Heat of the battle (Photo: Battles of Kawanakajima Emaki – S.R.G - msucoo93 / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Early
Nov
Heat of the battle (Photo: Battles of Kawanakajima Emaki – S.R.G - msucoo93 / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Will You Fight Or Watch?

Yamanashi re-enactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima

Venue: Fuefuki City Hall Main Office Building When: Early Nov 2024

The Battle of Kawanakajima, between rival warlords Shingen Takeda and Kenshin Uesugi, was fought on a plain in Nagano in 1561. It was possibly the bloodiest battle of the Sengoku Era. Every year the battle is re-enacted by some 900 volunteers on the banks of the Fuefuki River near Isawa-Onsen Station.

Lots of blood!
Lots of blood! (Photo: Yoshitoshi / Public Domain)

The re-enactment used to take place just after the Shingen-ko Festival in April, but since 2018 the timing of the event was changed to autumn, at the end of October.

It is completely free to watch the battle, but if you want, you may be able to become one of those 900 volunteers who get to don samurai armor, march here and there and wave weapons around. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

If you want to participate you need to register several months in advance, and pay a fee. You will be provided with armor for the event, and lunch and a commemorative photo are included. Foreigners are welcome, and women are welcome too, but the event is very popular so there is a lot of competition for places. If there are too many applicants, participants will be decided by lots.

Fighting in the river
Fighting in the river (Photo: The Great Battle at Kawanakajima – Tsukioka Yoshitoshi / Public Domain)

The event begins at 9 am. Participants are taught how to move in formation with a rehearsal, and the battle re-enactment begins at about 1 pm. Everything should be all over by 5 pm.

One thing is certain - whether you are participating or just watching, it will be a day to remember!

Battle of Kawanakajima
Battle of Kawanakajima (Photo: Utagawa Yoshikazu / Public Domain)

Getting there

The event venue is on the banks of the Fuefuki River about 20 minutes walk from Isawa-Onsen Station on JR Chuo Line.

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Kim 4 years ago
Hardcore! What an interesting event!
Kim 4 years ago
Fingers crossed! It'd be memorable for sure!
Elizabeth S 4 years ago
I’ve done armored parades and recreations here in Japan. It’s a spooky feeling to don armor, helmet and waraji and stand on the same battlefield that warriors fought on.
Cathy Cawood Author 4 years ago
I'm always just a watcher - with camera in hand! The people in the photo don't look spooked, but then the real battlefield and its ghosts are far away in Nagano.
https://en.japantravel.com/nagano/war-and-peace-in-nagano/57992
jael halls 4 years ago
I would love to come and fight
Cathy Cawood Author 4 years ago
Don't worry if you can't come this year. They hold it every year!
Elena Lisina 4 years ago
I'm glad I live not at that time! :)
Elena Lisina 4 years ago
I imagined REAL battle that would be horrible to watch! A play must be funny, right! :D

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