 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.546 views
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Plastic samurai armor247 views
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Water tower painted in Sekigahara motif.238 views
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A woman samurai230 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara Festival, 2008212 views
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I caught one. Pure mochi (no adzuki bean paste inside). It was a very impressive and enjoyable festival.209 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu retainer at the Battle of Sekigahara Festival, 2008201 views
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Fierce samurai182 views
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The finale was the throwing of mochi.167 views
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Ishida Mitsunari161 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sasaoyama.156 views
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A few matchlock gun battalions gathered on the Sasaoyama stage.150 views
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Load, get ready, and...140 views
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This man wore authentic samurai armor, over a century old, made of metal. A family heirloom.129 views
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Ieyasu retainer129 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.126 views
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The Sekigahara samurai warriors arrived Sasaoyama at noon.125 views
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And Tokugawa Ieyasu.124 views
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Ishida Mitsunari loses the battle, and is executed.124 views
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At 11 am, the gun battalions arrived.121 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.120 views
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Mock combat with a spectator.120 views
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They are all dressed in colorful samurai armor.117 views
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This man wore newer samurai armor made of plastic.117 views
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Ishida Mitsunari116 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan, another cat, was the most popular.112 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.111 views
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Shimasako-nyan, a cat based on one of Ishida Mitsunari's retainers. しまさこにゃん111 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.108 views
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They get ready to fire their matchlock guns. (No bullets)107 views
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Mini banners for all the clans who battled at Sekigahara.107 views
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Spear-wielding women warriors (with foxy makeup on).107 views
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Smoke signal on Mt. Sasaoyama. Also notice the bell on the left.106 views
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FIRE!! Those guns make a huge noise.106 views
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Matchlock gun warrior106 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan and his calligraphy brush104 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.104 views
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Sword demo102 views
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Matchlock gun warrior posing for pictures.102 views
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Ishida Mitsunari100 views
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The Sekigahara Ondo dance was then held. 関ヶ原音頭99 views
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They fired the gun a few times.98 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu leaving Sasaoyama.98 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu gives commands during the Battle of Sekigahara.97 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan goods96 views
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Ishida Mitsunari96 views
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Another lord dies in battle.96 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95 views
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It was actually kind of humorous.95 views
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The battle ensues.95 views
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Ishida Mitsunari is beheaded and dies.95 views
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Monument for the decisive battle94 views
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BOOM!!!94 views
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Ishida Mitsunari94 views
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Great photo opp.93 views
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An angelic dancer then came to cover Ishida's body with a white cloth.93 views
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After the demo, they posed for pictures.92 views
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At around 12:30 pm, some of the samurai staged a mock battle at Sasaoyama.92 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.)92 views
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Mt. Sasaoyama, the small hill that was Lord Ishida Mitsunari's base camp. Behind it is Mt. Ibuki.91 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.91 views
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Execution of 91 views
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Bento box lunches named after Ieyasu and Hideyoshi. 1000 yen.90 views
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Ishida Mitsunari 全軍武者行列90 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at Mt. Momokubari, his base camp near the Sekigahara battlefield.90 views
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Samurai lay dead.90 views
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Battle continues.90 views
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Ieyasu (left) and Mitsunari then walked toward each other and bowed to everyone together.90 views
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Sekigahara samurai warriors gather at Sasaoyama.89 views
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Straw pole pieces cut by a sword.89 views
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Ishida Mitsunari spotted me and my camera and posed for me. He's a friendly guy. 89 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu89 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〜」89 views
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Ishida's western forces ready for battle.88 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu88 views
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View of the Sekigahara battlefield from the top of Mt. Sasaoyama.87 views
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My lord!!87 views
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Ishida Mitsunari kneeling.87 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu87 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.86 views
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Ishida Mitsunari86 views
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The matchlock gun battalion arrives as well.85 views
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Food stalls84 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. 84 views
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At the Monument for the decisive battle, one lord's troops give out a battle cry.84 views
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84 views
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Mock battle staged during the Battle of Sekigahara Festival.84 views
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After the hour-long play ended, a photo opp for all. Mitsunari and his gang here.84 views
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Ieyasu and his gang.84 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).83 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu83 views
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The troops enter town on a perfectly sunny day for a festival.83 views
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Stone monument on the top of Sasaoyama marking Ishida Mitsunari's base camp.82 views
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The foot of Sasaoyama is full of samurai and spectators.82 views
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Ieyasu (left) and Mitsunari bowing to everyone.82 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu kneeling.82 views
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Top of Mt. Sasaoyama.81 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu81 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu 81 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.80 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 2000.80 views
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80 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu79 views
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The procession leaving Sasaoyama.79 views
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While Ishida Mitsunari was on the stage on the other side of the field.79 views
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Then Ieyasu's guns fired.79 views
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People also climbed up Mt. Sasaoyama.78 views
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Lookout deck on Mt. Sasaoyama78 views
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The smoke from the guns.78 views
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Ishida's guns fire first.78 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu never engaged in actual combat.78 views
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Ishida's western forces on the left, and Ieyasu's eastern forces on the right.78 views
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A final salute, Ishida's forces.78 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200877 views
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Head of the procession. Mt. Ibuki can be seen in the background.76 views
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Ishida's forces were on one side (seen here).76 views
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Later, Ishida came back to life as he stood up and walked. People giggled.76 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.75 views
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Photo opp75 views
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Mt. Sasaoyama had a smoke signal rising.74 views
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Food and souvenir stalls at the Sasaoyama parking lot.74 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).74 views
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Smoke signal on Mt. Sasaoyama.73 views
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A few spectators were on the route.73 views
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Ieyasu's eastern forces.73 views
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The matchlock gun battalions then appeared.73 views
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Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama72 views
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Climbing to the top of Mt. Sasaoyama.72 views
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Festival banner70 views
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Near the foot of Sasaoyama is this clearing used as a stage.70 views
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Ishida Mitsunari acting during the Battle of Sekigahara Festival70 views
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Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama was the other festival venue. The parking lot had food and souvenir stalls.68 views
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