November 2023
The Ramen Scene in Mibu Ward / A Neighborhood Column by Eight Beat
A rock enthusiast born in the Showa era introduces the neighborhood scenery in full swing. During my high school days, I spent my days either skipping classes to ride around on my motorcycle or getting lost in conversations about rock music at cafes while chain-smoking. However, as I also wanted to pursue university education, during the third term of my third year, I didn't attend school at all, avoided taking final exams, and instead secluded myself at home, pretending to study for college entrance exams at the last minute. With the shutters tightly closed and my days and nights reversed, there would be a faint sound of pebbles hitting the […]
"Kitano's World" depicts an unseen "Incident at Honnō-ji" Watching the movie "Kubi," we embark on a pilgrimage to Honnō-ji.
Three decades in the making. The latest work by master director Takeshi Kitano depicts the tumultuous lives of warriors embroiled in battles and schemes, all from his unique perspective on the "Incident at Honnō-ji." Depicting the Honnō-ji Incident means… the setting is over there in Nakagyo Ward, isn't it? The movie "首" In the late Sengoku period, Oda Nobunaga (played by Ryo Kase) engages in fierce battles with various forces across the country in his quest for national unification. However, he is betrayed by his trusted vassal, Murashige Araki (played by Kenichi Endo). Nobunaga gathers his retainers and orders the search for Araki, using the promise of inheritance of his […]
The History of Kyoto and Nakagyo Ward: The End of the Edo Period Part 3 - "Birth of the Shinsengumi"
(Previously on) With the signing of the "Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Japan," trade with foreign countries began, dealing a heavy blow to the textile industry in Kyoto's Nishijin district. This led to numerous incidents of violence against foreign traders. Additionally, the arrival of many loyalists to the Emperor and opponents of foreign influence in Kyoto exacerbated the deterioration of public order. The radical activists of the Sonnō jōi faction who came to Kyoto engaged in activities such as assassination and robbery, exacerbating the serious problem of deteriorating public order. In response, the shogunate established the position of "Kyoto Shugoshoku" (Governor of Kyoto) to maintain […]
Kyoto: Central Story's Rokkaku-do, also known as Choho-ji Temple, the birthplace of Ikebana.
There are many works set in Kyoto, spanning across various genres such as movies, dramas, novels, manga, and anime, and the Nakagyo Ward also appears in various works. In this series, we will introduce how Nakagyo Ward is depicted in these works, spot by spot. This time, we will focus on Choho-ji Temple, also known as Rokkaku-do, which is considered the birthplace of Ikebana. Rokkaku-do (Shiunzan Choho-ji) Overview Rokkaku-do is a temple of the Tendai sect, officially known as "Shiunzan Choho-ji." It has been affectionately called "Rokkaku-do" as a nickname for a long time due to the hexagonal shape of its main hall. Perhaps even if you mention "Choho-ji," not […]