On June 15, 2026, Ayato Kuninaka Shrine in Minami Ward, Kyoto City, announced that it had selected Atsuhiro Fukui (9 years old), a fourth-grader at the local Kuze Nishi Elementary School, as the Kuze Komagata Chigo, who will lead the portable shrine (mikoshi) during the Gion Festival. He will single-handedly carry the responsibility for both the Shinkosai (July 17th) and Kankosai (July 24th) processions. On July 13th, he will report his selection to the deities at Yasaka Shrine (Higashiyama Ward) and participate in the "Shasan no Gi" ceremony, praying for the safe conduct of the festival.
The Kuze Komagata Chigo is selected from among the parishioners of Ayato Kuninaka Shrine, which has close ties to Yasaka Shrine. During the Shinkosai and Kankosai, the child wears a horse-shaped carving called a "Komagata" and leads the Nakagoza mikoshi.
According to a shrine official with experience as a child participant, families of parishioners used to take turns providing two children from the upper grades of elementary school for both the Shinkosai (procession of the gods) and Kankosai (return procession). However, due to the declining birthrate and other factors, it has become difficult to select two children from the upper grades in recent years. Last year, younger brothers took on the role.
