In the Saki Matsuri procession, Kankō Boko rides second, just after Naginata Boko, with yama floats placed between them.
“Kankō” is the Japanese reading of China’s Hangu Pass (函谷關 / Hangu Guan) — a strategic fortress in Shanxi province. Its story ties to a legend of escape: the gate would not open at night, but when a clever mimicry of a rooster’s crow fooled the guards, the gate finally opened, allowing passage. The float’s name and narrative draw from that episode.
Kankō Boko is also known for being somewhat progressive: unlike many floats that stick strictly to male-only tradition, this float’s gionbayashi (festival music troupe) has included women in recent decades. It has even experimented with 3D video to help people enjoy its music and atmosphere online.
Symbolically and visually, its hoko-gashira (the decorative crest at the top) features a crescent moon and mountain, meant to evoke the imagery of a mountain range under moonlight. Its tapestry (“mae-kake”) used to be a 16th-century work showing scenes from the Old Testament, now replaced by a replica for preservation.
Watching Kankō Boko in the parade offers a blend: a narrative drawn from legend, the pride of a float community trying to adapt, and craftsmanship that bridges past and present.
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