The Izushi Castle Festival (出石お城まつり) reaches its 54th edition this year in Izushi, a castle town that prospered in the Edo period as the seat of a 58,000-koku domain. Throughout the town, rich in history and tradition, a variety of events will take place, starting with a spirited daimyo procession.
The festival's main highlight is the Adult Daimyo Procession with Spear Swinging (大人大名行列槍振り), held from 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM, which conveys what the sankin-kotai (alternate attendance) processions of the Edo period looked like. The tradition dates back to 1863 (Bunkyu 3), when the wife of the Izushi domain lord returned from Edo. The spear handling is performed to the distinctive chant "Insayoi, Iyatto Makase, Yoiyoi Hayoi" (インサヨーイ・イーヤットマカセ・ヨイヨイハーヨーイ). The Children's Daimyo Procession (子ども大名行列), from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, in which children dressed as the lord, yakko (servants), kosho (pages) and others parade through the town, also adds color to the festival.
This year, the Eirakukan Kabuki (永楽館歌舞伎) "Oneri" (お練り) procession will be held on the same day as the festival for the first time in two years, from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM. Visitors can see the performers walk through the castle town up close, and a stage greeting is also scheduled from 3:00 PM to 3:20 PM.
Eirakukan Kabuki "Oneri": Kabuki actors, including Kataoka Ainosuke (片岡愛之助), who appears in the performance, walk through the town.
The day begins with an opening ceremony at 9:00 AM, followed by an Arikoyama Castle summit tour (有子山城登頂ツアー) from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM, a parade by elementary and junior high school bands from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM, and an apple giveaway from 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM. On the special stage, a range of performances will liven up the venue, including a calligraphy performance paired with dance by a high school calligraphy club, a solo vocal performance, an idol performance and a wind band concert by high school students.
Food stalls and food trucks will also line the streets, and the festival will close with a mochi-throwing event with prizes at 4:00 PM. History, tradition and lively crowds come together in the autumn castle town of Izushi.
