Chisato Kato (18 years old), a first-year student at Doshisha University, has been selected as the Saigū-dai (Saigū representative) for the Saigū Procession, a reenactment of the procession of an imperial princess from Kyoto to Ise Grand Shrine (Ise City, Mie Prefecture). She tried on her twelve-layered kimono (hitoe) at Nonomiya Shrine (Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City) on August 31st, renewing her determination for the main event in October.
A Saigū is an unmarried imperial princess who serves Ise Grand Shrine on behalf of the emperor. Since the purification hall where she would purify herself before setting off on her journey is said to be located near the shrine, the local Saigū Ceremony Preservation Society and others have been reenacting the procession since 1999.
One woman with ties to the Saga-Arashiyama region is selected each year to serve as the Saigū-dai (Saigū representative). Chisato Kato is a local native, and has always had an interest in traditional Japanese culture, having been a member of the tea ceremony club in high school.
At the costume fitting held at the shrine office, the participants were dressed in twelve-layered kimono made up of layers of ittsuginu and karaginu robes, and posed for photos in front of the torii gate. Their dignified demeanor attracted the attention of many tourists.
Kato Chisato saw the Saigū procession when she was in kindergarten, and said she had "always admired it," adding enthusiastically, "Through the valuable experience of being a Saigūdai, I would like to pass on Japan's fine traditional culture to the next generation." The Saigū procession will be held in the Saga Arashiyama area on October 19th.
