Japan Today had a short write-up on the torch relay featuring costumes from the Yamaga Lantern Dance Festival – Yamaga Toro Matsuri, 山鹿灯籠祭 - which, sadly, I’ve never had the chance to attend (my family hails from Yabe), so I looked it up. Apparently, when the Keiko Emperor (景行天皇, reigned 71-130 CE) approached Yamaga by boat, the weather was foggy, so the locals lit torches to guide his way. These eventually evolved into the lantern hats that women wear while dancing in the festival. It must be a true story because that’s what Wikipedia says. - William