Historical transportation in Japan, Norimono

In the medieval Japan, the only wheeled transport vehicles were the goshoguruma, ox drawn carts used by the highest ranking aristocrats and by the members of the Imperial family (gosho refers to the Imperial palace). For the warrior class and for nobility, the most luxurious vehicles were human-powered palanquins called norimono.

Made of expensive wood, with a comfortable interior and sometimes decorated with metal fittings, the norimono were carried by a team of at least four highly trained bearers. These men were capable of walking very long distances while keeping a certain pace, in order to prevent the swinging of the norimono...