Here, we will report on the class and the activities of the students of Kiyomizu-dera × Ritsumeikan University’s “Proposal for a barrier-free flow line around the highlights of the precincts of Kyoto’s famous temples and shrines” (in charge: Professor Shinsaku Munemoto).

Classes after the interim presentation

After the interim presentation on Saturday, October 24, a review meeting was held based on the impressions and comments from the interim presentation, and a meeting was held to present the results and create the final product, the video.

In preparation for the creation of the video, each class was given a total of about 15 minutes, 4~5 minutes, and cautions were given about the copyright of the background music to be used and consideration of portrait rights when shooting the video.
We also discussed points to keep in mind when using deliverable videos on tablets.

From now on, we will start shooting and producing full-fledged videos. I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of videos you can make.

Preparation for the interim presentation

On Saturday, October 17, we had a rehearsal for the presentation for the interim presentation at Campus Plaza Kyoto. The class was attended by three teachers and Kiyoaki Mori of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, who gave advice on each group’s presentation. In addition, the order of presentations at the interim presentation was determined based on the content of each group, and as common advice, instructions were given that 4 to 5 slides were appropriate because the presentation time per group was 1 minute and 30 seconds, and that the manuscript should not be read during the mid-term presentation.

Nakajima Group “Kiyomizu-dera Pole -Gracefully Touring, Hoping, Knowing-“

Mr./Ms. Nakajima’s (Ryukoku University) group proposed the installation of original “spot seats” at attractions unique to wheelchairs and the route. The teachers said that it would be better to clarify the concept of “looking at the building from a little farther away” or “looking up from a wheelchair and appreciating the building” because it is an appeal to visitors in wheelchairs. There was also a suggestion that there might be an idea to have them look for it locally.
In addition, the order of presentation at the presentation was the fourth of the birds.

Washio Group “Shimizu Tourism with a Reduced Time Distance”

Mr./Ms. Washio (Ritsumeikan University) proposed a worship route that shortened both the distance and the time required to take into account the burden on worshippers in wheelchairs. The proposal included that it would be recommended to travel by car in places where cars are allowed. The report did not report a specific number of hours that could be saved, so we were instructed to check the actual time it would take.
In addition, the order of presentation at the presentation will be the second in the order of presentation.

Touhou Group “Take your time”

Mr./Ms.’s group (Ryukoku University) focused on the “degree of fatigue” caused by the difference in height within the precincts of Kiyomizu-dera Temple and proposed the establishment of three resting places. The teachers expressed the opinion that it is necessary to show in an easy-to-understand manner how much of a height difference there actually is in Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and that the perspective of the caregiver should be taken into account.
In addition, I was to serve as the top batter at the presentation.

Okazawa Group “Barrier-free from the line of sight”

Mr./Ms. Okazawa’s (Ryukoku University) group discovered that the location of the fire hydrant was easy for wheelchair users to see from a survey of the precincts so far, and proposed to create a map that would allow people to prepare themselves mentally for ‘what lies ahead’ at a glance under the theme of barrier-free sight. The teachers expressed their opinions that the image of “barrier-free line of sight” in the title of the presentation was difficult to understand, and that it should be improved.
In addition, the order of presentation is now third.

In response to these suggestions, the students will prepare for the mid-term presentation in one week.

Video Story and Structure Draft Critique (Esquis) Part 2

In the class on Sunday, October 4, we continued from the previous class and critiqued the theme, point of view, and story of the video that will be the deliverable. The location was the same as last time, at the Entsuden of Kiyomizu-dera.

In the previous critique, the teachers pointed out the importance of discovering and proposing the pleasures unique to wheelchairs, rather than improving what cannot be done in a wheelchair, as a common issue for each team. This time, in response to these suggestions, each team gave a presentation on the concept of the video that they had reworked for about 30 minutes. In addition, we conducted an additional survey of the precincts using the free time of the critique.

In the group (1) led by Mr./Ms. Nakajima (Ryukoku University), suggestions were made on spots unique to wheelchairs and spots where people can stop, and several points where it is easy to see the surroundings, such as around the three-story pagoda, in front of the stage, and in front of the Koyasu Tower, were introduced. In addition, the concept of signage indicating such spots and the expression of images such as pulling back from the zoom was also reported. In response to this, the teachers expressed the opinion that keywords such as stopping and looking around, taking a leisurely tour from a point a little away with binoculars, or enjoying the view of Kyoto city from the precincts on a hill would also lead to the clarity of the proposal.

In group (2), led by Mr./Ms. Washio (Ritsumeikan University), the results of a survey were reported on proposals for more specific ways to enjoy the tour, such as drawing fortunes on stage, rather than whether you can go or not, as well as a tour of the Koyasu Pagoda by renting out car chairs and route proposals to avoid crowds.
In response to this, the teachers suggested that we should focus on the worship route and the time required for it, from the perspective of organizing the proposal and avoiding the crowds that we have been focusing on from the beginning. As a result of discussions with team members, it was decided to include a proposal for parking spaces for shuttle vehicles in the wheelchair tour route.

In Group (3), led by Mr./Ms. Higashikata (Ryukoku University), proposals were presented for enjoying together from the perspective of caregivers. Specifically, it was reported that there were points in the undulating precincts where wheelchairs could be stopped and a short break, and viewpoints that were “rewarded” in relation to the direction of movement of the wheelchairs. In response to this, the teachers suggested that as information for proposing these points, they should investigate the undulations of the route around the precincts and the conditions of the ground, such as cobblestones and gravel, which strongly affect the ease of pushing wheelchairs, and make proposals that incorporate these.

Group (4), led by Mr./Ms. Okazawa (Ryukoku University), presented a proposal to enjoy the scenery from the perspective of a wheelchair with a new concept of “barrier-free eyes.” We set up the stage, the Koan Pagoda, and the Otowa Waterfall as points to enjoy in wheelchairs, and proposed ways to devise ways to do so. The teachers suggested that more detailed points should be set to avoid handrails and crowds as highlights for wheelchair users. It was organized as a proposal to plot the highlights in more detail on the current barrier-free route, and to provide information on whether to leave the route on the left or right side of the route.

After each group’s presentation, the participants organized their work for the summary and interim reports. In the evening, a voiceover training was held at the Campus Plaza.

Draft review of the story and structure of the video (Esquis)

On Sunday, August 23rd, the class held a critique of the draft story of the video that will be the deliverable at the Entsuden Hall of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

In this class, which was held at Kiyomizu-dera Temple on Saturday, July 18, each group conducted fieldwork in the temple grounds using a wheelchair. Then, as an extracurricular study, the students summarized the results of their fieldwork in groups and developed a draft of the video story that would be the final product. This class is a critique of the first draft.

　
Fieldwork in the previous class

At the beginning of the class, the teacher gave a lecture on how to use video editing software and the differences between Windows and Mac for future video creation.

In the critique session that followed, each group had 40 minutes to present their proposals and receive critiques from the teachers.

In the group (1) led by Mr./Ms. Nakajima (Ryukoku University), it was reported that the buildings look different from usual when viewed from a wheelchair, and that when visiting the main hall, you can fully visit the Koyasu Pagoda and Otowa Falls without being on the stage with steps. In addition, depending on the slope of the approach, there are places where the path of wheelchairs becomes narrow, so we suggested that improvements should be considered.
In response to this, the teachers expressed the opinion that by more restricting the points unique to wheelchairs, it would be a more meaningful route for wheelchairs that have difficulty moving.

Group (2), led by Mr./Ms. Washio (Ritsumeikan University), initially envisioned a route that runs in the opposite direction of the general route, but when a field survey was conducted, it was actually difficult due to the large number of general worshippers, so a route was proposed to avoid congestion when visiting the regular route. In addition, since the route to the Koyasu Pagoda and the Jishu Shrine is difficult for wheelchairs to pass, we proposed the installation of a wheelchair lift leading to the Jishu Shrine in particular.
In response, the teachers suggested that they should add original discoveries to their proposals and find ways to avoid crowds while still being wheelchair-accessible.

Group (3), led by Mr./Ms. Higashikata (Ryukoku University), proposed the installation of new ramps at Sui Kyudo Hall and Niomon Gate, as well as the creation of rest spaces for caregivers.
In response to this, the teachers suggested that from the viewpoint of feasibility, we should think about ways to enjoy wheelchair users in the current environment of Kiyomizu-dera, and that we should develop the idea of a caregiver’s perspective.

Group (4), led by Mr./Ms. Okazawa (Ryukoku University), proposed the concept of “sharing the excitement (of wheelchair users and caregivers)” and introducing a machine that eliminates the difference in eye height at the highlight spots, and investigating examples of other companies using videos and proposing that it would be effective to include guides and captions in the videos.
The professors suggested that it would be difficult to use large-scale machinery and equipment in terms of feasibility, so it would be possible to consider a method that could achieve the same effect in a simpler way by making use of this idea.

After each group’s presentation, the teacher summarized and explained the future work policy.
In addition, the students took advantage of their spare time for the presentations to conduct additional surveys and photographs of the precincts of Kiyomizu-dera Temple using wheelchairs, as they did in the previous session.

The next class will also be held at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and each group will be able to flesh out the concept of the video.

Visit to Kiyomizu-dera Temple × the first day of the project

On Sunday, June 21, a class was held by Professor Munemoto of Ritsumeikan University, who is developing activities at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This was the first time that Professor Munemoto’s class was held on Saturday, May 30, at a joint opening ceremony and general orientation with other subjects, so this was the first time that he had a class held alone. On this day, which was the first day of the project, classes were held at Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

The theme of Professor Munemoto’s class is “discovering new highlights of Kiyomizu-dera Temple and proposing further ‘universal design.'”
With a history of more than 1,200 years, Kiyomizu-dera Temple is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyoto, with more than 50 million tourists visiting annually (as of 2013). Kiyomizu-dera Temple is built at the foot of Mt. Otowa, and there are steep slopes and stone steps in the temple grounds. At Kiyomizu-dera Temple, we have been working to make the precincts barrier-free by paving the approach road and installing ramps for more than ten years so that wheelchair users and the elderly can visit the temple, and now wheelchairs can go around the precincts.
The purpose of Professor Munemoto’s class is to explore the attractions in the precincts of Kiyomizu-dera Temple from a barrier-free perspective, propose the charms they have discovered and new flow lines around them, and produce a video to introduce them as the final product.

At the beginning of the class, Mr. Kiyoaki Mori of Kiyomizu-dera Temple gave a lecture on the history and transformation of Kiyomizu-dera. In the lecture, he explained that Kiyomizu-dera Temple has a history of 1,200 years of taking on numerous challenges while respecting tradition and cultural properties, and that barrier-free access was one of those changes, and that the fact that it has been able to overcome crises such as repeated fires and wars is the result of being watched over by the local people for 1,200 years without fail. He said that he would like to make Kiyomizu-dera a temple loved by many people in the future.
After Mr. Mori’s lecture, the participants were divided into groups in a unique way, which Prof. Munemoto himself experienced when he studied abroad as a student. From now on, the activities of this group will be based on the activities.

After that, under the guidance of Mr. Mori, each group toured the precincts of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The halls and gates of Kiyomizu-dera Temple were destroyed and rebuilt due to fires at different times, and even the existing ones were built at different times. He carefully explained each of Kiyomizu-dera’s cultural properties, such as the fact that the design and style differ depending on the era in which it was built, the introduction of the Kannon statue with its unique appearance, and the story of the secret Buddha. In addition, he explained the concept and points of making the precincts barrier-free while actually showing us around the site.

After the tour of the precincts, each group immediately held a strategy meeting, and some groups went to the precincts again to investigate. At Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is one of Japan’s leading cultural heritage sites and tourist destinations, I have high hopes for the students’ future efforts to discover unknown attractions.

Here, we will report on the class and the activities of the students at Kyoto Sangyo University, × Kamigamo Shrine “Kyoto’s World Heritage PBL ~Transmitting the charm of Kamigamo Shrine from a student’s point of view~” (in charge: Prof. Masashi Wakamatsu).

In addition, the students of this class have opened Facebook and Twitter.
You may also be interested in this topic.

Kamigamo Shrine × Kyoto Sangyo University Class Facebook
Kamigamo Shrine × Kyoto Sangyo University Class Twitter

Kamo Water Festival

On Sunday, July 26, the “Kamo Water Festival” was held at Kamigamo Shrine. This class has been working together since April to prepare for this water festival, and now it’s time for the actual event.
In this class, we planned “Flowing Somen Noodles”, “Large-Format Hyakunin Ichishu”, “Tea Ceremony”, and “Votive Performance (joint project with Kamigamo Shrine)” during the water festival.

Flowing somen noodles, 100 people and 100 heads

The somen noodles were made in the square in front of the second torii gate of Kamigamo Shrine. The students are also dressed in kimono, and they are well prepared and enthusiastic. In addition, for the set of flowing somen noodles, we used authentic ones provided by the “World Flowing Somen Association”, such as an 8-meter bamboo tube. On the day of the event, with the help of the staff of the Flowing Somen Association, we provided authentic somen noodles in both name and reality.　There were many difficulties in implementing the somen noodles. The students have taken the lead in coordinating with all kinds of people, such as requesting cooperation from the World Drift Somen Association, coordinating and notifying public health centers due to the relationship between handling food, and coordinating with shrines to use fire. Perhaps because of the high temperature on the day, there was a long line and there was a waiting time. Regardless of age or gender, foreign tourists also participated, sipping somen noodles deliciously.
In the space next to the somen noodles, we did a large-format 100 people and one head. Hyakunin Ichishu is handmade with a focus on phrases related to Kamigamo Shrine and water. There was a lot of excitement around the children who were waiting for their turn to make somen noodles.

Tea ceremony and votive performance

After the somen noodles, it is a tea ceremony in the temple grounds. The tea ceremony was held on the east side of Tsuchiya. There is a stream flowing right next to your seat, and it is a perfect place to have a cup of tea. Under the guidance of the teacher of Omotesenke, the tea at this tea ceremony is authentic and unique to Kamigamo Shrine using water from Kamiyama. We offered tea and a set of tea, and although we didn’t reach our target sales number, we seemed to be satisfied with the people who ate it.
At the same time, a votive performance was held in front of the bridge hall and the small hall in the temple grounds. For the votive performance, the main class and the Kamigamo Shrine coordinated the performance groups. For this class, we approached a performance group, mainly a circle of university students, and we proceeded with it while consulting with Kamigamo Shrine to see if it would fit the atmosphere of the shrine and festival. When the performance started, many people stopped and listened intently.

Participation in shrine events

The climax of the water festival is a pilgrimage to the precincts of the Ema Shrine. The students of this class, mainly male students, also carried the shrine and went around the temple grounds. For the students who carried the shrine, it was a very valuable opportunity that they would not normally be able to experience.

Activities after the Water Festival

After the water festival, we held a meeting with Kamigamo Shrine at a later date, and based on the meeting, we held a review meeting. Based on this review meeting and reflection meeting, we will proceed with preparations for the interim presentation and the presentation of the results.

Last meeting with Kamigamo Shrine

On Saturday, July 11, a meeting was held between the students and the people involved in Kamigamo Shrine.

This will be the last meeting with Kamigamo Shrine for the water festival < Sunday, July 26 >. At the meeting, we explained and confirmed the details of the events that each student was in charge of, such as the preparation for the day of the event, the explanation of the schedule and confirmation of precautions from setting up to the day of the event, event management, and withdrawal. Projects conducted by students include somen noodles, tea ceremonies, and dedication of performances. Please see the poster for the planning and schedule of the event.

After the meeting, we went out to the precincts and previewed the places where each event would be held. During the preview, while observing the actual site, we exchanged opinions on the simulation of the setup and the conductors of the participants.

The results of the PBL learning and activities that have been carried out over the past four months will finally be put to the test.
We hope you will visit Kamigamo Shrine on Sunday, July 26 and participate in the new “Water Festival”!

Click here for the poster of the Water Festival

We will also hold a Kamigamo Shrine PHOTO SHARE WEEK using Twitter.
For details, please see the special Facebook page of this class.
You can also watch an introductory video of Kamigamo Shrine created by the students.

Visit to Kamigamo Shrine & Meeting

This class is based on the theme of revitalizing the Water Festival, one of the official events of Kamigamo Shrine. The “Water Festival” is scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 26, and as the actual event approaches, the activities of the class are becoming more active.

Visited on May 30

On the morning of Saturday, May 30, before the opening ceremony and orientation of the Kyoto World Heritage PBL course began, Professor Wakamatsu’s class visited Kamigamo Shrine to tour the precincts of the water festival and to have a meeting with the shrine staff.
During the tour of the precincts, we first visited the Gonden, which we were unable to visit due to other events when we visited in April, and then we were briefed on the details of the contents and purpose of the Water Festival at Shingu Shrine, which is one of the stages of the Water Festival. After that, we observed the “Dance of the Priestess” that is actually performed at the “Water Festival”.

After that, we had a meeting with the shrine staff and proposed a draft plan and idea for the event to be held at the “Water Festival” that the students had been thinking about so far, and confirmed the feasibility. The shrine gave us advice on each of the proposals, including whether or not they could be implemented and the issues that could be addressed if they were to be implemented. While the direction of the event to be held at the Water Festival has become clear, there is still room for consideration before it can be realized, and it was decided to reorganize the contents of the proposal and discuss it with Kamigamo Shrine on a new date.

After participating in the opening ceremony in the afternoon, the students held a review meeting in the evening to confirm the issues and roles for the next meeting, and to summarize and report the results before the next class.

Visited June 13

On Saturday, June 13, classes were originally scheduled to be held at Campus Plaza Kyoto, but the schedule was changed and discussions were held at Kamigamo Shrine. Since the last meeting (May 30), the students have been conducting activities and surveys according to their roles. This time, before the consultation with the shrine, we had a meeting with Dr. Wakamatsu to share our activities and surveys so far and to confirm the items to be discussed with the shrine.
At the meeting with the shrine, we exchanged opinions on the events to be held at the Water Festival, continuing from the previous meeting. In addition, in response to requests from the shrine, we decided to conduct a questionnaire for university students and worshippers.

In addition, since the meeting on May 30, the student in charge of public relations has set up Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about the Water Festival, and has been using social media to disseminate information.

There is only one and a half months left until the “Water Festival”. The activities of the students have also been in full swing.

Interview Training

On Saturday, May 9, we invited former NHK announcer Yoshihiro Mori as a lecturer and conducted an interview training in collaboration with Professor Uno of Kyoto City University of Arts, who is conducting classes at Toji Temple. Interviews with people involved in World Heritage sites and local people are very important in order to deepen our understanding of the World Heritage sites that take place in the process, and in the process of discovering problems and establishing hypotheses for solutions. According to Mr. Mori, of the many jobs of an announcer, interviews are one of the most difficult. In the limited time of 90 minutes, he explained in an easy-to-understand manner with his own experience about how to prepare for an interview, the necessary preparations, and interview techniques that even beginners can use.

The students listened attentively to Mr. Mori’s enthusiastic lecture and took notes.

After the interview training, a student-led meeting was held under the advice of Prof. Wakamatsu. At the meeting, there was a report on the out-of-class activities that have been carried out so far and a discussion on the activities until the next class. The division of roles such as leaders, records, liaison, and public relations was decided, and lively discussions were held on measures to revitalize the Water Festival, including confirmation of the purpose, methods of publicity, content of the event, and cost issues.

Even though it was the second time the students had met each other, they seemed to have already gotten to know each other, and the class was held in a very good atmosphere.

1st class ~ First visit to Kamigamo Shrine

On Saturday, April 18th, Professor Wakamatsu of Kyoto Sangyo University, who will be working at Kamigamo Shrine, started his class.

In the morning, classes were held at Campus Plaza Kyoto. Prof. Wakamatsu said that he would like to conduct this new class utilizing Kyoto’s World Heritage Site as if it were a seminar that goes beyond the university, and gave a lecture on the history of Kamigamo Shrine, annual events, and the relationship between Kamigamo Shrine and Shimogamo Shrine. The students hit it off with each other through icebreakers and self-introductions, and they immediately exchanged contact information using SNS.

In the afternoon, the class was moved to Kamigamo Shrine. After visiting the main shrine with all the students, they toured the precincts under the guidance of Haruyama Gonnoyoshi of Kamigamo Shrine. During the tour, Mr. Gonnogi gave us a detailed explanation of the tradition of the standing sand in front of the famous Hosoden, the introduction of the Kataoka Shrine, which is related to matchmaking, which is said to have been passed by Murasaki Shikibu, the “Nara no Ogawa” and the “Water Festival” that are the stage of the “Kamo Water Festival”, which are the themes of this course, and the “Shingu Shrine” dedicated to the dragon god who controls water, etc., and deepened our understanding of Kamigamo Shrine.

This year is also an important year for Kamigamo Shrine as the ceremonial relocation of the shrine is carried out. The people involved in the shrine had high hopes that the participation of the students would make the “water festival” more meaningful than usual, involving the local community.

Inquiries

University Consortium Kyoto Credit Transfer Project
TEL 075-353-9120　FAX 075-353-9121
〒600-8216 Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Nishitoin-dori, Shiokoji, Shimo-ku, Kyoto, Campus Plaza Kyoto
* Reception hours: Tuesday ~ Saturday 9:00 ~ 17:00 (excluding year-end and New Year holidays)

In this section, we will report on the activities of the students and the classes of Ritsumeikan University’s “Special Practice in Policy Science 1 “Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto” (in charge: Prof. Masanari Sakurai), which is located at Ninnaji ×Temple.

Ninna-ji Temple Tour and Survey Plan

On Monday, August 4th, a full-fledged class by Professor Sakurai of Ritsumeikan University, whose activities are set in Ninna-ji Temple, started in the precincts of Ninna-ji Temple.
The theme of Professor Sakurai’s class is to explore the possibility of implementing projects that can increase the attractiveness and value of Ninnaji Temple globally and locally and create new “connections” by utilizing “Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD),” which is a method of regional revitalization. “ABCD” refers to the revitalization and development of a region based on the resources that exist in the region, and “resources” here are defined as “resources” that are for the revitalization and development of the region, such as not only cultural properties, nature, and landscapes that exist in the area, but also schools, hospitals, and companies that exist in the area, as well as various local residents and connections between residents.
In the class, students will understand the “strengths” of Ninnaji Temple, which has a history of more than 1,100 years, and understand the local resources such as schools, accommodations, stores, and transportation that exist in the vicinity, and come up with proposals for new projects. In addition, we aim to realize pilot initiatives based on these ideas.
At 10 a.m. on the first day of class, the students gathered at Ninna-ji Temple to introduce themselves, receive an explanation of the class outline and schedule from Professor Sakurai, and then toured the temple grounds under the guidance of Yoshima Kanesaki, a priest of Ninna-ji Temple and manager of the Finance Department’s Administrative Division.
Mr. Kanasaki introduced the buildings and cultural properties within the precincts of Ninna-ji Temple, as well as the ingenuity and difficulties of maintaining cultural properties, as well as topics from various perspectives related to Ninna-ji Temple. It was a very hot day, but Mr. Kanasaki gave a thorough explanation, and the students listened intently to the guidance.

In the afternoon, after receiving a lecture on the “ABCD Approach” by Prof. Sakurai, a workshop was held using imitation paper and post-it notes on “the charms, resources, and interesting points of Ninna-ji Temple” based on the morning tour and the topic provided by Ninna-ji. The work proceeded in an intimate atmosphere, and the students exchanged many opinions on cultural values, nature, land, related facilities, and local residents. In addition, we discussed what to investigate in preparation for the developmental survey to be conducted in the next class, and as a result, it was decided to divide the survey into two teams: one to investigate tourists and the other to investigate surrounding facilities and regions. Each team made their own plans for the next survey, and this class was over.

The next training camp will be held at Ninnaji Temple on September 17-18, and on the following day, September 19, we will summarize the training camp and conduct a tourist survey in front of JR Kyoto Station.