For the last post of 2014, let us return to a piece first written by our good friend, John Dougill in 2010. That year I followed John's advice by paying a visit to both Kurodani and Shimogamo Shrine on New Year's Eve, and so I am reposting some photos from that night too. It had been snowing quite heavily on the 31st, so Kurodani in particular was really beautiful; all dressed … [Read more...]
World Heritage Kyoto by John Dougill
Our good friend, John Dougill, recently published a wonderful (and beautifully illustrated) book on Japan's World Heritage Sites. Today he has been good enough to write a guest post on the many World Heritage properties of Kyoto, with some excellent personal recommendations. To research my book on Japan's World Heritage Sites, I travelled the length of Japan from … [Read more...]
Kamogawa Musing – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks by John Dougill
In this extract from Deep Kyoto: Walks, John Dougill walking by the Kamo River, the nature reserve that cuts through the heart of Kyoto, muses on history and literature… “The flow of the river is ceaseless and its water is never the same. The bubbles that float in the pools, now vanishing, now forming, are not of long duration. So in the world are man and his dwellings.” … [Read more...]
Deep Kyoto: Walks ~ Released on Amazon!
Deep Kyoto: Walks Publisher: Deep Kyoto; 1st edition (May 18, 2014) Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. ASIN: B00KFM2J0C URL: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KFM2J0C Price: $7.99 (811 yen) Editors: Michael Lambe & Ted Taylor Authors: Jennifer Louise Teeter, Bridget Scott, Miki Matsumoto, Robert Yellin, Pico Iyer, Chris Rowthorn, John Dougill, John Ashburne, … [Read more...]
Furansisko no Ie
Here's a new post from our good friend, John Dougill. Near Shijo Omiya is a small museum called Furansisko no Ie. From the outside it’s unremarkable; inside is a small exhibition room with items from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They represent the time when Christianity first arrived in Japan, before falling into disfavour and being banned. What … [Read more...]
Kasagake at Kamigamo on October 16th
John Dougill writes, There were traditionally three styles of horseback archery carried out for the entertainment of the kami. The most well-known is Yabusame, in which galloping riders shoot at a fixed target. Much rarer is Kasagake, to be performed this Sunday at Kamigamo Jinja. The other style involved firing at live dogs: thank goodness, it's no longer … [Read more...]
Karasu Sumo at Kamigamo Shrine on September 9
John Dougill writes, Priests hopping and cawing like crows. Seven year old kids doing sumo. What’s that all got to do with Shinto, you may wonder? Kamigamo Jinja is Kyoto’s greenest shrine and probably the oldest. It was established by the Kamo clan long before Kammu founded the capital in 794. One of the clan, according to legend, helped guide Emperor Jimmu across Kii … [Read more...]
MITARASHI MATSURI
Shimogamo Jinja July 21-24, from 5.30-22.30 John Dougill writes, Hot, hot and humid! At this time of year you may feel all you want to do is wade through cold water. Well, that’s just what you get to do in the Mitarashi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine. Considering that it promises a disease-free year, particularly for your legs, then it’s easy to understand why the festival … [Read more...]
John Dougill’s Green Shinto
Our friend, the historian/poet John Dougill, has launched his own website, Green Shinto, and it looks like a cracker! I know personally that strolling round a shinto shrine with John at your side amiably explaining what everything means, is a very educational experience. Now his expert knowledge of Shinto belief and tradition is available to a far wider audience: Green Shinto … [Read more...]
John Dougill enjoys a seasonal stroll from Tambabashi to Fushimi
A pleasant walk through woods and 1100 years of history? In Kyoto? Yes, it’s possible on the south-eastern edge if you walk between Tambabashi and Fushimi-Momoyama. It takes two hours and along the way are imperial tombs, Shinto shrines and an Edo-era escapade. Start from any of three Tambabashi stations (JR, Keihan or Kintetsu). Walk uphill for ten minutes and … [Read more...]
A Kyoto New Year
This will be the last post for the year as I am going home to the UK for Christmas and will be offline for an ENTIRE WEEK! Before I hand you over to John Dougill for the final word, let me wish you all a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. And for those who can't bear to be without Deep Kyoto for a whole week, I have posted a list of categorised 2010 … [Read more...]
A Kyoto Christmas
John Dougill writes... Christmas in Japan comes with a difference. “Romantic Christmas Eve” means all the restaurants and love hotels are booked out: woe betide the man who doesn’t buy his loved one an expensive present. Yet the next morning everyone has to tramp off to work, for Christmas Day is no holiday. The birth of the emperor (December 23) takes … [Read more...]
KIRISHITAN KYOTO
John Dougill writes... In the heart of Kyoto there once stood a Southern Barbarian Temple (Nanban-ji). It was located not far from Rokkaku-do, the city’s belly button. The three-storey structure was built in 1576 and was an exotic addition to a city in the midst of revitalisation. For a while it was the height of fashion for the city’s leading figures to go visit the … [Read more...]
Takigi Noh (Noh by Firelight)
John Dougill writes… For many people Noh is a turn-off. The plays have no conflict, no humour and no facial expression. Actors move at a snail’s pace, the language is arcane and the music archaic. To its detractors it’s simply an outmoded relic of medieval times. Noh way, Noh thank you. There are regular performances in Kyoto, and if you attend you’ll find a good number … [Read more...]
