The Ōnin War devastated Kyoto and brought the Imperial household to the brink of decline. At that moment, Oda Nobunaga appeared. He kept the Imperial house from ruin, and in exchange he deftly used the emperor’s authority while unifying the entire nation. This procession is partially inspired by that history. Nobunaga answered the emperor’s call, leading his soldiers majestically to Kyoto.

Soldiers appear in this procession holding muskets. We know Nobunaga organized musketsquads and won numerous battles as a result. Other renowned soldiers such as Hashiba Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie also make an appearance. However, Akechi Mitsuhide is nowhere to be seen. Why is that? It’s said that Mitsuhide was versed in Kyoto culture and that he played an important role upon Nobunaga’s arrival in Kyoto.

The Jidai Festival may be giving hints through the characters that don’t appear. Discovering them is part of the fun.