 Last additions - Koka 甲賀市 |
Minakuchi Ishibashi Station. When you exit, go right until you see the train tracks on the right. Cross the tracks and you will be heading toward Minakuchi-juku.Jul 04, 2009
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Putting up the rear tapestry.Jul 03, 2009
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Small taiko player, Tenjin-machiJul 03, 2009
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The Tamachi-Katamachi float in Minakuchi Shrine. 田町・片町Jul 03, 2009
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The Tamachi-Katamachi float entering Minakuchi Shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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Food stalls during the festival eve.Jul 03, 2009
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Tamachi-Katamachi floatJul 03, 2009
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The Higashi-machi hikiyama is pulled toward the shrine amid a yae-zakura tree.Jul 03, 2009
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Near the shrine, the floats stop here to setup the rooftop decorations.Jul 03, 2009
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Dragon crawling on top of the Tamachi-Katamachi float.Jul 03, 2009
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Five hikiyama are parked in the shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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Festival scene at Minakuchi ShrineJul 03, 2009
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Higashi-machiJul 03, 2009
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The floats arrive one after another. This is the Tenno-cho hikiyama. 天王町Jul 03, 2009
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Shrine priests give prayers before the procession starts.Jul 03, 2009
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Gofuku-machiJul 03, 2009
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Momotaro decoration on the Tenno-cho hikiyama. 天王町Jul 03, 2009
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Poor guy waiting...Jul 03, 2009
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Here comes Higashi-machi hikiyama making a wide and grand entrance to the shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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Minakuchi Hikiyama Festival is famous for Minakuchi-bayashi festival music with flutes, taiko drums, and bells. During the festival eve, they play the music in front of their floats in the storehouse. This is Komeya-machi. 米屋町Jul 03, 2009
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Tenjin-machi hikiyama float coming through.Jul 03, 2009
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Tamachi-KatamachiJul 03, 2009
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Tenjin-machi hikiyama floatJul 03, 2009
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The procession to the Otabisho leaves Minakuchi Shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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Tenno-cho hikiyama. 天王町Jul 03, 2009
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Higashi-machi float's decoration was a model of Okayama Castle in Minakuchi.Jul 03, 2009
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Group photo in front of Yuya-machi hikiyama.Jul 03, 2009
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Kids gathered to caryy their mikoshi portable shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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Yuya-machiJul 03, 2009
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During the morning of April 20 for the Reitaisai (例大祭) part of the festival, several hikiyama floats proceed to Minakuchi Shrine. This is the Gofuku-machi hikiyama. 呉服町Jul 03, 2009
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Group photo of Tamachi-Katamachi float.Jul 03, 2009
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Making a turn. This is Higashi-machi hikiyama. 東町Jul 03, 2009
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Gofuku-machi hikiyama 呉服町Jul 03, 2009
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Arriving at the Otabisho.Jul 03, 2009
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Each float has a different humanoid decoration called "dashi" (ダシ) on the roof.Jul 03, 2009
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Tamachi-Katamachi float's flute players. Each float's musicians practice playing the Minakuchi-bayashi festival music every night from late March.Jul 03, 2009
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Chigo childrenJul 03, 2009
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Decoration on Gofuku-machi hikiyama 呉服町Jul 03, 2009
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Higashi-machiJul 03, 2009
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Yuya-machi float has a Little Grebe duck decoration. Little Grebe is Shiga's official bird.Jul 03, 2009
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Prayer in front of the shrine by Tenjin-machi hikiyama floatJul 03, 2009
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They ran at full speed while pulling the float.Jul 03, 2009
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After the prayer, they pull the float to its place within the shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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Little Grebe, Shiga's official bird.Jul 03, 2009
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Sugawara Michizane doll on the Tenjin-machi hikiyama float.Jul 03, 2009
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Back at Minakuchi Shrine, the festival continues with Minakuchi-bayashi music performed by Tenjin-machi.Jul 03, 2009
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Jul 03, 2009
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Tenjin-machi hikiyama float entering Minakuchi Shrine. Jul 03, 2009
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Prayers at the Otabisho.Jul 03, 2009
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Yuya-machi hikiyama 湯屋町Jul 03, 2009
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The Tamachi-Katamachi float entering Minakuchi Shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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Bell playerJul 03, 2009
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Tenjin-machiJul 03, 2009
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Here they come running.Jul 03, 2009
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Gofuku-machiJul 03, 2009
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A Sugawara Michizane doll waiting to be lifted up on the Tenjin-machi hikiyama float.Jul 03, 2009
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Tamachi-Katamachi floatJul 03, 2009
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Praying in front of MInakuchi Shrine.Jul 03, 2009
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There he goes, up.Jul 03, 2009
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Getting ready for the procession from Minakuchi Shrine to the Otabisho.Jul 03, 2009
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Minakuchi Hikiyama Matsuri festival eve at Minakuchi Shrine on April 19.Jul 03, 2009
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During the festival eve, only one float was displayed at the shrine, while the other floats were open to display in their storehouses.Jul 03, 2009
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Oike-machi hikiyama float at Minakuchi Shrine during the Minakuchi Matsuri Yomiya (festival eve). 大池町Jul 03, 2009
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By late afternoon on April 19, the festival eve, one hikiyama float arrived at Minakuchi Shrine. This is the Oike-machi hikiyama.Jul 03, 2009
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The Saio then went on the stage. This was the festival's final ceremony called Otsukishiki (Arrival Ceremony) at the Tarumi Tongu site. お着き式Apr 01, 2009
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Apr 01, 2009
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The tea is given to the Uneme (釆女) attendant in charge of food.Apr 01, 2009
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Tea fields next to Tarumi Tongu. When the Saio princess was called back to Kyoto, she took a different route back to Kyoto.Apr 01, 2009
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Apr 01, 2009
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Notice the little shrine in the background to mark the Tarumi Tongu site. 皆さん、大変お疲れさまでした。とても優雅なお祭りでした。皆に伝えます。Apr 01, 2009
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The tea master makes the tea.Apr 01, 2009
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Banners for the Saio Gunko festival. It was a great festival. A lot of people were behind the scenes to hold this festival, and thanks to them too. Also see my photos of the Saiku Matsuri here.A similar festival is held in Meiwa, Mie Prefecture, the location of the Saiku Palace where the Saio princess resided near Ise.Apr 01, 2009
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The tea bowl is brought to the tea master.Apr 01, 2009
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Uneme takes the tea bowl back. This ended the festival at around 4 pm. I really enjoyed this festival. It was worth the long trip to come here.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio receives the tea.Apr 01, 2009
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Again they danced the Dochu-mai. Same one as at the last stop.Apr 01, 2009
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Tarumi Tongu is a well-forested area amid tea fields. After Tarumi Tongu, the Saio princess crossed over the Suzuka mountains and stayed at the Suzuka (鈴鹿) Tongu and Ichishi (壱志) Tongu in Mie Prefecture.Apr 01, 2009
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Closing remarks. For more info about the festival, call 0748-66-1602 (in Japanese). Note that if it rains, everything is held inside the Ono Elementary School Gymnasium.Apr 01, 2009
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Then gives it to the attendant.Apr 01, 2009
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The Uneme takes the bowl of tea to the Saio.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio sits and waits for her bowl of green tea.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio goes back to her palanquin.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio drinks the tea.Apr 01, 2009
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National Historic Site of Tarumi Tongu. From 886 to 1264 (378 years), a total of 31 Saio princesses lodged at Tarumi Tongu. 垂水頓宮 In 1935, the Japanese government sent a team of scholars to Tarumi and they found solid evidence of the Tarumi Tongu beg located here. Remains of the palace's earthen walls and wells were found in this area. In 1944, this area designated as a National Historic Site.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio princess in Tsuchiyama, Koka.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio passing by tea field.Apr 01, 2009
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About Tarumi Tongu. (垂水頓宮) Tongu means temporary palace. There were five of them for the Saio princess between Kyoto and the Saiku palace in Ise.Apr 01, 2009
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The first Saio watches a dance performance.Apr 01, 2009
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Entrance to Tarumi Tongu. The five Tongu palaces were built anew for each Saio procession and then dismantled after the procession was completed. Therefore, there is no remains of the palaces, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact location.Apr 01, 2009
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In the background is a stone monument marking the area as the site of the Tarumi Tongu palace.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio princess arrives at Tarumi Tongu.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio and tea plants.Apr 01, 2009
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Tsuchiyama is famous for tea. We saw a number of tea fields along the procession route.Apr 01, 2009
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Only the location of the Tarumi Tongu in Tsuchiyama is known today. The exact locations of the other Tongu palaces are unknown, but two others were in Shiga, called the Seta (勢多) and Kafuka (鹿深) Tongu.Apr 01, 2009
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They carry her to the wheeled cart. Modern men are too weak to carry such a heavy palanquin.Apr 01, 2009
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Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio Gunko procession proceeds through tea fields on the way to Tarumi Tongu.Apr 01, 2009
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Inside Tarumi Tongu. Today, it is just a small forested area with a monument. The names and dates of all 31 Saio princesses who stayed in Tarumi Tongu are known today.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio gets out of her palanquin.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio makes her way to her place.Apr 01, 2009
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There were surprisingly few spectators.Apr 01, 2009
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Placard bearersApr 01, 2009
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The Saio princess in her palanquin. Notice that the palanquin's screens on all four sides are rolled up.Apr 01, 2009
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Route to the Tarumi Tongu palace site.Apr 01, 2009
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The first break was at the Ichiba Kumin Hiroba square.（市場区民広場）Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio is actually on a wheeled cart.Apr 01, 2009
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They gathered at Maeno Community West Hiroba Square (前野集会所西広場) at about 2:40 pm.Panorama shot.Apr 01, 2009
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The Dochumai was performed. 道中舞Apr 01, 2009
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Saio princess of the Ai-no-Tsuchiyama Saio Gunko Matsuri festival in March.Apr 01, 2009
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The procession arrived at about 2 pm.Apr 01, 2009
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They actually carried her to the wheeled cart.Apr 01, 2009
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Back of the archer.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio princess makes her way to her place. I wondered why the others didn't bow to her as she passed by.Apr 01, 2009
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A nice performance area for a dance performance.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio princess and child attendants.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio princess was poised as always, despite the winds and sun and the heavy costume.Apr 01, 2009
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Another stop was made at the Maeno Community West Hiroba Square (前野集会所西広場) in front of Chianji (Chianzenji) Temple (地安禅寺).Apr 01, 2009
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Marker for the site of the former Tarumi Tongu palace.Apr 01, 2009
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Coming through an avenue of pine trees on the old Tokaido Road. The procession is led by a patrol car with a speaker blaring out a Saio song.Apr 01, 2009
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Afterward, the Saio goes back into her palanquin.Apr 01, 2009
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Marker for the site of the former Tarumi Tongu palace.Apr 01, 2009
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The backdrop was quite dramatic with the temple gate.Chianji belongs to the Obaku-shu Chinese Zen sect. It also has a connection to the Imperial family.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio princess going to Tarumi Tongu in Tsuchiyama, Shiga.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio procession through the town. I was surprised to see so few spectators even though this was really a gorgeous procession.Apr 01, 2009
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They danced to recorded music.Apr 01, 2009
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Saio arrives at Maeno.Apr 01, 2009
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Ichiba Kumin Hiroba square.（市場区民広場）Apr 01, 2009
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Saio princess in juni-hitoe kimono.Apr 01, 2009
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The last person in the procession is the Kacho guard.Apr 01, 2009
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This is the Naishi (内侍), a court lady who served in the palace of the empress (中宮). During the Saio procession, she is at the service of the Saio princess. Apr 01, 2009
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These four are the Beiju (陪従) gagaku (ancient court music) musicians who played for Imperial visits and the Saio procession. (During the festival, they never played anything and there was a separate gagaku troupe.)Apr 01, 2009
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The gagaku musicians were from the Shiga Gagaku-kai troupe. Apr 01, 2009
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The woman in purple is a court lady called the Myobu (命婦), an assistant who tends to the immediate needs of the Saio princess.Apr 01, 2009
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The Saio princess was an unmarried family member of the emperor, often the daughter. Chosen by divination, she was sometimes very young, like age 8. The palanquin bearers are called Yocho (輿丁) who were chosen from the best gentlemen. 斎王Apr 01, 2009
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Bearer of a sign saying, "Saio."Apr 01, 2009
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Another Myobu, followed by a man in white who is the Hakucho (白丁), a guide and guard of the court ladies. Apr 01, 2009
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