Read ‘em：社参の儀

KYOTO — The child who will ride atop the Naginata Boko float, which leads the first procession of the ancient Japanese capital’s Gion Festival on July 17, took part in the traditional “Shasan no gi” shrine visit ceremony on July 13.

Riding a white horse, he departed from the Naginata Boko neighborhood meeting hall in central Kyoto and proceeded along Shijo dori street toward Yasaka Shrine in the city’s Higashiyama Ward.

The “chigo,” or ceremonial boy, is 8-year-old Kotaro Hase, a third grader at Notre Dame Elementary School. He wore a golden “eboshi” cap topped with a peacock-feather crown and a richly brocaded “kariginu” robe. In front of the meeting hall stood the fully decorated 25-meter-tall float, drawing attention from tourists and onlookers with its splendor.

During the July 17 parade, the Naginata Boko chigo performs the important role of using a long sword to cut the sacred rope, or “shimenawa,” which marks a boundary with the divine realm.

　祇園祭・前祭（さきまつり）の山鉾（やまほこ）巡行（17日）で先頭を進む長刀（なぎなた）鉾に乗る稚児が13日、「社参の儀」に臨んだ。京都市中心部にある長刀鉾町会所を白馬に乗って出発し、四条通を八坂神社（同市東山区）へ向かった。

　稚児を務める長谷航太郎さん（8）＝ノートルダム学院小3年＝は、クジャクの羽根がついた冠に金色の烏帽子（えぼし）を重ね、金襴（きんらん）の狩衣（かりぎぬ）姿。会所前には飾り付けを終えた高さ約25メートルの鉾が建ち、華やかな光景が観光客らの注目を集めた。

　長刀鉾の稚児は巡行当日、神の領域との結界とされる「しめ縄」を太刀で切る大役を担う。