The Kankosai festival of Goryo Shrine (Kamigoryo Shrine) in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City was held on May 18, 2025, with a procession of portable shrines (mikoshi) and oxcarts parading around the area of the shrine. This year, for the first time in decades, local children played the role of "Furetaiko," the drummer at the front of the procession, livening up the historic festival.
Approximately 500 people, including shrines and parishioners dressed in kariginu (hunting clothes) and yaotome (bamboo maiden costumes), paraded through Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City in a grand manner. Until about half a century ago, local children were in charge of playing the Furetaiko, which signals the passage of the procession. This year's parade took place on a Sunday, making it easier to participate, and with the aim of passing on the local festival to the next generation, the festival recruited fifth and sixth graders at Shinmachi Elementary School, and four boys and girls volunteered.
The children led the procession from the shrine to the Imperial Palace's north gate and Sakuhiramon gate inside Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, beating vigorously on Japanese drums atop a cart. Many people looked on along the way, pointing their cameras at the procession.
