noun
festival float; parade float
A decorated float pulled or carried during Japanese festivals (matsuri). Often elaborately adorned with carvings, dolls, or lanterns.
京都の祇園祭では、大きな山車が町を巡行する。
During Kyoto's Gion Festival, large festival floats parade through the town.
子供たちは山車を引くのを楽しみにしている。
The children are looking forward to pulling the festival float.
Rarely used kanji form; the reading だし is a gikun.
神輿 is a portable shrine carried on shoulders, while 山車 is a larger wheeled float often pulled by people.
The reading だし is a gikun (special kanji reading) for 山車, likely derived from the verb 出す (だす, 'to bring out'), as the floats are brought out for festivals. The kanji 山車 literally means 'mountain vehicle', reflecting the often tall, elaborate structure.