoyama.90 views
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The Sekigahara Ondo dance was then held. 関ヶ原音頭90 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu gives commands during the Battle of Sekigahara.89 views
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They fired the gun a few times.88 views
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Ishida Mitsunari88 views
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Another lord dies in battle.88 views
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Banners with the crest of Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu flank the Monument for the decisive battle, near Mt. Sasaoyama, where the fighting was the fiercest. 決戦地87 views
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The battle ensues.87 views
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Ishida Mitsunari is beheaded and dies.87 views
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BOOM!!!86 views
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It was actually kind of humorous.86 views
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Monument for the decisive battle85 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan goods85 views
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Ishida Mitsunari85 views
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An angelic dancer then came to cover Ishida's body with a white cloth.84 views
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Mt. Sasaoyama, the small hill that was Lord Ishida Mitsunari's base camp. Behind it is Mt. Ibuki.83 views
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83 views
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Great photo opp.83 views
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At around 12:30 pm, some of the samurai staged a mock battle at Sasaoyama.83 views
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Ishida Mitsunari posing for me. He said, "You got an unusual-looking camera." (Because I was shooting both stills and video.)83 views
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Most of the forces who took part in the Battle of Sekigahara are represented. Banners with the lord's crest indicate who's who.83 views
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83 views
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83 views
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Execution of 83 views
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82 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at Mt. Momokubari, his base camp near the Sekigahara battlefield.82 views
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Samurai lay dead.82 views
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Battle continues.82 views
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Ishida Mitsunari 全軍武者行列81 views
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Ishida Mitsunari spotted me and my camera and posed for me. He's a friendly guy. 81 views
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Ieyasu (left) and Mitsunari then walked toward each other and bowed to everyone together.81 views
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After the demo, they posed for pictures.80 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu80 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu was on one side of the field (Mt. Momokubari). The play mainly took the viewpoint of Ishida Mitsunari. 「義の人・三成〜運命の関ヶ原決戦〜」80 views
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Ishida's western forces ready for battle.80 views
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View of the Sekigahara battlefield from the top of Mt. Sasaoyama.79 views
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Sekigahara samurai warriors gather at Sasaoyama.79 views
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Bento box lunches named after Ieyasu and Hideyoshi. 1000 yen.79 views
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79 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu79 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu79 views
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78 views
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Straw pole pieces cut by a sword.78 views
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Ishida Mitsunari78 views
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My lord!!78 views
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Ishida Mitsunari kneeling.78 views
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On Oct. 19 during 10 to 11 am in the Sekigahara Fureai Center Hall, a free lecture about Ishida Mitsunari was given by a Shizuoka Univ. professor. The hall was packed.77 views
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The matchlock gun battalion arrives as well.77 views
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Food stalls76 views
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The Sekigahara Town Hall parking lots were used for flea markets, food stalls, and souvenir stands. These photos were taken on the second day of the festival when a samurai procession and mock battle were staged. 76 views
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At the Monument for the decisive battle, one lord's troops give out a battle cry.76 views
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76 views
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After the hour-long play ended, a photo opp for all. Mitsunari and his gang here.76 views
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Ieyasu and his gang.76 views
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After a brief ceremony, the samurai procession started to leave Sasaoyama at 1:30 pm. They headed for Jinbano (Fureai Hiroba Square).75 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu75 views
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75 views
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Mock battle staged during the Battle of Sekigahara Festival.75 views
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The foot of Sasaoyama is full of samurai and spectators.74 views
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The troops enter town on a perfectly sunny day for a festival.74 views
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74 views
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Ieyasu (left) and Mitsunari bowing to everyone.74 views
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74 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu kneeling.74 views
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Stone monument on the top of Sasaoyama marking Ishida Mitsunari's base camp.73 views
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73 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu73 views
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There were two festival venues. One was at the Fureai Hiroba Square (Jinbano) and the other was at Mt. Sasaoyama. A free shuttle bus plied between the two venues, but it was short enough to walk.72 views
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A total of about 130 actors/actresses took part, and 80 of them were recruited from all over Japan. A few were professional actors. The scale was much smaller than the 800 people recruited for the 400th anniversary in 2000.72 views
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72 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu 72 views
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Top of Mt. Sasaoyama.71 views
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The procession leaving Sasaoyama.71 views
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71 views
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While Ishida Mitsunari was on the stage on the other side of the field.71 views
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71 views
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Then Ieyasu's guns fired.71 views
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71 views
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People also climbed up Mt. Sasaoyama.70 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu70 views
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70 views
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70 views
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Ishida's guns fire first.70 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu never engaged in actual combat.70 views
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Ishida's western forces on the left, and Ieyasu's eastern forces on the right.70 views
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Lookout deck on Mt. Sasaoyama69 views
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69 views
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A final salute, Ishida's forces.69 views
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The smoke from the guns.68 views
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Head of the procession. Mt. Ibuki can be seen in the background.68 views
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Ishida's forces were on one side (seen here).68 views
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Soon after the samurai procession arrived at Fureai Hiroba Square at 2 pm, a mock battle was staged in the form of a narrated outdoor play. It opened with a lady walking across the field. 関ヶ原合戦絵巻200868 views
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Later, Ishida came back to life as he stood up and walked. People giggled.68 views
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With Mt. Sasaoyama and the larger Mt. Ibuki (to which Ishida escaped after the battle) in the background, the Sekigahara samurai procession makes its way to Fureai Hiroba at the town center.67 views
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Photo opp67 views
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Mt. Sasaoyama had a smoke signal rising.66 views
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Food and souvenir stalls at the Sasaoyama parking lot.66 views
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The entire play was scripted and the speaking parts were prerecorded. The actors/actresses only had to move and didn't speak. They were all prompted by script prompters (seen on lower left).66 views
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66 views
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A few spectators were on the route.65 views
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Ieyasu's eastern forces.65 views
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The matchlock gun battalions then appeared.65 views
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Climbing to the top of Mt. Sasaoyama.64 views
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Smoke signal on Mt. Sasaoyama.64 views
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Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama63 views
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Festival banner62 views
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Ishida Mitsunari acting during the Battle of Sekigahara Festival62 views
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Near the foot of Sasaoyama is this clearing used as a stage.61 views
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61 views
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Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama was the other festival venue. The parking lot had food and souvenir stalls.60 views
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