2Hanayakko (Manservants)
Yakko, or manservants, originally carried tools for feudal lords. It is said that this began with the retainers who accompanied the court journey of Yatsushiro Castle’s lord conveying what they had learned of the etiquette of the hanayakko manservants from Edo.
A holdover from the daimyo’s procession, the first two people hold a hasamibako, or lacquered box, into which the clothes of the lord of the castle are placed. Next are tategasa, or umbrellas held over the feudal lord, and last are circular stands onto which the kaburigasa of the castle lord are placed. Each is covered with a black cloth and tied with silk string in a traditional knot known as hana musubi, or rosettes.
The hanayakko pass objects to each other while they process, with the unique shout of “Seitokose tokosei…”
It is said that holding the objects straight is an indication of the status of the feudal lord and is the highest mark of the daimyo procession. The Matsui clan were castle lords, but not daimyos. Still, the tradition may have been passed down by people in the castle town because the clan’s presence was a point of pride for them.
