Japan state carriages

Japan state carriages are horse-drawn coaches. The carriages are used in Imperial events.[1]

Emperor Meiji in a carriage, 19th century

The carriages are in regular use. For example, during the presentation of credentials of a newly appointed ambassador, it sometimes happens that the ambassador will be driven to the south portico of the Imperial Palace in a horse-drawn carriage.[1] The carriages called zagyoshiki are drawn by two horses[2]

A few carriages are only used rarely. For example, some state carriages are part of ceremonies of enthronement and the marriages of members of the Imperial Family.[1]

History

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In December 1923, there was an assassination attempt on the life of Crown Prince Hirohito. He was in a carriage on his way to the opening of the 48th Session of the Imperial Diet. A small pistol was fired at the Imperial carriage. The bullet injured a chamberlain, but Hirohito was unharmed.[3]

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Imperial Household Agency (Kuunaichō), "Traditional Horsemanship in Japan; Horse-drawn Carriage Procession on the Occasion of the Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials" Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-7-2.
  2. Kuunaichō, "Procession of horse-drawn carriages at the Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials"; retrieved 2012-7-3.
  3. Bix, Herbert B. (2001). Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan, pp. 140-141.

Other websites

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  Media related to Imperial Ceremonial Horse-Drawn Carriages of Japan at Wikimedia Commons