In Iwate Prefecture, an early summer tradition, "Chagu Chagu Mako" was held, and about 60 horses dressed in gorgeous costumes paraded along a 14-kilometer route with children on board.
"Chagu Chagu Mako" is a traditional event that has been held since the Edo period to thank the horses who helped with the agricultural work at this time of year when the rice planting is completed, and it is said that the sound of the bell decorated on the horse can be heard as "Chagu Chagu", so the name came from.
On the morning of the 10th, about 60 horses, decorated with colorful cloths and bells called the Goshiki belt, gathered at the shrine in Takizawa City, the starting point, and set off with children on the backs of horses.
This year, three French people living in Kyoto City also participated for the first time as horse pullers, and spent about four hours slowly parading along the 3-kilometer route to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine in Morioka City.
Last year, we were not able to interact with horses due to measures against the spread of the new coronavirus, but this year we saw children eating carrots on horses at the resting area.
A man who watched said, "The event was temporarily interrupted due to the influence of the new corona, but Chagu Chag Mako is an indispensable traditional event, so I hope it will continue forever."