Matsusaka Castle was built during the Sengoku period by Ujisato Gamo, a military commander who served Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi and laid the foundation for the wealthy merchant town of Matsusaka. The magnificent stone walls still remain today, and it was designated as a national historic site in 2011. This time, Masashi Asada, a photographer from Mie Prefecture, interviews members of the Matsuzaka Ujigo-tai, a Matsusaka handmade armor enthusiast group who participate in the warrior procession at the Ujisato Festival, which honors Ujisato Gamo. We will hear about the Matsuzaka Castle ruins, Ujisato Festival, and armor making.

​Click here for the profile of Masashi Asada, who is also the original creator of the movie “Asada Family!”

■Table of contents

• 1. About the Matsuzaka Castle Ruins, a nationally designated historic site and one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles
• Why is there a ginkgo tree at the Matsuzaka Castle ruins?
• 2. A parade of warriors through the Matsusaka Castle ruins and the town of Matsusaka! About Ujisato Festival
• 3. Everyone from small children to the elderly can participate! About making armor
• 4. Photo taken by Masashi Asada

1. About the Matsuzaka Castle Ruins, a nationally designated historic site and one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles

Many of the members of Matsusaka Ujisato-tai, a Matsusaka handmade armor enthusiast group, started making armor because they were attracted to Matsuzaka Castle and the military commander Ujisato Gamo. When Masashi Asada asked, ``What's your favorite part of the Matsuzaka Castle ruins?'' all three of them answered immediately, ``It's the stone walls.''

Mr. Kato of Matsuzaka Ujisato-tai is called [Nozura-zumi], and he piles up natural stones without processing them. That's really cool!

Mr. Kato spoke with great enthusiasm.

Masashi Asada climbs the ruins of the castle tower in the field and holds his camera.

Mr. Kato of Matsuzaka Ujisato Team A large amount of stone was needed to build the castle, so stones from the Matsusaka area were collected. There are even sarcophagi from the Kofun period mixed in there.

Masashi Asada's Kofun period! amazing.

Matsuzaka Ujisato's team and Kato-san The field grounds from the Tensho era are splendid, but some parts were repaired during the Edo period. It's exciting to be able to feel the history of the Ishigaki area.

Found a heart-shaped stone inside the stone wall! This is said to be an amulet called "Inome". ``I heard that other castles around the country also have heart-shaped stones,'' Mr. Kato told me. It's an important spell to protect yourself from enemy attacks and disasters.

Why is there a ginkgo tree at the Matsuzaka Castle ruins?

Mr. Nishioka, Matsuzaka Ujigotai There is a large ginkgo tree at the Matsuzaka Castle ruins. Ginkgo trees are often associated with shrines and castles. Why do you think we plant ginkgo trees?

Masashi Asada, eh? I wonder why...

Mr. Nishioka of Matsuzaka Ujisato's team will protect you from fires. Ginkgo tree leaves contain a lot of water, which makes it difficult for the fire to spread in the event of a fire. It is said that ginkgo trees were planted in important places since ancient times.

Hey Masashi Asada! There's a good reason.

2. A parade of warriors through the Matsusaka Castle ruins and the town of Matsusaka! About Ujisato Festival

The Ujisato Festival is a festival in which about 300 people form a parade of warriors and parade around the Matsusaka Castle ruins and the shopping district around Matsusaka Station. The warrior procession consists of Ujisato Gamo, the first lord of Matsuzaka Castle, Fuyuhime, the daughter of Oda Nobunaga and Ujisato's wife, the gun corps, the spear corps, the maids, and the boys and girls warrior corps. It is held on November 3rd every year and attracts over 150,000 visitors. It's a very popular festival!
*Canceled in 2020 and 2021 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection.

Mr. Nishioka, Matsuzaka Ujisato Team At the 50th Ujisato Festival in 2011, Matsuzaka Ujisato Team participated for the first time wearing handmade armor. Previously, the warrior procession consisted of about 100 people, including Ujisato, Fuyuhime, and pages, but in 2019, the warrior procession increased to around 120 people from Matsusaka alone, and nearly 200 people from outside the prefecture.

Masashi Asada is amazing!

Mr. Nishioka of Ujisato Matsuzaka's team There were also about 20 small children, women in armor, and foreign troops, making it quite lively.

Masashi Asada: What led you to form Matsuzaka Ujigo-tai and start making armor?

Mr. Nishioka of Matsuzaka Ujisato-tai Originally, I was designing and making mikoshi (portable shrines) for Matsusaka's Gion Festival, and someone told me that if I could make mikoshi, I could also make armor, and that's how I got started.

Mr. Nishioka continues to work as the leader of Matsuzaka Ujisato-tai, placing more emphasis on teaching citizens how to make armor and having them enjoy it than making their own armor.

3. Everyone from small children to the elderly can participate! About making armor

When the Ujisato Festival is held, armor-making classes are held every May, and participants spend six months creating their own armor.

A wide range of age groups participate, from Mr. Nishioka of Matsuzaka Ujisato-tai, the youngest in fifth grade, to the oldest, 90 years old.

We asked Mr. Nishida how he started making armor.

Mr. Nishida of Ujisato Matsuzaka was originally a plasterer, and he likes building things. I also like antiques such as swords, spears, and matchlock guns. I saw an open call for armor-making jobs in a local newspaper and applied with four or five of my classmates.

Mr. Nishida is a craftsman. It seems that the process of making armor with great care is irresistible.

Masashi Asada and Nishida's armor is so cool!

Nishida-san from Matsuzaka Ujigo-tai is so happy! thank you. It is said that some warlords in the past spent around 20 million yen to make one ryo (one set of armor).

Mr. Kato made a U-turn to Matsusaka from Tokyo in 2013 to participate in armor making.

Mr. Kato of Matsuzaka Ujisato-tai I left for Tokyo from university and got a job there. After retiring, I returned to Matsusaka, and since I love history, I saw a job posting for armor making and decided to apply.

Masashi Asada, were you originally interested in the history of Matsusaka?

Matsuzaka Ujigo-tai, Kato-san, no. When I was little, I had no interest in it at all. To begin with, I had no idea that Matsusaka was a town with a rich history. When I returned to Matsusaka, I did some research and realized that Ujisato Gamo was amazing. He was a truly great military commander, so I wanted to spread the word about him somehow.

Do all MatsusakaCity know about Masashi Asada and Ujisato Gamo?

Mr. Kato of Matsuzaka Ujisato Team My personal feeling is that not many people know about Ujisato. Matsusaka is a merchant town, and some people may have heard of Mitsui and Hasegawa. It is not known that Ujisato Gamo originally built a castle in Matsusaka and developed the castle town into a merchant town, leading to Matsusaka being called the "town of wealthy merchants." I hope that through the Ujisato Festival and armor making, more people will become interested in Gamo Ujisato and the Matsuzaka Castle Ruins.

Along the straight road in the back of the photo is Ojo Banyashiki, a samurai residence that protects GojobanYashiki Castle. Beyond that lies a town that retains the remains of a castle town. Not only the castle ruins, but also the castle town, the historical scenery of Matsusaka has been preserved. Matsusaka is amazing!

4. Photo taken by Masashi Asada

The Matsuzaka Ujisato team is determined to be cool!

Article production: MSLP