Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

This festival celebrates the achievements of Maeda Toshiie, the first Lord of the Kaga Domain, who laid the foundations for Kanazawa. Its roots are in the Oyama-jinja Shrine's Houkoku Festival held together with the celebratory festivities (Kanazawa Festival) which were held between 1923 and 1945. The most impressive part of the festival is the must-see reenactment of Lord Maeda Toshiie's arrival to Kanazawa Castle in the Hyakumangoku Parade. The magnificent armor and kimono from that era makes it appear as though the parade jumped straight out of an old scroll. Besides the parade there is also the spectacular Hyakumangoku Dance Parade; various tea ceremonies and ikebana (flower arranging) from the Hyakumangoku Tea Society; and the Hyakumangoku Takigi Noh (a traditional Noh performance) which is performed at night by the bonfire.