 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.553 views
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Plastic samurai armor258 views
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Water tower painted in Sekigahara motif.245 views
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A woman samurai241 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara Festival, 2008223 views
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I caught one. Pure mochi (no adzuki bean paste inside). It was a very impressive and enjoyable festival.216 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu retainer at the Battle of Sekigahara Festival, 2008212 views
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Fierce samurai193 views
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The finale was the throwing of mochi.174 views
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Ishida Mitsunari168 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sasaoyama.162 views
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A few matchlock gun battalions gathered on the Sasaoyama stage.156 views
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Load, get ready, and...146 views
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This man wore authentic samurai armor, over a century old, made of metal. A family heirloom.135 views
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Ieyasu retainer135 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.132 views
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The Sekigahara samurai warriors arrived Sasaoyama at noon.131 views
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And Tokugawa Ieyasu.130 views
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Ishida Mitsunari loses the battle, and is executed.130 views
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At 11 am, the gun battalions arrived.127 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.126 views
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Mock combat with a spectator.126 views
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They are all dressed in colorful samurai armor.123 views
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This man wore newer samurai armor made of plastic.123 views
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Ishida Mitsunari122 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan, another cat, was the most popular.118 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.117 views
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Shimasako-nyan, a cat based on one of Ishida Mitsunari's retainers. しまさこにゃん117 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.114 views
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They get ready to fire their matchlock guns. (No bullets)113 views
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Mini banners for all the clans who battled at Sekigahara.113 views
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Spear-wielding women warriors (with foxy makeup on).113 views
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Smoke signal on Mt. Sasaoyama. Also notice the bell on the left.112 views
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FIRE!! Those guns make a huge noise.112 views
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Matchlock gun warrior112 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan and his calligraphy brush110 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.110 views
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Sword demo108 views
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Matchlock gun warrior posing for pictures.108 views
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They fired the gun a few times.106 views
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Ishida Mitsunari106 views
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The Sekigahara Ondo dance was then held. 関ヶ原音頭105 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu leaving Sasaoyama.104 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu gives commands during the Battle of Sekigahara.103 views
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Ishida Mitsu-nyan goods102 views
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Ishida Mitsunari102 views
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Another lord dies in battle.102 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101 views
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It was actually kind of humorous.101 views
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The battle ensues.101 views
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Ishida Mitsunari is beheaded and dies.101 views
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Monument for the decisive battle100 views
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BOOM!!!100 views
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Ishida Mitsunari100 views
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Great photo opp.99 views
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An angelic dancer then came to cover Ishida's body with a white cloth.99 views
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After the demo, they posed for pictures.98 views
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At around 12:30 pm, some of the samurai staged a mock battle at Sasaoyama.98 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.)98 views
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Mt. Sasaoyama, the small hill that was Lord Ishida Mitsunari's base camp. Behind it is Mt. Ibuki.97 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.97 views
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Execution of 97 views
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Sekigahara samurai warriors gather at Sasaoyama.96 views
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96 views
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Bento box lunches named after Ieyasu and Hideyoshi. 1000 yen.96 views
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Straw pole pieces cut by a sword.96 views
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Ishida Mitsunari 全軍武者行列96 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu at Mt. Momokubari, his base camp near the Sekigahara battlefield.96 views
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Samurai lay dead.96 views
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Battle continues.96 views
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Ieyasu (left) and Mitsunari then walked toward each other and bowed to everyone together.96 views
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95 views
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Ishida Mitsunari spotted me and my camera and posed for me. He's a friendly guy. 95 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu95 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〜」95 views
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Ishida's western forces ready for battle.94 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu94 views
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View of the Sekigahara battlefield from the top of Mt. Sasaoyama.93 views
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My lord!!93 views
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Ishida Mitsunari kneeling.93 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu93 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.92 views
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Ishida Mitsunari92 views
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The matchlock gun battalion arrives as well.91 views
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Food stalls90 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. 90 views
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At the Monument for the decisive battle, one lord's troops give out a battle cry.90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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Mock battle staged during the Battle of Sekigahara Festival.90 views
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90 views
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After the hour-long play ended, a photo opp for all. Mitsunari and his gang here.90 views
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Ieyasu and his gang.90 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).89 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu89 views
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The troops enter town on a perfectly sunny day for a festival.89 views
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Stone monument on the top of Sasaoyama marking Ishida Mitsunari's base camp.88 views
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The foot of Sasaoyama is full of samurai and spectators.88 views
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Ieyasu (left) and Mitsunari bowing to everyone.88 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu kneeling.88 views
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Top of Mt. Sasaoyama.87 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu87 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu 87 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.86 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 2000.86 views
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86 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu85 views
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The procession leaving Sasaoyama.85 views
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While Ishida Mitsunari was on the stage on the other side of the field.85 views
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Then Ieyasu's guns fired.85 views
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People also climbed up Mt. Sasaoyama.84 views
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Lookout deck on Mt. Sasaoyama84 views
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The smoke from the guns.84 views
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Ishida's guns fire first.84 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu never engaged in actual combat.84 views
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Ishida's western forces on the left, and Ieyasu's eastern forces on the right.84 views
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A final salute, Ishida's forces.84 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200883 views
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Head of the procession. Mt. Ibuki can be seen in the background.82 views
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Ishida's forces were on one side (seen here).82 views
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Later, Ishida came back to life as he stood up and walked. People giggled.82 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.81 views
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Photo opp81 views
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Mt. Sasaoyama had a smoke signal rising.80 views
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Food and souvenir stalls at the Sasaoyama parking lot.80 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).80 views
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80 views
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Smoke signal on Mt. Sasaoyama.79 views
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A few spectators were on the route.79 views
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Ieyasu's eastern forces.79 views
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The matchlock gun battalions then appeared.79 views
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Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama78 views
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Climbing to the top of Mt. Sasaoyama.78 views
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Festival banner76 views
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Near the foot of Sasaoyama is this clearing used as a stage.76 views
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Ishida Mitsunari acting during the Battle of Sekigahara Festival76 views
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Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama was the other festival venue. The parking lot had food and souvenir stalls.74 views
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