Palanquin, norimono. This kind of palanquin is called 'ajiro-kago' = 'palanquin of bamboo and lacquer.' They were usually used by men, not women. Usually used by shogun when they were visiting their temple, Zoujou-ji Temple or Kanei-ji Temple in Tokyo. After the shoguns used them they gave them to the temples. The highest class of priest in these temples also rode in such palanquin. After the Meiji restoration many of them were exported overseas. The paulownia crest was not only used by the shogun but also other Tokugawa families, and it is hard to identify which branch would have owned items with such crests on them. Sometimes under the metal fittings are inscriptions indicating who used the palanquin. This should be checked (the fitting needs to be moved to do this). If there is an inscription this is very important. Information from Mr Koike, the curator of the Tokugawa Museum in Nagoya, via Dr Doi. January 2007
