TOKYO (ANN/THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN) – Japan’s Emperor and Empress, along with their daughter Princess Aiko, on Thursday visited the Imperial Palace’s stables to greet a “sacred” horse that will be dedicated to the Ise Grand Shrines in Mie Prefecture.
Named Moto-Isamu, the 8-year-old chestnut horse was born in the Imperial Household Agency’s Imperial Stock Farm in Tochigi Prefecture. Officials decided to send the gelding to the shrine in the city of Ise, following the death of another horse that had been dedicated there.
The Imperial couple and the princess were seen feeding carrots to the horse, stroking its muzzle and cheering it on.
