Samurai Festival - Kachiya Matsuri (Winning Arrow Festival)

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Kachiya Matsuri - Lucky Arrow Festival. Held on May 5th. Kachiya Matsuri celebrates an event that happened in the Kameido area of Tokyo a long time ago. In 940 the samurai Fujiwara no Hidesato offered a bow and arrow to Kameido Katori Shrine in appreciation for his victory in battle. 

In 939 a local samurai rebelled against the Imperial Court and eventually titled himself the New Emperor. His name was Taira no Masakado. The Imperial Court in Kyoto ordered his rebellion crushed and charged Fujiwara no Hidesato and Masakado's cousin Taira no Sadamori to do so. 

Before setting out to battle, Hidesato prayed at Kameido Katori Shrine for victory. On March 25th, the armies faced off at the Battle of Kojima (in modern day Ibaraki Prefecture). Masakado though outnumbered chose his ground well and actually forced the Imperial army back.

This success proved to be his undoing as Masakado pushed too far alone and a lucky arrow shot by an unknown hand struck him down and his army melted away.

To express appreciation for victory over Masakado, Hidesato offered a bow and arrow to Kameido Katori Shrine naming them Kachiya - winning arrow.

Kachiya-sai is a procession to commemorate the event. On May 5th which is the last day of Golden Week a procession is made from Kameido Tenjin Shrine to Kameido Katori Shrine starting at 1:00.












Fujiwara no Hidesato is also known as Tawara Toda (Lord Bag of Rice). According to legend, Hidesato aided Ryujin, the Dragon King, or his daughter in another version to defeat a giant centipede. One of his rewards was a bag of rice that never was empty from which he got his nickname Lord Bag of Rice (Tawara Toda).





















May 5th is also Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) which used to be Boys' Day. Carp banners or koinoburi are hung out for the healthiness and wellbeing of boys.




Karasumori Matsuri - festival held on even years in Shimbashi. Karasumori Shrine is said to have been founded by Fujiwara no Hidesato after his victory over Taira no Masakado.
Location: Kameido, Koto City, Tokyo 136-0071, Japan

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