Tokugawa Ieyasu himself founded the Teppo-gumi Hyakunin-tai (Hundred-Member Gun Squad) to defend his shogunate in the capital.
History
The Teppo-gumi Hyakunin-tai squad was stationed in Shinjuku in an area now named in its honor: Hyakuninchō (hundred-member town).
Hyakuninchō is home to the Kaichuinari-jinja Shrine, where many vassals of the squad visited to pray that their shot would always hit its target. People later created the shustujin-shiki fair to commemorate the gun squad and also to give thanks for the luck bestowed by the shrine.
What happens?
The fair is now held every odd year. Men in armor and helmets parade through Hyakuninchō, test fire matchlock guns, and give public demonstrations of battlefield exercises.
Schedule
The procession will start at Kaichū Inari Shrine from 9:40 a.m. The main venue will be Nishitoyama Park Baseball Field from 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.- 50 m from Shin-ōkubo Station Yamanote Line (JY16)
- 257 m from Ōkubo Station Chūō-Sōbu Line (JB31)
- 0.7 km from Seibushinjuku Station Seibu Shinjuku Line (SS1)
