Photo= Having been selected as the sacred child for the Naginata Hoko float, Sodai Naito (center), poses with his assistants, Atsufumi Yamashiro (right) and Kazunori Hara (left) = June 3, Naginata Hoko Hozonkai, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto

On June 3, "Naginata Hoko Hozonkai," the Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto based preservation group of the Gion Festival Naginata Hoko float, announced this year's children who will play the roles of "Chigo," or a sacred child, and "Kamuro," his two assistants. They will be on the Naginata Hoko float, leading the first float procession, "Saki-matsuri," of the Gion Festival on July 17.

The sacred child is nine-year-old Sodai Naito, a fourth grader at Matsugasaki Elementary School in Sakyo Ward. He is the eldest son of Hiroyuki Naito, the president of a manufacturing wholesaler of dyed kimono. Hiroyuki also served as the sacred child in 1971.

The roles of "Kamuro" or the sacred child's two assistants, have been assigned to eight-year-old Atsufumi Yamashiro, a second grader at Doshisha Elementary School in Kita Ward, and six-year-old Kazunori Hara, a first grader at Notre Dame Elementary School in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture.

Sodai, the sacred child, said, "I want to do my best in the procession. Since I saw the sacred rope cut, I have thought that is cool." Hiroyuki, a former sacred child, advised him, saying, "Take care of your physical condition and count on support from everyone around you." Atsufumi, whose brother served as an assistant in 2013, said, "My brother was very cool. I have dreamed of doing the same." Kazunori said excitedly, "This is my first time, but I want to do my best."

The sacred child and his assistants will take part in the procession on July 17, after participating in other rites such as "Osendo-no-Gi" and "Shasan-no-Gi" held on July 1 and 13 respectively.