Prior to the Yamahoko Junko (July 17) of the Gion Festival, a test parade to move the assembled Yamahoko began on July 12, 2023 in central Kyoto. The Kikusui-hoko (Shijo Agaru, Muromachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku), which marked the 70th anniversary of its reconstruction, marched down Muromachi-dori with dignified majesty.
At around 2:00 in the afternoon, following the Shinto ritual, the floats of Kanko-hoko, Naginata-hoko, Niwatori-hoko, and Tsuki-hoko were lined up on Shijo-dori with ropes spread out on the street, and a large number of people lined up to pull them.
At around 3:00 pm, more than 400 people, including citizens and tourists, pulled the rope at the Kikusui-hoko for the first time in four years. Along with the chants of "Enyalaya," the giant wheels squealed and the halberds swayed north and south while the musical accompaniment resounded. It rained just after we finished.
In 1952, the Kikusui-hoko, which had become a resting mountain due to the ravages of the war at the end of the Edo period, participated in the procession with the Maki floats, and made a full-fledged return the following year with the all-white timber floats. Known as the 'New Showa Hoko', it now boasts of its majestic appearance with all its accessories. Ryusuke Yokoyama, 55, president of the preservation society, said, "I am grateful for the 70-year history of the parade, and I want to safely and safely pass this year's parade on to the next generation."
