Agon Shu Unites Buddhist Traditions in Fire Rites Festival Costume
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The Japan Times Monday, March 24, 2014 3 national head Eric Johnston evening. STAFF WRITER Even as osaka aspires to be- Osaka come an international jazz mec- ca like Paris or Stockholm, the during his re-election campaign region will continue to promote these past two weeks, one of the itself as an asian gateway. lesser known successes osaka Indeed, since Kansai Interna- Mayor To ru ha shi mo to touted tional airport opened in 1994, was creating the osaka Govern- touting its asian connections has The city of Nara’s Sento-kun mascot welcomes visitors at JR ment Tourism Bureau to pro- been the one consistent theme Nara Station in April 2010. kyodo mote the area to tourists and in the otherwise numerous, and convention organizers. at times schizophrenic, efforts to ‘culture creation’ often The new bureau marks the create a lasting domestic and in- latest effort by a local govern- ternational image. yet what those ment in Kansai to distinguish connections are, beyond trade easier than it looks itself and grab a piece of the do- relations, or why asian tour- Eric Johnston dents of the dada school need mestic and international tourism ists should automatically prefer STAFF WRITER apply. modern Kansai over other parts Osaka Second, there should be a of the country is never made connection to the image of the clear. For all the official rhetoric about locality held by the rest of the na- KANSAI With the central government the need for the prefectures in tion or the world, although just announcing earlier this year that Kansai to distinguish themselves how obvious that connection PERSPECTIVE it hopes to attract 20 million for- from each other, let alone from should be to those unfamiliar eign visitors to Japan by the 2020 the rest of the country, there with the region’s history is the pie. But when promoting their Tokyo olympics — about double is too often a herd mentality subject of much debate. areas overseas and, to a lesser the number of visitors in 2013 — among the local bureaucracies nara’s Sento-kun, a Buddha- extent domestically, the first and local governments around Japan when it comes to planning and like boy wearing a set of deer most fundamental problem offi- Top: Yoshihiro Murata (center), tained Kyo to, not Shi ga, leeks are expected to increase their promoting tourism campaigns. antlers to symbolize nara as the cials in Kansai face is the region’s master chef for Kikunoi after you’ve returned home, or promotional efforts. over the one formula for success as home of Todaiji Temple and the image, or lack of one, among Japanese restaurant and care much about the difference next six years, we can look for- Kansai officialdom defines it (i.e. wild deer in nara Park, was fairly would-be visitors. chairman of the Japanese between Kobe beef and Tottori ward to all manner of attempts continued funding for ever-big- straightforward. But hyogo Pre- despite recent efforts to co- Culinary Academy, cooks in beef. by prefectures, towns and even ger local tourism budgets) begins fecture’s haba-tan, a baby phoe- ordinate tourism promotion ef- the restaurant kitchen during and what about osaka? after villages to create a recognizable with the concept of “bun ka zu ku- nix mascot, requires immediately forts, local politicians are still a media tour arranged by the years of trying to promote the image that will lead to increased ri,” or “culture creation.” remembering that Kobe had an very much in competition with Foreign Press Center/Japan city as the “kitchen of Japan” tourism revenue or at least sales Ideally, such culture is pegged earthquake in January 1995, each other, and even well-known (FPCJ) in Tokyo on Dec. 11. A — efforts which met only with of local products. to local characteristics or locally from which it has recovered — Kansai cities are seeking new bento box is served for lunch mixed success — officials have Such efforts may seem a bit produced ideas turned into a like a phoenix. ways to “re-brand” themselves. at the Kikunoi during the somewhat switched gears and desperate. But Kansai-area offi- reason for tourists to visit. But Finally, the mascot must be one way is through food. same media tour. bloombERg are now attempting to promote cials in particular worry that un- how to first grab the attention of marketable. Tourists will be ex- not too long ago, relatively little the city as an entertainment cen- less foreign visitors have a strong jaded tourists once the bureau- pected not only to immediately thought was given to local cui- cultural capital, appears to have ter. image of the region as a whole crats, politicians and corporate associate the mascot with the sine’s potential as a tourist draw. the least to be concerned about When it comes to Western, or by then, those who do venture types decide what constitutes town or locale they visited but But now fussy foodies in search when it comes to creating an american, music, Kobe has long outside of Tokyo in search of profitable local culture? also stock up on all sorts of con- of the perfect can’t-find-it-in- image. But thanks to the new now proudly boast of local straw- sai to create an image via a local been known as Kansai’s center adventure will go to a part of The creation of a cute mas- sumer goods with the mascot Tokyo-or-anywhere-else meal, UnESco status, Kyoto is also re- berries. In Wa ka ya ma Prefecture, food are likely to have limited for jazz while back in the 1970s the country that has managed cot always helps. Sometimes, prominently displayed. call it made with healthy, fresh ingredi- branding itself as a destination plum-based products, especially success overseas. For starters, Kyoto was famous for its blues to create not only a good image the mascot comes to life after the hello Kitty tourism promo- ents grown locally, are the target for healthy, locally famous foods homemade “ume-shu” liquor, there is a severe lack of informa- bars. Today, however, osaka is but also a unique one promis- ideas are publicly solicited and tion plan. of local promotion campaigns. such as the “ku jo ne gi,” a kind of are growing in availability at tion in English about restaurants attempting to reinvent itself as a ing something other than the approved. other times, the may- one might argue that the en- Such efforts are expected to leek. shops in Kansai that cater to in the localities where the food major international jazz center. same kind of food, music and or’s nephew or the daughter of ergy and the tax money going increase further since “wa sho- restaurants specializing in tourists. originates, or even restaurants To that end, it will host its entertainment that can be found the local head of the chamber into the creation of a mascot to ku” traditional Japanese cui- meals served with local produce and Tottori hopes beef-eaters in Kansai’s major cities that are Third International Jazz day, pretty much anywhere in Japan. of commerce is quietly commis- sell officially sanctioned Kansai sine was added in december to have been springing up in and in Kansai, after they’ve paid a dedicated to a particular local another UnESco-endorsed or the world. sioned to produce the mascot for culture might be better spent on UnESco’s Intangible cultural around the touristy Ki yo ma chi visit to Kobe, will come up to food or foods. project, on april 30. Presented a closed-door committee. things that actually benefit tour- heritage list. area. their prefecture and sample the In addition, unless you are in partnership with the Theloni- Kansai Perspective appears on But whoever does the work ists or have something to do with In Kansai, Kyoto’s restaurant other prefectures are also pro- local olein 55 beef that, despite as obsessed as those promot- ous Monk Institute of Jazz, the the fourth Monday of each must meet three criteria. real culture. But that presumes lo- industry played an influential moting local foods and drink. In its rather unappetizing name, ing their local cuisine with its event features workshops with month, focusing on Kansai- First, and most importantly, cal officials can, and want, to view role in publicly pushing for the na ra, long thought of as the one now enjoys the promotional sup- distinctive characteristics, it’s famous musicians from around area developments and events the mascot must be cute and tourists as something other than a status. place in Kan sai that is undistin- port of the national government. unlikely you’ll remember, for the world and concludes with a of national importance with a send a positive message. no stu- new revenue stream to be tapped. Well-known Kyoto, Japan’s guished food-wise, city officials yet efforts in and around Kan- example, the soup you ate con- concert in osaka castle Park that Kansai connection. (Advertisement) AGON SHU HOSHI MATSURI 2014 in the morning, Kiriyama wore a traditional yamabushi Agon Shu unites Buddhist traditions in Fire Rites Festival costume. In the afternoon, he wore the costume of a high- more eclectic reli- Theravada Buddhism was of 7:30 a.m. as in previous yamabushi-costumed Agon ranking Bhutanese Buddhist gion, as opposed transmitted from India to Sri years. The schedule was Shu members called mondo priest. Kiriyama also wore t o s o m e o t h e r Lanka, and then to Thailand, changed to give as many visi- that tests their knowledge of magatama beads for the first types of Bud - Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia tors as possible the chance to Buddhist doctrine and prac- time this year.