CROWD; WOMEN PARADE WITH LANCES; WARRIORS ON HORSEBACK' COSTUMED WOMEN IN PROCESSION.




Initials RGH/V/MR/BB



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Background: EACH YEAR THE WARRIORS PARADE THROUGH KAMAKURA CITY NEAR THE JAPANESE CAPITAL IN THEIR SHINING ARMOUR AND RECALL THE DAYS ABOUT 800 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE THE ELITE, THE FIGHTERS AND THE HUNTERS.

KAMAKURA WAS ONCE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT IN JAPAN. THE FIRST SHOGUNATE GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED THERE IN THE 12TH CENTURY, AND IT GATHERED IN UNDER ONE COMMAND THE FORCES IN WESTERN JAPAN.

ON ORDERS FROM KAMAKURA, THE JAPANESE WARRIORS REPELLED TWO MONGOL INVASIONS IN THE 13TH CENTURY.

SINCE THEN, THE WARRIORS HAVE PARADED EACH YEAR THROUGH THE CITY IN THE ARMOUR WEIGHING 80 LBS (40 KGMS) AND WITH LANCES, SWORDS AND BOWS.

THE WIFE OF THE SHOGUNATE WAS CARRIED ON TOP OF THE PALANQUIN BY MINOR WARRIORS AND ACCOMPANIED BY MAIDS WHO CARRIED HER MIRRORS.

THE WARRIORS' ARMOUR AND COSTUMES AND THE CLOTHES OF THE ERA HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY LOOKED AFTER. THUS, THE OUTWARD SIGNS OF THE WARRIOR FESTIVAL ARE THE SAME TODAY AS AT THE VICTORY CELEBRATIONS 700 YEARS AGO.