The Uesugi Festival is looking for participants to join the ranks of Uesugi Kenshin’s army procession and to reenact the Battle of Kawanakajima!

The very highlight of the festival itself, the battle is an unforgettable experience you’d definitely not want to miss!

Registration Details

As a participant, you will don samurai armor and participate in the Uesugi army procession and the reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima.

Event Date: 3rd May 2023 (Wednesday, national holiday)
Event Duration: 8:00 am ~ 4:00 pm
Participation fee: 5,000 yen (Inclusive of clothing, accessories, lunch, insurance, souvenir, etc.)

Participation Requirements:
1.    You must be at least 18 years old and have confidence in your physical ability. (Gender does not matter)
2.    Participants must be healthy and fit.
※    Participants who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fatigue, headache, runny nose, etc.) on the event day are advised to stay at home.

Number of Participants: 50 (If the number of signups outnumber the number of spaces available, participants will be determined by ballot.)

Responsibilities: 4 participants will act as vice-captains, and the remaining participants will act as foot soldiers. Roles are determined by ballot on the day itself.

Please note that the activity may be postponed or cancelled based on the events leading up to day it is held.

How to Register

Registration Period: 1st March 2023 (Wednesday) ~ 22nd March 2023 (Wednesday)

Please read through the recruitment details carefully, and fill in the registration form (PDF). Mail it to the address below. If you will be bringing your own set of armor, please enclose pictures of it with your form.

※    Submissions that were mailed out before the registration deadline (22nd March 2023) will be accepted even if they arrive after the deadline.
※    The form can also be downloaded from the Uesugi Festival website.

1-4-13 Marunouchi, Yonezawa-shi 〒992-0052
Yonezawa Shiki no Matsuri Committee (part of the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau) 
TEL：0238-22-9607　FAX： 0238-22-2042  
Email：sikinomaturi@yahoo.co.jp

Contact

Uesugi Festival’s Uesugi Army Procession and Battle of Kawanakajima Armored Warriors Representative
Yonezawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry
TEL：0238-21-5111
 

Relive the experience of an armored warrior preparing for battle on 2nd May 2023!

Uesugi Kenshin engaged in the buteishiki rituals for the purpose of praying to the gods for victory and protection for his army. The buteishiki preservation society endeavors to ensure that the reenactment is faithful to its historical counterpart, and to preserve the integrity of the rites handed down to each subsequent generation.

Take a leap through time back to the Sengoku era with over an hour of showcases including the Uesugi taiko drum performance, Uesugi gunmen firing display, and the sacred Gotensui morale-boosting ritual.

What better way to understand history than to immerse yourself in it?

Recruitment Details

As a participant, you will put on samurai armor and participate in the buteishiki and buteishiki procession.

Reenactment Date: 2nd May 2023 (Tuesday)

Participation Duration: 12:00 pm ~ 8:30 pm

Schedule

12:00 pm – Gather at the changing area
1:00 pm ~ 3:00 pm – Rehearsal (Snacks will be distributed after the rehearsal concludes)
4:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm – Buteishiki procession
6:30 pm ~ 7:30 pm – Buteishiki (Change out of the armor after the ritual is complete at about 8:00 pm)
※    Please have your lunch before meeting at 12:00 pm.

Participation Fee: Free (Clothing, accessories, snacks, and insurance are provided)

Participation Requirements:

1.    You must be at least 18 years old and have confidence in your physical ability. (Gender does not matter)
2.    Participants must be healthy and fit.
※    Participants who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fatigue, headache, runny nose, etc.) on the event day are advised to stay at home.
※    Participants can also sign up to be armored warriors for the Battle of Kawanakajima reenactment on 3rd May 2023.

Number of Participants: 24 (Signups will close once this number is met)

Responsibilities: You will act as soldier with the role of flagbearer or torchbearer. Roles will be assigned by the Uesugi Festival Organisation Committee.

Notes

1.    Registered participants will be contacted with further details at a later date.
2.    Participants involved in the procession are strongly advised to bring their own jika-tabi footwear if possible.
3.    The activity may be postponed or cancelled based on the events leading up to day it is held.

Registration/Contact

Registration Period: 1st March 2023 (Wednesday) ~ 22nd March 2023 (Wednesday)

How to Register:

Registration is done on a first-come-first-served basis. Once the target number of participants is met, registration will be closed.

Please read through the recruitment details carefully, and fill in the registration form (PDF). Fax, mail, or email your form to:
※    The form can also be downloaded from the Uesugi Festival website.

1-4-13 Marunouchi, Yonezawa-shi 〒992-0052
Yonezawa Shiki no Matsuri Committee (part of the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau) 
TEL：0238-22-9607　FAX： 0238-22-2042  
Email：sikinomaturi@yahoo.co.jp

Do you love to sing or dance? Signups are open for those who wish to join the Min’you-nagashi folk dance parade or put up a stage performance!

Let’s kick off this Uesugi Festival with an absolute blast of an opening!

Opening Festival Items

Min’you-nagashi Folk Dance Parade

Date: 29th April 2023 (Saturday, national holiday)

Time: 11:15 am ~ 1:00 pm (planned)

Location: From Yoneori Kaikan (Yonezawa Textile Hall) to Denkoku no Mori

Details: Participants will dance the traditional folk dances, Yonezawa Shinchou and Hanagasa Ondo.

Participation Fee: Free

Stage Performances

Date: 29th April 2023 (Saturday, national holiday)

Time: 9:30 am ~ 5:00 pm (planned)

Location: Denkoku no Mori outdoor event stage

Details: Performances showcasing folk performing arts, music and dance.

Participation Fee: Free

Note: Performing groups may need to be adjusted if there are too many signups

Registration Details

Signup Period: 1st March 2023 (Wednesday) ~ 22nd March 2023 (Wednesday)

How to Signup: Fill in this registration form (PDF) and submit the completed form to the committee below.
※    The form can also be downloaded from the Uesugi Festival website.

1-4-13 Marunouchi, Yonezawa-shi 〒992-0052

Yonezawa Shiki no Matsuri Committee (part of the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau) 

TEL：0238-22-9607　FAX： 0238-22-2042  

Email：sikinomaturi@yahoo.co.jp
 

Naderayama Kankan Watari will be held on 26th February this year!

“Kankan Watari” is a phrase in the regional dialect which means “walking on thick layers of snow”. It is a must-try winter activity while you’re here in snowy Yonezawa! You can also catch a magnificent view of the cityscape and the neighbouring mountains while walking up in Naderayama!

We hope to see you there!

Date

26th February 2023 (Sunday)

* Event will not be cancelled regardless of weather conditions

Participants

100 (Children of middle school age or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)

Participation Fee
Please pay the fee on the day of the event.

Regular fee – 1,000 yen
High school students and below – 500 yen

Fees are inclusive of insurance. A souvenir will also be distributed to all participants.

Schedule

8:00 am – Meet at Atago Community Center
8:30 am – Group formation, Departure
11:30 am – Arrival at mountain peak
12:30 pm – Descent from mountain
2:00 pm – Return to Atago Sanso Mountain Villa (Warm amazake will be prepared), Dismissal

* There will be a post-activity get-together session at the villa after dismissal. An additional 1,000 yen participation fee is required (exclusive of drinks). 20 slots available on a first-come-first-served basis. Game meat, which has seen an uptick in demand, will be served!

What to Bring

Winter clothing (can also be waterproof), lunch, drinks, provisions

Equipment required

Long boots, gloves, hat, tights, towel, sunglasses, ski poles etc.

If you have snowshoes or kanjiki of your own, please bring them along with you.

How to Register

Send the following details by fax to 0238-53-2243 or email to kankanwatari@gmail.com

1.    氏名　Name (write in Katakana)
2.    年齢　Age
3.    性別　Gender
4.    Phone number

Registration Deadline

21st February 2023 (Tuesday)

Contact

For more information, please contact Kankan Watari leader KATO Yasuhiro at 090-8788-1058

* Details may be subject to change depending on the COVID-19 situation.
 

Please note that the timing for the following item indicated on the venue map has been changed:

Snow Lantern Taiko Unveiling (Yonezawa Ohayashiren music performance group)

12 February 2023 (Sunday)
2:00 pm ~ 3:15 pm 11:00 am ~ 12:00 pm (Venue: Chinkon no Oka)

No changes will be made to the other activities.