Aizu Byakko Matsuri

Aizu Byakko Matsuri

September 22-24

Aizu was at one time the sturdiest castle in northeast Japan, but it was destroyed in the battle between the Emperor's forces and the Shogun's forces known as Boshin-no-eki in 1868. The Byakkotai, or White Tiger Band, a band of young men who vowed to lay down their lives in defense of the castle, saw what they thought was fire rising from the walls. Thinking it had fallen into enemy hands, they kept their vow and killed themselves. To commemorate their courage, there is a procession of 500 warriors, led by the highly selective Byakkotai corps, and a lantern procession through the streets of Aizu Wakamatsu, where the original members of the White Tiger Band are buried.

CONTACTS:
International Relations Section of City
City of Aizu Wakamatsu Hall
3-46 Higashi Sakae-machi
Aizu Wakamatsu-shi, Fukushima-ken 965-8601 Japan
81-2-4239-1201; fax: 81-2-4239-1400
www.city.aizuwakamatsu.fukushima.jp

SOURCES:
IllFestJapan-1993, p. 111
JapanFest-1965, p. 191

Celebration days: Sep 22 - Sep 24