Shingen-ko Festival

During the Sengoku period, Takeda Shingen was a prominent warlord active in Kai Province (now Yamanashi Prefecture). In Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, a festival called the "Shingen-ko Festival" is held to honor his legacy. This historic festival has been held since 1947, and although it was moved to the autumn in 2022 and 2023, it will return to its traditional April schedule starting in 2025.

The festival's main event is the "Koshu Battalion Deployment," where over 1,000 participants gather dressed as Sengoku-era warriors. This event demonstrates the departure of Takeda Shingen's forces to the Battle of Kawanakajima, where they clashed with Uesugi Kenshin, another powerful warlord who controlled the Hokuriku region. The event holds a Guinness World Record for the "Largest Gathering of Samurai."

The festival begins with a victory prayer ceremony at the Takeda Shrine, built on the site of the Takeda clan's residence. Participants then gather at Maizuru Castle Park for a deployment ceremony before marching through Kofu Station, Heiwa Street, and the Scramble Crossing. The procession eventually returns to Maizuru Castle Park for a return ceremony. The festival's highlights include the auspicious and memorial rituals performed during the deployment and return ceremonies. Additionally, the festival features fireworks, related events, and street vendors, filling the city with excitement.