Tsurugaoka Intellectual Salon ～Shinto and Japanese Garden~

Sat. March 21, 2015

Tsurugaoka Intellectual Salon offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Japanese traditional culture. This time, the salon features Shinto and Japanese garden.

Biography

Shigeho Yoshida【Chief Priest】 Born in 1942. Graduated from Kokugakuin University with a major in Shinto study in 1966. He has been working as Chief Priest of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu since 1997. He also holds various positions such as a managing director of Jinja Honcho (the Association of Shinto Shrines), Chairperson of Kokugakuin University Alumni Association, and an advisor of Kanagawa prefectural branch of Japanese Association of Religious Organizations. Since he was appointed Chief Priest, Mr. Yoshida has been actively promoting international cultural exchanges. Among them are overseas performances of mikagura (Japanese traditional court music and dance) and yabusame (horseback archery), a joint performance with traditional hula in Hawaii, and inviting ambassadors and diplomats of foreign embassies to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and its rituals. In 2013, he served at the 62nd Shikinen Sengu Ceremony of Ise Jingu. His works, including a joint memorial service for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake with Todai-ji temple, transcend borders of religions and play an important role in strengthening relationships between religions.

<Recent International Activities> 2000 Mikagura as a representative of Japan at Strasbourg in France. 2001 Yabusame ritual at London in the UK; escorted the Japanese Crown Prince and the Prince of

Wales; lecture at City University London. 2006 Visited the Vatican as a member of Kanagawa prefectural branch of Japanese Association of

Religious Organizations and made a courtesy call on the Pope. Mikagura to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Monk Chogen’s death at Todai-ji temple in Nara.

2009 Lecture at University of Maryland and George Washington University in the US Mikagura and a lecture at Beijing Foreign Studies University in China

2013 Mikagura and a lecture for diplomats of foreign embassies at Tokyo National Museum. Mikagura and a lecture at Hilo in Hawaii, the US, with a traditional hula company, Halau o Kekuhi.

2014 Lecture for a special exhibition “Spirit of Samurai 2014” at Finland National Museum; Yabusame ritual at Helsinki in Finland.

Mikagura and a lecture, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Portland Japanese Garden, at Portland in the US.

Program

14:00 Attend a Ceremony at the Main Shrine

14:30 Lecture by Chief Priest

15:00 Lecture by Jihe Ogawa

15:30 Tour in Garden of Guest House and Peony Garden

16:00 Tea Reception at Guest House

17:00 Close

Jihe Ogawa【Gardener of Japanese Traditional Garden】 Born in 1942. After graduating from Kyoto City University of Arts in 1966, Mr. Ogawa inherited Jihee the 11th and became the 11th head of the family’s gardening company “Ueji” in 1970. In 2006, he succeeded to the name of Jihe Ogawa. Currently, he is also a visiting professor at St. Agnes’ University (since 2006), and a special professor at Kyoto Forestry University (since 2012). Jihe Ogawa has put an importance on giving priority to clients’ requests, and the family of Ogawa has passed on not only its name but also its spirit and skills for 250 years. Jihe the 7th, the most known of all, created gardens of Heian Jingu shrine and Maruyama Park which are designated as National Sites of Scenic Beauty. Currently, the 11th generation is leading the family’s gardening company “Ueji” with his son. The current Jihe conducts promotion activities such as lectures, and appearing on TV and radio.

<Works and Record of Awards> 2003 Flowing-water Pond in Rakusui-teien in Kyoto 2005 Japanese Cypress Garden in Sen-oku Hakuko Kan in Kyoto 2009 Gardens of St. Agnes’ University Arisu-kan (the old Arisugawa-no-miya residence) in Kyoto 2011 Won “Miyako-no-bunka Award, Governor Award” 2013 Won “Asia Townscape Design Society Award, Special Award” 2014 Kuro-syoin-mae Garden in Syozo-in temple in Kyoto

Historical Background of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Hachiman kami is the generic term for the kami enshrined, and refers to “Emperor Ojin”, ”Hime-gami”, “Empress Jingu” (kami is the Japanese word for Shinto deities) Minamoto Yoriyoshi (988-1075), in 1063, built a small shrine for the Hachiman kami near the coast by way of thanks for success in suppressing the rebellion. In 1180, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199), Yoriyoshi’s descendant, came to Kamakura and moved the shrine to the present site. The reason he chose Kamakura as his base was because it was here that his great ancestor had successfully put down the 1063 rebellion. Yoritomo developed Kamakura city as a capital, and set Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in the centre of the city. Since then, rituals such as Yabusame have been dedicated unchangingly.

Peony Garden of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Peony Garden, which is a circuit style Japanese garden, opened in 1980 in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the shrine. Since ancient times, peony has been regarded as a flower of wealth and noble. The garden is filled with gorgeous peonies in various colors. There also spreads the amazing scenery where ornamental rocks, bamboo fence and hair moss harmonize beautifully around the Genji-ike pond. You can enjoy a pleasant walk in the garden, which leads to the Guest House in Shoin-zukuri, traditional style of Japanese house.

Guest house

MAP

TSURUGAOKA HACHIMANGU 2-1-31 Yuki-no-shita, Kamakura, Kanagawa. JAPAN Tel: +81-467-22-0315 Fax: +81-467-22-4667 Email: international-affairs@hachimangu.or.jp HP: www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.or.jp