綾傘鉾(Ayagasa Hoko)

Although it has "hoko" in its name, it is a parasol-shaped float unlike a traditional "hoko", and it has a long history with its origin dating back beyond Ohnin-no-ran, the decade long battle that started in 1467. Destroyed by the fire in 1864, the hoko was once restored in 1879, but it left the parade again soon after that. Finally, it returned to the parade in 1979. Its form has also been changed many times.

This float was originally shouldered by marchers. However, it was converted to a "pull-style" float in the Edo period. An existing old picture of this hoko from those days shows a huge parasol made of gorgeous fabrics placed on the roof of a court carriage. It was restored as a "shoulder float" again in 1879, and will be shouldered this year as well. In the procession, a troop of musicians plays bells and drums around a demon-masked main dancer swinging a rod.

By T.S. on 29th Jun., 2008