Children’s Mikoshi Parade

Starting Point: Outside South Door of MTC

Children’s Mikoshi Parade

by the Saturday Kansas City Japanese School

A mikoshi is a divine palanquin (also translated as portable Shinto shrine). Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine. Often, the mikoshi resembles a miniature building, with pillars, walls, a roof, a veranda and a railing.

During a matsuri (Japanese festival) involving a mikoshi, people bear the mikoshi on their shoulders by means of two, four (or sometimes, rarely, six) poles. They bring the mikoshi from the shrine, carry it around the neighborhoods that worship at the shrine, and in many cases leave it in a designated area, resting on blocks called uma (horse), for a time before moving it from side to side to “amuse” the deity (kami) inside.

Participating in the parade will be Japanese children carrying the traditional-style festival float and accompanied by taiko performers. Please come to watch and enjoy this traditional Japanese tradition.

The Mikoshi Parade will start outside the south courtyard of the Midwest Trust Center, then proceed to the Yardley Theatre and then finally come back outside to the MTC Courtyard, weather permitting.