15th Anniversary of the Kyoto Studies Course Special Project “The Four Seasons and Festivals of Kyoto”

On March 7, Kyoto City and the University Consortium Kyoto held a special event, “The Four Seasons and Festivals of Kyoto,” at Campus Plaza Kyoto, ahead of the start of accepting applications for Miyako College, a lifelong learning program provided by Kyoto City and the University Consortium Kyoto for working adults. The purpose of this event is to spread awareness of the “Kyoto Skills Training Course” established at Kyoto College in order to allow students to learn about Kyoto in depth from various perspectives. This event was planned to commemorate the 15th year of the “Kyoto Studies Course” of the University Consortium Kyoto, which provides courses for this course.

Packed hall

On the day of the event, in addition to a lecture by Professor Toru Yagi of Bukkyo University, who specializes in folklore, Mr./Ms. Hinakiku, a native of Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, who is active as a geiko in Gion East, appeared as a talk guest. The venue, which has a capacity of 280 people, was packed as soon as it opened, and about 400 participants listened to Professor Yagi and Mr./Ms. Hinagiku talk about the main venue in a hurry to show a video of the main venue at another venue.

Professor Yagi giving a lecture on the theme of Kyoto’s Four Seasons and Festivals

Professor Yagi, who serves as the chairman of the planning committee of the Kyoto Studies Course, gave a lecture on the atmosphere of festivals throughout the year in Kyoto. He explained that there are many water festivals in spring and summer and fire festivals in autumn and winter, and called on people to participate in the Kyoto Studies Course “Kyoto Festivals and Bustles” starting in April to learn about the changes in Kyoto’s festivals.
Dialogue between Professor Yagi and Mr./Ms. Hina Kiku

After the lecture, Mr./Ms. Hinagiku joined the stage and answered questions from Professor Yagi about episodes from her time as a maiko and her thoughts on her juniors. When asked about Kyoto’s festivals, he replied in Kyoto that he loved the relaxed Kyoto festivals, and the venue was in a friendly mood. They also danced and played flutes, adding color to the venue. Visitors seemed to be very well received, saying, “It was a very interesting project,” “It was a valuable experience to hear the stories of active geisha,” and “Professor Yagi’s talk was easy to understand.

Mr./Ms. Hina performing a dance

All 14 applications for the 2015 Kyoto Studies Course “Kyoto’s Festivals and Bustles” will be held from March 10 to 21, the same as the application period for Kyoto College. It is also possible to participate in one session. For details, please see the website of Kyoto College’s “Kyoto Studies Course”.

Application to Kyoto College’s “Kyoto Studies Course”

For more information about the Kyoto Studies Course, please visit our website.

Inquiries

University Consortium Kyoto Kyoto College
TEL 075-353-9140　FAX 075-353-9121
〒600-8216 Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Nishitoin-dori, Shiokoji, Shimo-ku, Kyoto, Campus Plaza Kyoto