MORIOKA, Japan - A horse parade called "Chagu Chagu Umakko" took place Saturday in northeastern Iwate Prefecture, with about 70 horses wearing ornate harnesses and bells parading through rice paddies and city streets.
The horses, carrying children dressed in traditional attire, paraded about 14 kilometers from Onikoshi Sozen Shrine in Takizawa to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine in Morioka as crowds, including foreign visitors, lined the route.
The event takes its name from "chagu chagu," an onomatopoeia for the sound of bells, and "umakko," a local dialect word for horse. It is believed to have originated as a ritual to pray for the health of farm horses.
During the parade, the children on horseback waved and smiled at the crowds. One of them, 3-year-old Airi Minami, said, "I was scared and cried last year, but this time I'm enjoying it."
Shinta Raiju, 50, a visitor from Tokyo, said, "The horses looked more glamorous and impressive than I expected. I am glad I could see the parade up close."
