The "Engagement Ceremony" for the Gion Festival's Nagatoboku (Shijo-dori Karasuma Higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City) to welcome this year's child, Nishikawa Masamoto (11 years old), into the town was held on June 12, 2024, at Gion Nishikawa, a Japanese restaurant in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, run by his father. In front of the preservation society officials, the child's parents stated their determination to take on the important role.
An altar was set up inside the restaurant, on which was hung a scroll depicting the enshrined deity, "Emperor Gion Gozu," and a Shinto priest from Yasaka Shrine (Higashiyama-ku) performed a purification ritual. Afterwards, the preservation society officials and the child's father, Nishikawa Masayoshi (49 years old), Kamuro's father, Ogawa Yosuke (47 years old), and Nishibuchi Kentaro (40 years old) faced each other in front of the altar.
The society's representative director, Inoue Toshiro (67 years old), presented the betrothal gifts and said, "Congratulations on accepting this important role as a young boy. Please accept this gift for many years to come." Nishikawa Masayoshi replied, "I am grateful for this important role and will work hard to serve alongside the young boy."
From now on, young boy Nishikawa Masamoto will take part in various Shinto rituals as a "child of the town."
