Want to become a Samurai warrior for a day?

Please Join Us at “Hojo Ujiteru Festival 2019”!

Dress up as a Samurai and join our Samurai parade!

Scedule: October 27th (Sunday)　About between 10:00am-4:00pm

Location: Moto-hachioji area, Hachioji City, Tokyo

Costume: We will provide a set of Samurai outfit for you.

Fee: No Charge for the Participation

☆The Number of Armors are limited, Application will Be Accepted on A First-Come-First-Served Basis

☆Please apply via e-mails.

☆All applicants’ names and e-mail addresses are necessary to apply.

☆Contact: Yuko Takayama 

☆ If you have any questions, please contact Yuko Takayama via e-mail.

Organized by NPO group: Hachioji Castle Ruins Mitsu Uroko Club

About Hojo Ujiteru:

Hojo Ujiteru was a Samurai lord during Japanese Warring States Period. Hojos were one of the major Samurai lord family at that time and Ujiteru was the third son of the head of Hojos. His main castle was set up in Hachioji area and his territory extended to current Saitama prefecture at its peak. In the 1580s, he moved to Hachioji Castle (near the current Takao town) from Takiyama Castle. However, a few years later it fell on a single day and Ujiteru was died in 1590.

Local Samurai Parade with hand-crafted Samurai Armor

Do you have any plan for this weekend?

Annual Hojo Ujiteru Festival will take place on October 28^th, Sunday. This festival is a kind of new local event and it is the 7th year of the festival. The locals in Hachioji city started this festival to commemorate a Samurai lord "Ujiteru Hojo" who ruled the area in the Middle Ages. They hand-crafted Samurai armor and ancient style kimono by themselves and use them for the Samurai Parade of this Festival. It is difficult to tell by the looks, but some of the handmade armor was made with iron, same as in the Middle Ages, and weigh about 30kg!

In addition, every year some Samurai Parade groups from Kanagawa prefecture and Saitama prefecture join this festival, because the areas were ruled by the brothers of Ujiteru Hojo. Hojo Family was a powerful Samurai lord family in the Middle Ages and apparently the family bond was very strong. Then, locals from the areas started to unite again through local Samurai Parades. Now folks from Hachioji also join the events in towns connected to Ujiteru's brothers.

Since this festival is relatively new and held in local area of Hachioji, not so many people rush to the festival every year. So, you can enjoy magnificent Samurai parade and more performances without a crowd!

October 28^th (Sunday)

From 12:15 pm to 3:30 pm

The Samurai Parade marches between Seisa Kokusai High School and Moto-hachioji Elementary School in Motohachioji area.

         Performances will take place on the school ground of Moto-hachioji Elementary School. (At Moto-hachioji Elementary School ground, there will be some food stalls.)

Please Join Us at “Hojo Ujiteru Festival”!

Want to become a Samurai warrior for a day?　

Dress up as a Samurai and join our Samurai parade!

“Hojo Ujiteru Festival” is one of the annual local festivals in Hachioji City, Tokyo. Hojo Ujiteru was a historical Samurai lord in the 16^th century who ruled Hachioji area, and people can participate in the parade wearing Samurai outfits at the festival.

Date: October 22nd　(Sunday)　　　　　　　　　

Time: 10:00am-4:00pm

Location: Moto-hachioji area, Hachioji City, Tokyo

No Charge for Participation

☆Applications must be received by October 15th

Please apply via e-mails from my contact page

All applicants’ names and e-mail addresses are necessary to apply.

Contact: Yuko Takayama

 If you want to participate in the festival, or have any questions, please contact us via e-mail. We will provide you with the Samurai outfit. 

About Hojo Ujiteru:

Hojo Ujiteru was a Samurai lord during Japanese Warring States Period. Hojos were one of the major Samurai lord family at that time and Ujiteru was the third son of the head of Hojos. His main castle was set up in Hachioji and His territory extended to current Saitama prefecture at its peak. In the 1580s, he moved to Hachioji Castle which was newly built on Mt.Fukasawa (near the current Takao town, Hachioji city) because the location was naturally impregnable. However, a few years later it fell on a single day and Ujiteru was died in 1590

Annual Local Festival In Hachioji City, Hojo Ujiteru Festival Took Place Last Weekend

As I introduced on October 15th, Annual Hojo Ujiteru Festival took place on October 23rd. I have written about this festival in my previous post last year on October 24th, and Hachioji local people started this festival to commemorate a Samurai lord "Ujiteru Hojo" who ruled the area in the Middle Ages. So this festival is a kind of new local event and it was the fifth festival this year.

Many local people wore Samurai armor which they made by themselves and walked in a parade in Moto-hachioji area and gathered at a local elementary school ground. Some Samurai related performances are showed and those who joined the festival parade enjoyed them in their armor. In the lower photos above, it seems like the school ground was completely covered by an uncommon atmosphere back to the Middle Ages, but on the edge of the ground there are many tents selling food and drinks for just a couple of dollars. The food and drinks were provided by the neighborhood people and they cooked behind these tents, so it also looked like a typical old-fashioned neighborhood event in a local community. 

It may look less elaborate and dynamic than famous major historic festivals. However visitors can enjoy the festival with more relaxed and friendly air and everybody can go really close to the parade and performers. It would be a big strong point of this festival.

In addition, same as the last year, a couple of groups from Kanagawa prefecture and Saitama prefecture joined this festival, because these areas had been ruled by the brothers of Ujiteru Hojo. Hojo Family was a powerful Samurai lord family in the Middle Ages until they were destroyed by another strong Samurai lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Apparently the family bond was very strong in Hojo Family, then in these areas related to Hojo family local people started to be united again through their local events recently. Now Hachioji people also join some events in Ujiteru's brothers' area.

What's more, this year Hachioji City Tokyo, Odawara City in Kanagawa prefecture, and Yorii Town in Saitama prefecture officially became sister cities because of the historical relation of Hojo Family. Seems like a mingling between the local people in the areas related Hojo Family is now becoming a bigger stream!

Which One Would You Like To See Next Weekend, Geisha Or Samurai? Interesting Fall Events In Hachioji City, Tokyo!

Now temperature went down to comfortable level in Tokyo area. October is a good season to go out for events and festivals. Then, I'd like to introduce nice local events held in Hachioji City, Tokyo next weekend. It would be fun for those who are interested in Japanese culture and history.

On October 22nd, Hachioji Geisha will show their dance performance and also people can enjoy Macha tea, which is a type of tea for Tea Ceremony, served by Geisha ladies.  The location of the annual event is near Hachioji Station.

Hachioji City is an old town which had been prosperous with textile business since Tokugawa Shogunate era (Samurai era). The current downtown was developed along one of the oldest national roads, Rd.20 (Koshu-kaido), and it was flourishing area as an post town during the Samurai era. Therefore, there has been Geisha culture in Hachioji since old times and still it is remaining today. Now it became a rare town you can see actual Geisha Ladies.

Actually the history of Hachioji area is much older. During the Middle Ages, the area was already developed under a Samurai lord, Ujiteru Hojo. He was a member of Hojo family which was one of the powerful Samurai lord families between the 15th and 16th century. There are two castle remains built by Ujiteru Hojo located in Hachioji City, which are Takiyama Castle and Hachioji Castle. To tell the truth, the Hachioji Castle was the origin of the name of the area and today it is used for the city name. 
  
On October 23rd, Annual Hojo Ujiteru Festival will be held. It features a Samurai parade as you can see in the photos above and also in the short video below. In addition, you can also enjoy demonstrations of Japanese Samurai sword and Samurai conch horns, which were used as a cue for Samurai war in the Middle Ages.