Japan historic gun festival

An annual festival featuring the introduction almost half a millennium ago of matchlock guns to Japan was held on the southwestern Japanese island of Tanegashima on Sunday.

The festival returned for the first time in four years after being canceled due to the pandemic. This year marks 480 years since the Portuguese first brought the firearms to the island in 1543.

Participants wearing face paint marched through the city of Nishinoomote carrying a float called a Taikoyama. About 100 of them carefully carried it across a river at the climax of the procession.

Others wearing traditional Japanese armor and hakama skirts also marched through the city.