The Goyō Mountain Samurai Matchlock Performance Group

In the Kesen region of Iwate, one of the more recognizable cultural groups would have to be the Goyō Matchlock Gun Performance group. The group was started more than 25 years ago in the Goyō area of north-eastern Sumita at the foot of Goyō-zan, or Mount Goyō, the area’s highest, and perhaps most sacred mountain.

The inspiration behind the formation of the group can be traced back hundreds of years to the late 16th century with the formation of the Sendai Domain by Date Masamune of the Date samurai clan. The area of Kesen, consisting of many small hamlets and villages (of which are now the cities of Rikuzentakata, Ofunato and the town of Sumita) comprised the northern-most tip of the domain. Along with providing the domain with agricultural and seafood products, the Goyō mountain area was known for its abundance of hinoki trees, or Japanese cyprus. This fragrant wood, prized for use in traditional homes and ornamental woodwork also provided the Date family a much more useful product: the inner bark which could be softened and braided together to make match cord required to fire their armies’ matchlock muskets. These arquebuses, of Portuguese origin were introduced to Japan in the 1500s then subsequently refined, mass produced and used extensively from the mid Sengoku period (1550) until the end of the Edo period all over Japan.

Goyō-Teppotai members clean and maintain their arquebuses

while being filmed for a TV program.

It has been recorded that during the height of the Date family rein the Sumita area annually was able to supply Sendai with enough hinoki match cord that, laid end to end would have measured more than 20 kilometers in length. Given that the standard match cord carried by a musketman into battle measured around 1 meter, it’s clear that the area was of some importance to the Date Masamune and his descendants.

So, beginning in 1990, a plan to start a samurai matchlock historical performance group was conceived. With the support and guidance from the current Date family in the cities of Sendai and Toyoma (now Tome City) , the Goyō-zan Hinawaju-Teppotai was born. Full sets of lacquered metal samurai armor were crafted by hand in a purpose-built workshop, with each member making his own set. Authentic arquebuses were procured through antique dealers around the country, and hinoki trees were selected from Sumita and the bark woven into match cord.

Members braid hinoki bark by hand as visiting

veteran dramatic actor, Aoi Teruhiko looks on.

Beginning with an inaugural ceremony at the peak of Goyō Mountain in full samurai regalia the group has since been performing annually for crowds at key cultural festivals and events in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, including the famous spring Aoba Festival in downtown Sendai City for more than 25 years.

The Group performing atop Mount Goyō in 2011, shortly after the Great East Tsunami disaster to honor those who lost their lives and for the group’s 20th anniversary.

The author, reloading for the next shot.

On a more personal note, I have considered it a great honor and privilege to have been invited to be a performing member of this group since my earliest days in Sumita. It has been a consistent source of pride for me to help preserve my adopted Japanese home’s historical roots and traditions.

Each year Sumita-cho Goyō-zan Hinawaju-Teppotai can be seen performing from May to October at a variety of festivals, with annual appearances at the Sendai Aoba Matsuri in mid-May, the Sumita Summer Festival in late July and at the Rokandō Matsuri in early August.