Remembering the Civil War era at Aikawa-cho's Battle of Mimase Festival/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1210210008/

October 21, 2012

A battle scene depicted on a picture scroll unfolds at the the Battle of Mimase Festival=Mimise, Aikawa-Cho

The Battle of Mimase Festival is connected with the clashes during Japan's Civil War period. On the 21st, the festival was held in Mimise, Aikawa-Cho. Many arrived to remember the fierce battle which occurred 450 years prior.

This year marks the 13th occasion of the event, sponsored by a committee made up of interested locals (Presided by Takagi Masou). The festival is held in order to comfort the souls of those lost in battle and revitalize the area.

At the event location, interested locals recreated a battle departure ceremony. Other ceremonies such as (gun) firing performances took place. There was a kiso horse performance by the Kōshū Japanese Style Horsemanship Research Association, as well. Near the spot where Commander Asari Nobutane was said to be killed in battle, a short performance took place, which recreated the scene of a battle from a civil war picture scroll.

Additionally, Aikawa's Prefectural and Sagamihara's Kōmyō High School added to the atmosphere with Japanese taiko performances. Local vegetables were sold on the spot, and an area to take pictures while wearing cardboard armor was packed. President Takagi said "The first priority of the festival is to comfort the fallen spirits. We also want to promote interest in the area with the event if possible. At the same time, we wish for the next generation to continue (interest in) the festival."

At the same location, the Battle of Mimasetoge took place in 1569 (Eiroku year 12). The Hojo and Takeda clans met in a violent battle, said to be the largest incident of mountain warfare in Japan's history. The clashing of both armies led to over four thousand deaths in battle.

Original text:
戦国時代に思いはせ、愛川町で「三増合戦まつり」／神奈川
2012年10月21日

戦国絵巻が展開された三増合戦まつり＝愛川町三増

戦国時代の合戦にちなんだ「三増合戦まつり」が２１日、愛川町三増で開かれた。多くの来場者が約４５０年前の死闘に思いをはせた。

まつりは今年で１３回目、地元有志らでつくる実行委員会（高木雅夫会長）の主催。戦没者の慰霊と地域活性化のために開かれている。

会場では、地元有志らが合戦の出陣式を再現。儀式や鉄砲の演技などを行った。また、甲州和式馬術探究会の木曽馬の演技、同所付近で戦死したといわれる武将・浅利信種にちなむ寸劇なども披露され、戦国絵巻を展開した。

そのほか、県立愛川高校や光明学園相模原高校の和太鼓演奏が雰囲気を盛り上げ、地場野菜の即売、段ボールなどで作った甲冑を着けての記念写真撮影などでにぎわった。高木会長は「まつりは慰霊が第一だが、イベントで地域振興にもつながれば。ともに次の世代に続いてほしい」と話していた。

三増合戦は１５６９（永禄１２）年に同所で北条、武田両軍が激突した日本史上最大の山岳戦といわれている。両軍合わせて４千人を超える戦没者が出たとされる。