On April 5th, thirty-five iCLA students took part in Yamanashi Prefecture’s much-anticipated Shingen-ko Festival (Shingen-ko Festival Official Website), joining the event as the Princess Koihime Troop. For iCLA students, this was not only a chance to take part in a major regional event, but also an opportunity to engage with Yamanashi culture and community in a truly memorable way.
Held annually, the Shingen-ko Festival commemorates Takeda Shingen, the legendary warlord of the Warring States Period who once ruled the Province of Kai— now known as Yamanashi. Renowned as a brilliant strategist and great leader, Takeda Shingen remains a beloved historical figure in the prefecture.
At the heart of the festival is the Koshu Battalion Deployment, a reenactment of Takeda Shingen’s troop mobilization during the Battle of Kawanakajima against rival warlord Uesugi Kenshin. This main event, featuring over 1,000 samurai, has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of samurai in the world.
Students participated in the parade as the “Princess Koihime Troop.” Koihime was Takeda Shingen’s concubine and the mother of his son, Katsuyori, who later became his successor.
Students took on diverse roles, including Samurai General, Princess Attendants, Samurai Guards, Female Samurai, Flag Bearers, and more. Their costumes, detailed and historically inspired, were worn with the help of professionals. Many of the samurai armor were handmade by past iCLA students. The troop was also joined by Koihime and her companions – the winner and runners-up of the Princess Koihime Collection.
The parade began at Maizuru Castle Park and concluded at the Scramble Crossing in central Kofu City, drawing thousands of spectators who lined the streets, waving and cheering as the spectacle passed by. The parade brought history to life, turning the city into a vivid display of the Warring States Period.
iCLA’s Princess Koihime Troop included students from 17 different countries, bringing a vibrant international element to the beloved local festival. Their participation was also covered in the media leading up to the event, with features on newspaper, television, and radio by NHK and Yamanashi Nichi Nichi Shimbun, highlighting the global spirit iCLA students added to this memorable event.
iCLA students also joined in the previous Shingen-ko Festival held in 2023.
Voices of the Participants:
“The parade at the end was definitely the best and most fulfilling part of the festival. I was holding back tears walking down the street waving at all the smiling faces.” – Michael
“The streets were filled with people, and if you’re into samurai and/or want to represent iCLA in an honorable way, this is an experience crafted for exactly that. Lots of walking, sitting, and waving are undeniably a big part of it, so be prepared for that. Aside from that, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience I can only recommend.” – Yunis
“It was fabulous to see so many local people cheering for us and they admire us regardless of what nation we came from. I got to learn about how people put their utmost effort into this event and how they love and respect their roles as samurai. Even after the event, the other samurai troops were cheering for us and telling us that we did a great job. It was an amazing event.” – Kay
“It was so beautiful to be a part of something so important to Japanese society, and I was amazed to see how many local people were there to support us! You could see how much it meant to them that we were there to celebrate their culture.” – Raghav