100 'ninja' to stage historic battle at park in west Japan's Iga
IGA, Mie -- A nighttime event in which participants posing as ninja from Iga and Koka in west Japan -- considered the birthplaces of ninja -- stage a
On October 3, a unique nighttime event known as Shinobi-Youchi 2026 will take place in Yono Park, Iga, Mie Prefecture, Japan, where participants will engage in a battle as ninja from Iga and Koka, considered the birthplaces of ninja. The event, modeled after the Second Tensho Iga War of 1581, will see 100 participants from each side, with 50 on the Iga side and 50 on the Oda-Koka camp.
Organized by the Shinobi-no-Sato Iga Koka Ninja Council, the event will feature strategy, wits, and sponge swords instead of real weapons. The battle will begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue with a war council and a switch in positions at 7:30 p.m. Participants will be eliminated once all three wooden tags are taken, while scoring points by lighting enemy camp lights or defeating commanders.
The closing ceremony at 8:15 p.m. will recognize battlefield achievements, and the losing city's mayor will face humiliation by promoting the winning city online. The event is open to high school age and older participants, requiring ninja costumes, with fees ranging from 5,000 yen to 8,000 yen depending on the role.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
