Emperor Go-Yōzei
Since antiquity, people living at Yase worked as handymen or palanquin-bearers for people of the temple complex of Enryaku-ji, in Ōtsu. The guild of palanquin bearers was started in 1092, the earliest guild in Japan. In 1336, Emperor Go-Daigo used their palanquin in his escape from Kyoto and afterward exempted them from land taxation. They served as palanquin bearers of all subsequent emperors and retired emperors. In 1569, Oda Nobunaga and in 1603 Emperor Go-Yōzei reaffirmed their tax exemptions.