Aizu Clan Parade

Overview

The Aizu Matsuri is the largest festival of the Aizu region, held each year in September (typically over three days in mid-month) in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. With Tsuruga Castle (Aizuwakamatsu Castle) at its center, a variety of events unfold across the city over three days, including the lantern procession, the Aizu Bandaisan dance, the ancestors' memorial service, the Aizu Domain Lord's Procession, the Nisshinkan children's procession, and the fife-and-drum corps parade. The greatest centerpiece is the "Aizu Domain Lord's Procession," in which some 500 people parade through the city in warrior attire—a procession of deep historical character known nationwide for honoring the Aizu samurai who lost their lives in the Boshin War.

Aizuwakamatsu is a castle town where layer upon layer of historical stories intertwine: the samurai education symbolized by the Nisshinkan domain school, the siege of the Boshin War, and the tragic Byakkotai (White Tiger Corps). The Aizu Matsuri is deeply rooted among the citizens as a festival that conveys this history and spirit to the present, and as a feature coloring the autumn of the Aizu region, it draws many visitors.

History and Origins

The roots of the Aizu Matsuri are said to date to a lantern procession held in 1928. This was held to celebrate the marriage of Prince Chichibu (Yasuhito) and Matsudaira Setsuko, the granddaughter of Matsudaira Katamori, the last lord of the Aizu Domain. It carried the feelings of the forebears who rejoiced that Aizu's disgrace—since being branded an "enemy of the court" in the Boshin War—had been cleared. The Aizu Matsuri in its present form is said to have been first held in 1953, and thereafter it developed into a representative autumn festival of the Aizu region.

The "Aizu Domain Lord's Procession" at the festival's core is an event that both honors the Aizu samurai who fell in the Boshin War and commemorates the domain's history. Around 500 people dressed as successive domain lords, the Byakkotai, and the Joshigun (a women's corps known for figures such as Nakano Takeko), among others, parade through the city in armor and surcoats in a spirited procession, and it draws attention each year as celebrities serve as special guests playing roles such as the domain lord. The lantern procession, in which children from each district take part, carries on the roots from 1928, and the Nisshinkan children's procession draws on the traditions of the Aizu domain school Nisshinkan and the education of Aizu's children epitomized by the "Ju no Okite" (the children's code). Each event is thus firmly tied to Aizu's history—a major characteristic of this festival.

Highlights

The greatest highlight is the "Aizu Domain Lord's Procession" of some 500 people. The sight of warriors dressed as successive Aizu lords, the Byakkotai, the Joshigun, and retainers, clad in armor and parading from around Tsuruga Castle through the city center, captivates spectators with a power reminiscent of an illustrated scroll of the late Edo period. Along the route, sword dances and other performances are also held, giving a strong sense of the spirit of Aizu's samurai culture.

In addition, the lantern procession announcing the festival's opening colors the night streets with lines of people holding up lanterns, and in the Aizu Bandaisan dance, citizens and visitors form circles to enjoy a folk dance representative of the Aizu region. In the Nisshinkan children's procession and the fife-and-drum parade, local children take the leading roles, showing how the festival is handed down across generations. The coexistence of the solemnity of mourning the Boshin War's victims and the liveliness of citizens uniting as one is the great appeal of the Aizu Matsuri.

Event Information and Access

The festival is held over three days in mid-September each year, with the area around Tsuruga Castle (Ote-machi) and the city center of Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, as its venue. Access is via JR Banetsu West Line "Aizuwakamatsu Station" as the gateway, with route buses and retro-style loop buses (Haikara-san, Akabe, and others) available from the station to the venues. On the day of the Aizu Domain Lord's Procession, large-scale traffic restrictions are in place in the city center, so it is wise to confirm routes and times before attending.

Because the dates, times, and routes of each event vary by year, visitors should confirm the latest information through the official sources of Aizuwakamatsu City or the Aizuwakamatsu Tourism Bureau before attending. As it falls around the autumn equinox, early reservations are advisable for overnight visits.

Nearby Attractions

Aizuwakamatsu City is rich in historical attractions, including its symbol Tsuruga Castle, Mount Iimori known as the site of the Byakkotai's suicide, the reconstructed Aizu domain school Nisshinkan, samurai residences, and the Sazaedo hall famous for its double-helix structure. Traditional industries and food culture such as Aizu lacquerware, Aizu painted candles, and local sake are also appealing, and nearby are Higashiyama Onsen and Ashinomaki Onsen. Combined with the Aizu Matsuri, a trip here lets visitors fully enjoy the history of the castle town along with Aizu's cuisine and hot springs.

Related Information

The Aizu Matsuri is a festival deeply tied to the history of the Boshin War and the Byakkotai, and viewing it alongside Aizu's castle-town culture and samurai educational traditions offers a deeper understanding of its background. Held in September (autumn) in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, with venues around Tsuruga Castle and the city center, its roots lie in the 1928 lantern procession, and its first staging in the present form is said to be 1953. Centered on the Aizu Domain Lord's Procession, it is the largest autumn festival of the Aizu region.

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