A yamakago (mountain palanquin) in the River Otani

A yamakago (mountain palanquin) in the River Otani

Two men carry a woman in a yama-kago (mountain palanquin) across Daiya River. The location is unclear, but the style and type of bridge over the narrow mountain river suggests that it is the gorge near Umagaeshi.==Date:1904, Place:Nikko, Photo:Underwood, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number97‐55‐0]

A mother and her daughter in a basket palanquin

A mother and her daughter in a basket palanquin

The kago (palanquin) was widely used in the Edo Period. Many types were developed for different social classes and purposes. This palanquin has no straw curtain and so is probably a yamakago used for mountain passages. A cushion was used to absorb shocks. The bearers are wearing loincloths, straw sandals and headbands, and they are holding ikizue (breath sticks) to regulate breathing while walking.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number69‐56‐0]

palanquin bearers

palanquin bearers

The kago (palanquin) was widely used in the Edo Period. Many types were developed for different social classes and purposes. This palanquin has no straw curtain and so is probably a yamakago used for mountain passages. A cushion was used to absorb shocks. The bearers are wearing loincloths, straw sandals and headbands, and they are holding ikizue (breath sticks) to regulate breathing while walking.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number64‐37‐0]

Travellers in kago,a palanquin

Travellers in kago,a palanquin

The palanquin seen in this photo is a simple one called yamakago . The cedar trees in the background are probably those of Nikko or Hakone. The procession of palanquins is not on the road, creating an unnatural atmosphere. This was probably a dramatization for the photo.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number18‐16‐0]

Palanquin and woman

Palanquin and woman

There were many types of palanquins, from the norimono with decorations on all four sides to the simple one for commoners without an enclosure. The Edo Shogunate designated the rank of people who could ride Norimono . The palanquin in the picture is the simplest form called Yamakago .==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number16‐20‐0]

Travelling in kago,palanquins along hakone highway

Travelling in kago,palanquins along hakone highway

A procession of yamakago (mountain palanquins) and kumosuke (palanquin bearers) along the cedar path in Motohakone. This photo has been copied many times and is famous as the work of Kumosuke, but from the number of the negative in the first photo, this is believed to be by Kusakabe Kinbei. The pose suggests that the procession was arranged to make a souvenir photo.==Date:unknown, Place:Hakone, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number5‐35‐0]

A woman in a basket palanquin

A woman in a basket palanquin

Palanquin carriers dressed in various attire but always held a cane. This cane is called ikizue and was used to rest. When it rained, palanquin carriers wore hats and straw coats, but in the case of a yamakago as in the photograph, there was nothing more than a simple roof, so the passenger must have gotten wet.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:Kusakabe Kinbei, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number1‐11‐0]