These samurai devotees bring a cherished culture back to life - 1

At age 87, Mamoru Nishi is one of the oldest participants in the festival. A farmer by trade, he’s been celebrating the samurai for 73 years.

A car salesman, Kazuki Hiraoka doesn’t don armour for the festival since his role is that of a kai-yaku, who sounds the “trumpet shell” giving the cavalry the order to march.

In this additional portrait of Kamo, the armourer shows a different look at elements that make up his gunja attire.

During the festival, civil servant Mitsuhiro Matsumoto becomes a go-taisho, or general of the battalion.

Owner and chef of an izakaya, Kazuto Fukouno portrays a buso-torishimari, who inspects military equipment, such as the horse bridles and saddles.

Hiroshi Iga, who owns a construction company that does decontamination work in Fukushima, supervises the festival’s cavalry procession as a naka-metsuke.