7Kago (Palanquin)
Once ago in Japan, religious beliefs were practiced, linking ancient Japanese Shintoism with the outside religion of Buddhism. Gods were enshrined in temples and Buddhist temples were built within shrines. This is called shinbutsu-shūgō, the syncretistic fusion of Shintoism and Buddhism. This tradition continued until the government prohibited it in the Meiji period.
During the Edo period, there was a Buddhist temple attached to a shrine next to Myōken Shrine and it appears that the high priest rode in a kago, or palanquin, to take part in the procession.
Priests have not participated since the Meiji period, but in recent years, adorable children have taken part in the procession, riding in chigokago, or palanquins designed for children.
