April 11, 1999. Successive lords of Takada castle's historic pageant from Joetsu City, Niigata prefecture. From April 3 to April 18, in Takada Park in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, a million people cherry blossom viewing party took place. As one of the events, on the11th of April, successive lords of Takada Castle's historic pageant was presented. It is a parade of the successive lords such as Tadateru Matsudaira, and they walk from the Takada station to the ruins of the dungeon. This is the 2nd year of the pageant and it was downscaled a bit from the 1st year. I felt the atmosphere of the daimyos' procession however, when I watch the procession unfold in front of my eyes. The building in the background of the picture is the restored three storied turret of the Takada Castle.

The princess has arrived! The parade consists of the people chosen from public applications in Joetsu City. The princess is a high school student of the city.

TV reporters were on hand. I recognized a cable TV and two commercial stations. Since the pageant is broadcast, the participants are extra engergetic.