After some time away, back to Lord Taira no Masakado—PART 7.
Leaving the Palaceside Building neighborhood, this time to Bando, Ibaraki Prefecture, where Lord Masakado raised his banner against the court and made his base. The city was born from a Heisei-era merger including former Iwai City; at Enmei-in temple here stands Masakado's "body mound" (watch out—there is also an Enmei-ji in town). In 940, after making his final stand here, Masakado is said to have fallen when the wind shifted suddenly and enemy arrows found their mark. His head was sent to Kyoto, but relatives secretly buried the body left behind—tradition holds this is the body mound. In 1975 a stone stupa inscribed "Namu Amida Butsu" was relocated from Masakado (Kubi) Mound in Otemachi, Tokyo. Head and body reunited at last, perhaps.
Each year on the second Sunday of November, Bando holds the "Iwai Masakado Festival." Last year, to the beat of "Masakado Taiko" drums rushed from Kanda Myojin in Tokyo, some 100 gallant warriors and elegant princesses paraded through a pedestrian paradise, drawing about 40,000 visitors. The same day, the "Iwai Masakado Half Marathon" draws about 7,000 runners. The photo shows a cap from marathon staff years ago. When I worked in Ibaraki, I received it through The Mainichi Newspapers' sponsorship of the race. Embroidered on the cap is Ibaraki mascot "Hustle Kamon" crossing the finish line. Eyebrows shaped like "Ha"—quite a cool yuru-chara, no?