62nd Seiwa Genji Festival Held in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture

The 62nd Seiwa Genji Festival was held on April 12, 2026 (Sunday) in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture. The event, organized by the Seiwa Genji Festival Executive Committee, Kawanishi City Tourism Association, and Kawanishi City, attracted approximately 23,000 visitors. The main venue was Kicera Kawanishi Seseragi Park. The historical procession, involving about 250 individuals dressed as samurai, children, and historical figures like Minamoto no Mitsunaka (played by Kawanishi Mayor Kenjiro Koshida), Tomoe Gozen (Manami Okunishi, 25), Tokiwa Gozen (Tsubasa Hori, 28), Shizuka Gozen (Rinka Isobe, 23), and Hachiman Taro Yoshiie (Kazuaki Tone, 24), departed from the park at 11:00 AM and paraded to Hankyu Kawanishi-Noseguchi Station East Exit. Other attractions included music performances, Shinto Muso-ryu Jojutsu demonstrations, and dance performances. New additions this year were a candy scattering and Chambara event. On April 11th, participants received prayers at Tada Shrine, a National Important Cultural Property founded in 970 AD by Minamoto no Mitsunaka, who established the foundation of the Seiwa Genji clan in Kawanishi. The festival aims to commemorate Minamoto no Mitsunaka and promote Kawanishi City's historical and cultural significance as the birthplace of the Genji clan.