Japan state carriages

Japan state carriages are horse-drawn coaches.  The carriages are used in Imperial events.Imperial Household Agency (Kuunaichō), "Traditional Horsemanship in Japan; Horse-drawn Carriage Procession on the Occasion of the Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials" ; retrieved 2012-7-2.  

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.  The carriages called zagyoshiki are drawn by two horsesKuunaichō,  "Procession of horse-drawn carriages at the Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials"; retrieved 2012-7-3. 

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.

History
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.Bix, Herbert B. (2001). Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan, pp. 140-141.

Gallery

Related pages
 British state carriages

References

Other websites

 Meiji jingu (Imperial Treasure Museum), "Phoenix carriage" used by Emperor Meiji 
 Metropolitan Museum of Art, Phoenix carriage 

State carriages
Category:Animal-powered vehicles