ABSTRACT
Neartheheadofthisprocessionasitmakesitswayby horseandbytrainfromthenewercapitalcitytotheolder goestheKashikoDokoro,orthePlaceofAwe,whichisthe shrineofthesacredmirrorofthesuccessionrites.Inits ancientdignityofstructureandornamentationitstandsout againstitsmodernsettingoftriumphalarches,brilliant banners,elaboratecarriagesandflashingmilitaryuniforms likeanuncutgemagainstanintricatebackgroundoffiligree. Itistransportedinabox-likepalanquincalledtheOnhaguruma,ortheFeatherCarriage,borneontheshoulders ofabandofstalwartyouthsselectedbytimehonoredcustom fromthevillageofYasenearKyoto.Theseyouthsare accordinglycalledtheYaseDoji,thatis,the"YaseBoys." Theyarecladinceremonialgarbofgreen,andarepreceded andfollowedbyritualistsofhighrank,robedinrichsilks ofblue,red,black,greenandpurple,andmountedon horsesdeckedwithtrappingsofredandgold.TheOnhagurumarestsontwoheavybeamsofplainwhitewoodand
i~ covered about the sides with brocade. The roof is of red lacquer and is surmounted by a golden ball that suggests the shape of the spherical dome of a stupa. Within is a portable shrine, and carefully concealed within this again, as too sacred for the eye of man to behold, is the mirror. The Onhaguruma precedes the Emperor himself. Meanwhile in the same procession are borne a necklace of odd shaped stone beads and a sword of ancient forging.
