🎎 Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Matsuri (Kanazawa Million Stones Festival)金沢百万石まつり

The first Kanazawa Million Stone Festival was held in 1952 to commemorate the great achievements of Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga Domain, who entered Kanazawa Castle on June 14, 1583 (Tenshō 11). This festival is the grandest celebration in Kanazawa. The event began with a water-drawing ceremony held at Kanazawa Shrine next to Kenrokuen, and it unfolded over three days with the support of the organizing and special co-organizing bodies. There were numerous performances rich in Kanazawa's unique traditional culture, including the "Million Stone Tea Ceremony," where various schools demonstrated tea preparation, the "Children's Lantern Drum Parade" featuring drumming while parading through the streets, and the "Folk Song Flower Scroll" performed by groups affiliated with the Folk Song Association at the Kanazawa Opera House. The highlight of the festival, the "Million Stone Grand Parade," attracted a large number of tourists from outside the prefecture, and the splendid parade is worth seeing. A band played lively music, and the fire department showcased the traditional "Kaga Tobihashigo Climbing" performance. In the latter part of the parade, actors portraying Maeda Toshiie and his wife, Asama, joined the magnificent procession. The actors, dressed in historical costumes, are renowned stars from movies and television dramas, so be sure to take a closer look at them.

Established in 1952, it is the most representative event in Kanazawa, attracting a large number of tourists from both inside and outside the prefecture. There are multiple performances filled with Kanazawa's unique traditional culture. The magnificent "Hyakumangoku Parade" also features big-name celebrities in attendance.