On June 2, 2023, the Gion Festival Naginata Hoko Preservation Society (Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City) held a child riding a naginata float leading the Yamaboko Junko parade of the Saki Matsuri (July 17) and an assistant Kamuro. )announced. The child is Hikaru Taki(11 years old), a sixth-year student at Doshisha Elementary School (Kita Ward, Kyoto City), and the bald child is Sosuke Takada(11 years old), a sixth-year student at Notre Dame Gakuin Elementary School, Kita Ward, Kyoto City. , Takuya Ishizumi (10 years old), a fifth-year student at Doshisha Elementary School (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City).

Hikaru Taki (center), who is enthusiastic about being selected as a naginata-hoko child, Sosuke Takada (right), who is bald, and Takuya Ishizumi = June 2, 3:27 pm, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City / Naginatahoko Preservation Society

The naginata-hoko is the only yamahoko that carries a live human being, an 'ikichigo'. Young children are welcomed into the town for a betrothal ceremony, followed by the Osendo no Gi ceremony (July 1) at Yasaka Shrine (Higashiyama Ward), where they pray for the safety of the festival, and the beginning of the Shinto ritual with a ticket. (July 5th).

After passing the ``shasannogi'' (July 13th) at the same shrine, he is treated as a ``god's messenger'' in the town. On the day of the parade, ``Shimenawa-kiri'' is performed on top of the floats, and the ``Taihei no Mai'' is performed.