Atago Shrine Festival Daimyo Gyoretsu
愛宕神社祭典 大名行列
~A Traditional Procession Continuing from the Edo Period in Yuzawa City~
愛宕神社祭典 大名行列
~A Traditional Procession Continuing from the Edo Period in Yuzawa City~
Copyright: https://akitayuzawa.jp/event-sm-04.html
The Daimyo Gyoretsu is an annual event at the Atago Shrine festival, originating in 1714 when the Yuzawa city was formally organized as an independent community. The event began as a ceremonial performance dedicated to Atago Shrine. In the Edo period, the Satake Nanke, who governed a domain of approximately 100,000 ). The daimyō prkoku (rice field concession) is believed to replicate the formal feudal retinue (daimyō gyōretsu) of this clan, symbolizing social/political hierarchy, as well as the aesthetics of samurai culture.
The procession extends approximately two kilometers and features several hundred participants, each portraying a specific role within a traditional feudal retinue. The lineup includes the mounted lord, retainers bearing spears, bows, guns, palanquins, medicine chests, falconry equipment, and other regalia once associated with high-ranking samurai households. Following the main retinue are dazzling decorated floats, neriko dancers, musicians, and young attendants, adding vibrant color to the scene. As the procession moves through the city, participants perform yakko-buri—a stylized servant dance—at designated meeting places in each neighborhood.
When I was in my junior high school, my cousin and friends participated in this festival. They were wearing unique and different costumes depending on each role. I would like to cite a voice from my cousin, who participated in the Atago Shrine Festival Daimyo Gyoretsu when he was in junior high school. He was asked to join it as part of his basketball club volunteer activity. My cousin said, "On the day of the festival, I could experience a traditional procession with a long history, by walking in a goretsu(long line) while wearing traditional warrior attire. The costume I wore was heavier than I expected, and it was a good opportunity to know the hardship and effort of people in the past. Also, seeing many people gather along the road and hearing their words of encouragement made me realize again that this event is truly loved and preserved by the local community. Through this experience, I could feel closer to Yuzawa City's history and tradition. I hope this festival will be preserved and passed on to future generations."
Yuzawa City Tourism and Products Association. (n.d.). Daimyo procession at the Atago Shrine festival. Akita Yuzawa Tourism Navi. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://akitayuzawa.jp/event-sm-04.html
Yuzawa City. (2012). Daimyo procession in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/vWNC9qOjLb4
Yuzawa City. (2015). Atago Shrine Festival daimyo procession in Yuzawa City, Akita [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/9LBs8Oa1hSc