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DEC 2018 - FEB 2019

vol.2

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121

December

15TH SHIGA PREFECTURAL
FACILITIES AND SPECIAL SCHOOLSJOINT EXHIBITION “ing”

The exhibition showcasing ar t andde sign wo r k s c r e a te d by p e ople wi thdisabilities is an initiative of Borderless
Ar t Museum NO-MA in conjunction withs p e c ia l s c h o ol s a n d c a r e f a c ili tie s in
Shiga a nd lo c a l a r t a nd de signins tr uc tor s.

DATE From Sat., December 1st, 2018 to Sun., February 24th, 2019
*Closed Mon. (If Mon. is a public holiday, then next day will be closed day), from Sat.,
December 29th, 2018 to Fri., January 4th, 2019
TIME 11am–5pm
PLACE Borderless Art Museum NO-MA(16 Nagahara-cho Kami, Omihachiman, Shiga)
ADMISSION ¥200 (¥150), University Students and High School Students¥150 (¥100), Junior High School Students and younger for free.
*Prices in brackets () are for groups of 20 or more
TEL 0748-36-5018
WEB http://www.no-ma.jp/english.html

2

January

SPECIAL EXHIBITION:CULTURAL ASSETS OF THE ZODIAC — FROM DOG TO BOAR
The Shiga Prefectural A zuchi
Castle Archaeological Museum at
Omi Fudoki-no-Oka realistically
depicts the lives of ordinary
people from the Yayoi period(around 500 BCE-300 AD)
Dog guardian figures,
Daikichi-ji Temple, Nagahama
through to the Kofun period（Wood, A-gyō, Muromachi period）(around 200 AD-600 AD).
As a New Year project, there will also be a special exhibitionof local artworks from Shiga prefecture inspired by the signsof the zodiac.
DATE From Tue., December 11th, 2018 to Sun., January 27th, 2019
*Closed Mon., Dec. 17th 2018, Tue., Dec. 25th 2018, from Fri., Dec. 28th 2018 to Fri.,
Jan. 4th 2019, Mon., Jan. 7th 2019, Tue., Jan. 15th 2019, Mon., Jan. 21st 2018
TIME 9am-5pm (Admission until 4:30pm)
PLACE Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum No. 2
Exhibition Space (6678 Shimotoira, Azuchi-cho, Omihachiman, Shiga)
ADMISSION ¥450 (¥360), University Students and High School Students¥300 (¥240), Junior High School and Elementary School Students;
Senior Citizens (65 years or older) who are residents of
Shiga prefecture; and people with disabilities for free*Prices in brackets () are for groups of 20 or more
ENGLISH SIGNAGE
TEL 0748-46-2424
WEB http://www.azuchi-museum.or.jp/

BIWAKO ART FESTIVAL 2018

A n ar t fe stival with varie dp r o g r a m s in c lu din g mu s i c a lcollaboration by juniororchestras and ballet groups
from Shiga and a piano recitalfrom the Shiga Prefectural
Cultural Prize for the Next Generation recipient, as well as artoriented workshops and an art-themed handcrafted market.
DATE Sat., December 22nd, 2018
TIME 11am-6pm (Main Theatre open until 7:50pm)
PLACE All facilities in Biwako Hall, Center for the Performing Arts,
Shiga (15-1 Uchidehama, Otsu, Shiga)
ADMISSION Free admission to an orchestral concert in the Main Theatre;a small charge for some other concerts
TEL 077-523-7146
WEB https://baf2018.com/

BIWAKO HALLSILVESTER CONCERT 2018-2019

The annual Silvester Concert on
New Year’s Eve has been goingsince 1998 when the facility first
opened. The concer t features
enter taining music as well as
raf fles and a host of otherattractions. You can enjoy the moment of countdown to
New Year that reaches the clima x.
DATE Mon., December 31st, 2018
TIME 10pm-12:30am
PL ACE Main Theatre, Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Shiga(15-1 Uchidehama, Otsu, Shiga)
ADMISSION SS section ¥8,000 (¥7,500), S section ¥6,500 (¥6,000),
A section ¥5,000 (¥4,500), B section ¥4,000, C section ¥3,000,
youth discount (below 25 years old) S-C sections ¥1,500*Prices in brackets () are for Tomo-no-kai members
TEL 077-523-7136 (Biwako Hall Ticket Center)
WEB https://www.biwako-hall.or.jp/en
ENGLISH SPOKENENGLISH BROCHUREPERFORMANCE OF
THE NOH WORK TAKASAGO

Noh T he a te r is a de signa te d
UNES C O i n t a n gib l e c ul t u r a lasset. Takasago is an inspired
choice for the New Year, in which
matrimonial happiness andlongevity are admired, and the joy of life is expressed.
DATE Sat., January 5th, 2019
TIME Doors open: 1:30pm, Performance start: 2pm, Performance end: 4:30pm
PLACE Otsu Traditional Performing Arts Center (246-24 Onjoji-cho, Otsu, Shiga)
ADMISSION S section ¥6,000 (¥5,500), A section ¥5,500 (¥5,000)*Prices in brackets () are for advanced sales
TEL 077-527-5236
WEB http://www.dentogeinokaikan.net/

NEW YEAR PERFORMANCE AT
CHOEIZA PLAYHOUSE:

TRADITIONAL SONG AND JAPANESE MUSICALINSTRUMENT OF THE LAKE COUNTRY
An uplifting New Year’s
performance combining music
and video, with a diverse
repertoire ranging from traditional
Japanese music to a new suite
themed on the place of plentiful water source, Maibara,
performed by singers and musicians using authentic traditional
instruments. Enjoy the beautiful melody with your heart.
DATE Sun., January 20th, 2019
TIME From 2pm
PLACE Shiga Theatre for Cultural and Industrial Development(2-137 Shimotara, Maibara, Shiga)
ADMISSION ¥2,500, up to 25 years old ¥1,500(Add ¥500 if purchasing tickets at the door)
TEL 0749-52-5111
WEB https://www.s-bunsan.jp/

February

EXHIBITION OF HINA DOLL PASSEDDOWN TO MERCHANT FAMILIES

A n e x hib i t i o n o f e xc e ll e n t l ypreserved hina dolls and othera r ti f a c t s d a tin g b a c k to t h e
Edo p e r io d (16 0 3 -18 67 ) tha t
have been lovingly maintainedin the homes of Omi merchantfamilies. Some 110 sets of hina dolls in nine separate
locations give us an insight into traditional life from oldtimes in Japan.
DATE From Fri., February 1st to Thu., March 21st, 2019
TIME Four residences of Omi-Shonin Yashiki,
9:30am-4:30pm (Times may vary between locations)
PLACE Gokashokondo in Gokasho district, Higashiomi
ADMISSION Admission fees vary between locations
TEL 0748-29-3920 (Higashi Omi Tourist Association)
WEB http://www.higashiomi.net/

TEMPLEA historical temple with miraculous effects

THE BUDDHIST IMAGES OF SHIGA
Spotlight on Yakushi Nyorai and Kannon Bosatsu

SPECIAL EXHIBITION:

HINA DOLLS AND MINIATURE HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGSThis annual springtime exhibit
provides a rare opportunity toview the complete set of hina
dolls and doll-making tools given
by Ii Naosuke, the 13th head of
the power ful Ii clan that ruled
Hikone for generations during the Edo period (1603-1867),
to his favorite daughter Yachiyo (1846-1927), together withmany other hina dolls from established local families.
DATE From Fri., February 8th, 2019 to Mon., March 4th, 2019
TIME 8:30am-5pm (Admission until 4:30pm)
PLACE Hikone Castle Museum (1-1 Konki-cho, Hikone, Shiga)
ADMISSION ¥300, Junior High School and Elementary School Students ¥150
*Some rooms may be closed for refurbishment
TEL 0749-22-6100
WEB http://hikone-castle-museum.jp/en/

THE SYNCRE TISM OF SHINTO AND BUDDHISM
Trace the histor y of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism

LOCAL CUISINE / EVENT

Nyoirin Kannon / ISHIYAMADERA Temple

WATARU HISASUE PIANO RECITAL
BRAHMS PIANO SONATA NO. 2

SHIGAGIN HALL
2018-19 SERIES, SEASON 2

Wataru Hisasue, a local pianistof exceptional talent who
placed third at the 2017 ARDInternational Music Competitionin Munich, ha s ma s tere d thee n t i r e c o ll e c t i o n o f B r a h m s
Photo / Taisuke Eto
pia no s ona t a s. T his c onc e r t
will showcase his interpretation of Brahms Piano Sonata
No. 2 and other works.
DATE Sat., February 23rd, 2019
TIME 2pm-4pm
PLACE Ensemble Hall, Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts,
Shiga (15-1 Uchidehama, Otsu, Shiga)
ADMISSION ¥3,500, University Students or younger ¥2,000
TEL 077-526-0011
WEB http://www.keibun.co.jp/
ENGLISH BROCHUREABOUT SHIGAFUKUIAs Shiga prefecture is located in almost the exact center of Japan, and blessed with thelargest lake, Lake Biwa, there are plenty of places to see and things to do. Visiting thetemples and shrines, the old Kaido road, and the historical buildings and streetscapes
gives you a chance to get a taste for the varied culture of Shiga. And the culturallandscape and food culture created from the harmony between the plentiful water resources
and lifestyle of the people are sure to impress any visitor. Let’s discover Shiga together.

GIFU

Lake
Biwa

AICHI

ACCESS to SHIGA
Approx.

100min.

SHIGA

KYOTO

JR OTSU Sta.
OSAKA

KANSAI INTL AIRPORT

MIE
NARA

BIWAICHI

Approx.

-Cycling around Lake Biwa-

The vast natural beauty of Shiga is complemented by mountains and villages brimming witha sense of history and culture. From ancient thoroughfares and historical treasures tocountless examples of nature’s beauty, most notably the brilliant displays of autumnal
colors, Shiga has so much to offer. Cycling is the ideal way to enjoy the many natural andcultural attractions of Shiga. For the perfect cycling holiday, try the BIWAICHI-PLUS routes
with various cycling paths dotted throughout the prefecture, some of which include trains withdedicated bicycle racks to help you get around easily. BIWAICHI-PLUS routes can make a great addition to a standard
BIWAICHI—a circuit of Lake Biwa—cycling trip. Why not enjoy cycling both the lakeside and inland areas?

BIWAICHI

Approx. 193km

KINOMOTO

MAKINONAGAHAMATAKASHIMA

HIKONEKATATAOMIHACHIMANOTSUBIWAKO OHASHI Brg

BEST SHOT!!

PUBLISHING : Shiga Prefecture / 2018.12

http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp

BIWAKO VISITORSBUREAUBIWAICHIRENTAL CYCLE

https://en.biwako-visitors.jp

http://biwaichi-cycling.com/en/

100min.

JR KANSAI AIRPORT Sta.

JR OTSU Sta.

JR KYOTO Sta.
Approx.

Approx.

150min.

JR TOKYO Sta.

9min.

OMI TEA
The birthplace of traditional Japanese tea
Omi has a long history of tea, said to begin in the year 805, when Saicho, whose posthumous title isDengyo Daishi, returned from China with seeds and planted them in the foothills of Mount Hiei. Omi-cha
tea thrives in areas with great temperature differences, and features an inherent refined aroma.
The region is dotted with tea growing areas, each with their own unique specialty. Tsuchiyama is famousfor kabuse-cha tea, where the plants are covered before plucking to concentrate their flavor and reduce
astringency. Asamiya is known for the beautiful bright golden yellow of the tea color typical of sen-cha tea.
And tea from Mandokoro is extremely precious and said to be the favorite drink of feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

T E M P L E
A HISTORICAL TEMPLE WITH MIRACULOUS EFFECTS

A temple of flowers connected
to historic literature.

Shiga prefecture is home to more than 3,000 temples. Amongst them,
ISHIYAMADERA Temple is one with long history dating back to its opening
during Emperor Shomu’s reign (701-749). Visitors and pilgrims are welcomedby a picturesque temple gate alongside the Seta River—the only outlet
f r o m L a ke B iwa . In th e H e i a n p e r i o d ( 79 4 -118 5), p il g r i m a g e s to th etemple we re popular among the nobilit y, with visitor s retiring to themain temple building for prayer in the presence of the principle image ofthe temple, Nyoirin Kannon Buddhist statue, which is enshrined there.
Such details are recorded in Kagero Nikki by the Mother of Fujiwara no
M i c h i t s u n a . O t h e r tex t s d e s c r i b i n g l i f e a t I S H I YA M A D E R A Te m p l e
i n c l u d e Izumi Shikibu Nikki by Izu m i S h ik i b u, Makura no Soshi by S e i
Shonagon, and Sarashina Nikki by the Daughter of Sugawara no Takasue.
However, the most famous is surely Murasaki Shikibu’s Genji Monogatari.
The imperial princess requested something new to read, so Murasaki Shikibu
retired to ISHIYAMADERA Temple for 7 days to begin writing Genji Monogatari inseclusion. It is said that the idea for the story came to Murasaki Shikibu
whe n the full moon looke d e spe cially beautiful ove r L ake Biwa . T helocation at which inspiration took hold is known as one of the Eight
Views of Omi, featuring in paintings such as Ishiyama no Shugetsu ( The
Autumn Moon at Ishiyama).
This temple also drew in many top-class female writers due to its abundanceof flowers. Ume plum trees bloom in February and winter-blooming sakura
cherry blossom trees in March, providing an extremely rare opportunity to
see both ume and sakura blossoming at the same time. And after cherry
blossom trees such as Someiyoshino have blossomed, in late April the
200-year-old Kirishima Tsutsuji—Rhododendron obtusum—flowers, and inearly summer, iris, lotus and others bloom. Here you can enjoy the floral
beauty year-round.

THE BUDDHISTIMAGES OF SHIGA
Spotlight on Yakushi Nyorai
and Kannon Bosatsu
The Denyakushi Nyorai standing statue of
NISHINO YAKUSHI-DO Temple. Heian period (794-1185).

ISHIYAMADERA Temple —The Sacred Grounds of Emperor Shomu’s Imperial Prayer
One of the important cultural properties that remains in ISHIYAMADERA
Temple is the Ishiyamadera Engi Emaki—a scroll painting of the history
and legends of ISHIYAMADERA Temple. The scroll acts as a captioned
histor y from the temple’s creation through to the end of the Kamakura
p e r i o d (118 5 -13 3 3), p r e s e n te d i n t h e Ya m a to - e t r a d i t i o n a l p a i n t i n g
st yle with description. The beginning tells of the temple’s inception.
Empe ror Shomu wishe d to e re c t a gia nt Buddha statue at TODAI - JI
Temple, the temple he had built in Nara, but for this, he would need a lotof gold. He asked the monk, Roben, for help. One night, Zao Gongen,a deity of the Shugendo religion, appeared by Roben’s bedside bearing
a message instructing him to offer prayers at the sacred grounds in Seta,
Omi. There he met an old man calling himself Hira-myojin deity. Just as
instructed, Roben took Emperor Shomu’s Nenjibutsu—a sacred Buddhist
icon of Prince Shotoku—enshrined it on the rock at the sacred grounds
and began to of fer prayer s. Almost immediately af ter wards gold wasfound in M ut s u- no - k uni ( pa r t of the cur re nt Tohoku re gion) a nd wa s
being presented to the Emperor. The result of this was that the Nenjibutsu
could not be taken away from the rock, so a simple thatched hut was
built to home it, and that was the origin of ISHIYAMADERA Temple. Thatrock remains within the temple grounds to this day and is composedof keikaiseki—wollastonite. The main shrine of the temple—a nationaltreasure itself—was built upon the rock. The principal image, the Nyoirin
Kannon, is an impressive 5 m tall statue located in a zushi miniatureshrine within the temple and is not normally available for public viewing.
It sits on a pedestal of wallastonite in a half-lotus pose with its rightl e g b e n t a n d i t s l e f t l e g d o w n . T h i s i s t h e o n l y B u d d h i s t i m a g e tohave a chokufu—an imperial seal—so unveiling it to the public requires
the Emperor’s permission. It is available for public viewing every 33 years
or the year following the enthronement of a new emperor, so your chance
to see it could be just around the corner! A stand-in is on view, placed in
front of the zushi, and is a significant Buddhist symbol in its own right.
Although it stands only around
1/3 the size of the original, it
is in the same pose and dates
back to the Muromachi period(1333-1573). This year, 2018,
marks the 1300th anniversary

寺
The Ishiyamadera Engi Emaki,
scroll 5, part 1 (paper 4-5),

belonging to ISHIYAMADERA Templeof the oldest junreiro in Japan: the Saikoku Sanjusansho Junreiro are at ype of pilgrimage to various temples, and this one prescribes a triparound 33 temples in the Kansai region and Gifu prefecture. To celebrate
this auspicious occurrence, there are special viewings and other events
until 2020. Starting your pilgrimage of the Kannon deities with a visit to
ISHIYAMADERA Temple would surely make for an excellent trip!
TEL 077-537-0013
ADDRESS 1-1-1 Ishiyama-dera, Otsu, Shiga
OPEN 8am to 4:30pm (Last admission: 4pm)
CLOSED Open every day
ADMISSION ¥600, Chancel of main shrine hall entrance: ¥500, tea: ¥500 (Special exhibitions may require additional fees)
SMOKING No
WEB https://www.ishiyamadera.or.jp/
ENGLISH BROCHURE

A statue ofMurasaki Shikibu

3

2

Two-storied pagoda

1

Wallastonite

Map of the temple grounds

1 Wallastonite

2 Two-storied pagoda

3 A statue ofMurasaki Shikibu

It is said that the reason that Shiga prefecture is home toso many temples, the principal images of which are
Yakushi Nyorai—the Buddhist god of medicine andhealing, is that they are imitating HIEIZAN ENRYAKU-JI
Temple. Among these myriad temples, ZENSUI-JI
Temple preser ves the atmosphere of the Konpon
Chudo of the Heian period (794-1185)—the main hall of
ENRYAKU-JI Temple. The ZENSUI-JI Temple’s main
hall is a national treasure obviously made in the imageof the Konpon Chudo, but the similarities don’t stop
there—the hidden Buddhist image in ZENSUI- JI
Temple depicts the same god—Yakushi Nyorai. The
principle image of NISHINO YAKUSHI-DO Temple(JUMAN-JI Temple) is another example of a copy of
ENRYAKU-JI Temple. From the Heian period onward,
Yakushi Nyorai holds a yakko medicine pot in its handbut the hand of the statue in NISHINO YAKUSHI-DO
Temple is empty with a raigoin hand pose unique toAmida Nyorai—a celestial Buddha. From this we
can surmise that in later periods the statue in
NISHINO YAKUSHI-DO Temple acted as ar e p r e sentative for Amida Nyorai too. One morepoint about Nyorai is that they are known as the godof healing illnesses, but in the past, they were also thegod of bountiful harvests, removing evil spirits, among otherthings. Did you know that there are ranks for Buddhist images?
The highest is for Nyorai that have achieved satori—enlightenment.
The next rank is for Bosatsu that are in the pursuit ofknowledge to become a Nyorai. Shiga prefecture also has
many Kannon Bosatsu, one such statue is the Juichimen
Kannon Bosatsu, an 11-faced standing Kannon Bosatsu
statue housed at KOGEN-JI Temple. This isperhaps the greatest carving masterpiece inJapan’s history and is known throughout
the country. When faced with the threat ofbeing burned during wars and conflicts,
the head priest and villagers hid the statue inrivers and buried it in the ground to protect it. By working
together to overcome such difficulties, we can see that one of
the traits of the people of Shiga prefecture is that they were inclose contact with their Buddha.

像
神仏
The Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu standing statue that is anational treasure at KOGEN-JI Temple.
Heian period (794-1185).

Todaimon (East Main Gate)

KONSHO-JI Temple houses the oldest and largest example
of a wooden Gundali Myo-o standing statue among
independent statues in Japan. Heian period (794-1185).

UKIMI-DO Temple also enshrines a hidden Buddhist
statue. The wooden Shokannon Bosatsu seated statue isan important cultural asset. Heian period (794-1185).

THE SYNCRETISM
OF SHINTO AND
BUDDHISM
Trace the history of the
syncretism of Shinto andBuddhism

It is said that since ancient times Japan has been home to 8
million unique, Japanese gods. After the introduction of Buddhism
to Japan, little by little, the gods and Buddha blended into one, somuch so that in the Nara period (710-794), you could find Buddhist
texts being read in Shinto shrines, and even see Buddhist temples
erected within Shinto shrine grounds. However, the Meiji period(1868-1912), brought about the separation of Shinto andBuddhism—all Buddhist materials were removed from Shinto
shrines as part of an anti-Buddhist movement.
Yet in Shiga prefecture, perhaps because their religious piety anddesire to treat both gods and Buddha with respect, you can stillsee many examples of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism tothis day. One such example is the wooden Sogyo Hachimanshin
seated statue held in KONSHO-JI Temple. This wooden statue
depicts Hachimanshin, the Shinto god of war, but with the form ofa Buddhist monk. Within the main hall of KONSHO-JI Temple
there is a small shrine in which the Shijin—four gods said to ruleover the four directions—reside. Since the Heian period(794-1185), the imperial court hasrequested that Buddhist sutras
be read for the gods, and thispractice continues to this day.

Yakushi Nyorai sitting statue.
Heian period (794-1185).
The hidden Buddhist
image from ZENSUI-JI Temple.

REL ATED LOCATIONS
1 NISHINO YAKUSHI-DO Temple

2 KOGEN-JI Temple

The descendants of Prince
Otomo, Nishino-Tanbanokami
Iesumi, have protected
NISHINO YAKUSHI-DO
Temple as their family temple.
It was once a temple of theTendai sect of Buddhism inKoaza Terayama in thenorth-west of Nishino. It isleft in ruins following repeated wars but the Buddhist
statues were protected by the village people.
The statues are now in the possession of JUMAN-JI
Temple and enshrined in YAKUSHI-DO Temple.

A temple of the Jodo Shinshu
Otani sect of Buddhism, also
known by the name DOUGAN-JIKANNON-DO Temple. Features
perhaps Japan’s best
example of a Juichimen
Kannon—an 11-faced god ofmercy. This statue is anational treasure and wascarved by the monk Taicho in the 8th year of the Tenpyo
period (736), to ward the city against the epidemic fromwhich it was suffering.

TEL 090-8938-6369
ADDRESS 1696 Nishino Takatsuki-cho, Nagahama, Shiga
OPEN 9am-4pm (Reservation required, Viewing not
permitted 12pm-1pm)
CLOSED Open every day
ADMISSION YAKUSHI-DO Temple and Senju Kannon: ¥500
SMOKING No

TEL 0749-85-2632
ADDRESS 50 Douganji Takatsuki-cho, Nagahama, Shiga
OPEN 9am-4pm (Last entry 3:30pm)
CLOSED Open every day
ADMISSION ￥500
SMOKING No

3 KONSHO-JI Temple

4 UKIMI-DO Temple

A temple of the Tendai sectof Buddhism nestled insilence near the peak of
Mount Konze. In the 5th yearof the Tenpyo period (733),
Emperor Shomu requested
the founder and head of
TODAI-JI Temple, high
Buddhist priest Roben, toestablish a temple for prayer to protect the country
from the northeastern direction of ancient Nara, as thiswas thought to be unlucky.

UKIMI-DO Temple was built in
the Heian period (794-1185),by Eshin Sozu, who was themodel for the character Bishop
of Yokogawa from The Tale ofGenji. It is also famous as oneof the Eight Views of Omi
paintings: Katata no Rakugan—Wild geese returning home
at Katata. It is officially the MANGETSU-JI Temple,
and the K ANNON-DO main hall within its grounds
enshrines the Shokannon Bosatsu seated Buddhist statue.

TEL 077-558-2996 (Mountain top monk),
077-558-0058 (Village monk)
ADDRESS 1394 Arahari, Ritto, Shiga
OPEN 9am-5pm (Closes at 4:30pm between Dec and Mar)CLOSED Open every day
ADMISSION ￥500
SMOKING No
WEB https://www.konsyoji.com

ENGLISH BROCHURE

TEL 077-572-0455
ADDRESS 1-16-18 Honkatata, Otsu, Shiga
OPEN 8am-5pm
CLOSED Open every day
ADMISSION ￥300
SMOKING No