Joining the list of popular voice actors like Tomokazu Seki, Takuya Sato and Koutaro Nishiyama lending their voices as narrative guides for the travel-navigation voice-guide app ‘Pokke’ is seiyuu-singer Toshiyuki Toyonaga. In this latest collaboration with the navigation-guide app, the voice actor will be the narrative voice introducing the preeminent Zen temple Kenchoji – the oldest amongst the top five great Zen temples in the old capital of Kamakura in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture.
Kenchoji was founded in 1253 by the ruling regent Hojo Tokiyori of the then Kencho Era after the long-drawn-out civil war between the Minamoto Clan and the Taira Clan that led to the end of the Kamakura Shogunate. The temple’s first head priest was a Zen priest from China named Rankei Doryu. In present days, although considerably smaller than during its heydays, Kenchoji still consists of a large number of temple buildings and sub-temples, and stretches from the entrance gate at the bottom of the valley far into the forested hills behind. It is accessible via the Yokosuka rail line from Tokyo and the journey takes about slightly more than an hour’s travel time, so for travellers looking for a scenic day-trip out to the Kamakura mountains and to immerse oneself in history, Kenchoji Temple is a perfect destination.
When interviewed, Toshiyuki Toyonaga said he’s very honoured and happy to be participating in this voice-navigation guide project. If his voiced narrative of the historical Zen temple can spark more younger fans to be interested in the history of Kamakura and its historical sites and temples/shrines, he would gladly do more of such projects. Fans may read about a more detailed interview with the voice actor on his involvement in this project here.
And if this is still not enough to convince fans and travellers of the beauty of Kenchoji Temple, let’s take a look at some photos taken of the historical site.
The Kenchoji Temple x Toshiyuki Toyonaga voice-guided navigation via Pokke app has commenced service on 15 October 2018. For the one-time fee of JPY 600, a 60-min narrative history and guide of the temple by the seiyuu will be available for download via both iTunes App Store for iOS operated smart/mobile-devices; and Google Play Store for those Android-operated counterparts. Users of the app may also access other voice-navigation guides of well-known historical temples and shrines in Japan. As promotional incentives to induce more users for the app, there is now also a special campaign in which lucky winners will be randomly selected and presented with an autographed shikishi-board by Toshiyuki Toyonaga. The campaign will run from 15 October 2018 to 11 November 2018.
Fans may check out more details on the special collaboration website for this project.
Source: Animate Times
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