Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, as well as the nation’s tourist hot-spot for all things traditional and cultural. For the third year consecutive since its inauguration in 2016, the Kyoto Nippon Festival – an autumn event taking place at the 1000-year-old Kitano Tenmangu-Shrine located at the northwestern region of the ancient city – will be happening this year from 6 October 2018 to 2 December 2018.

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU

Besides promoting the historical and traditional cultural beauties of Japan, the other aim of the Kyoto Nippon Festival (aka “KNF”) is also to promote Kyoto as an ancient city in modern times, and as such, KNF 2018’s theme is ‘Fusion’ – where traditions meets pop-culture in a perfect balance of historical and modern beauty!

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU

Other than artworks exhibitions and demonstration sessions of traditional crafts of Japan like Kyoto silk-dyeing and weaving, flower arrangement, etc. to tease visual aesthetics, visitors may also be in for a gastronomical treat of experiencing traditional Kyoto kaiseki cooking at the event. For fans of pop-cultural however, the biggest aspect of the Festival to look forward to is the KNF 2018’s collaboration feature with popular idol group Nogizaka46; as well as with popular browser and mobile game “Touken Ranbu -Online-“!

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU ©Nogizaka46LLC
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © DMM / Nitroplus

Nogizaka46 x traditional crafts collab. (1)

Kyoto silk-dye and weaving: combining ancient craft with the latest in neuro-scientific technologies in which the brainwave-movements of members of the popular all-girls idol group were captured, to create an all-new beautiful design of print.

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU

Nogizaka46 x traditional crafts collab. (2)

Traditional craft of Japanese ikebana flower-arrangement, with a modern twist featuring the young generation of ikebana masters from “Ikenobo”. Three of the idol group’s members – Hina Kawago, Reika Sakurai and Mizuki Yamashita will also show off their skills in the traditional craft in a public demonstration!

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © Ikenobo
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © Ikenobo
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © Ikenobo
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © Ikenobo ©Nogizaka46LLC

Nogizaka46 x Kyoto Kitcho Kaiseki Restaurant (pop-up)

There is a Japanese proverbial saying that the “autumn season is a time for good food” – and the KNF 2018 proves this true by collaborating with Kyoto’s age-old Japanese kaiseki cuisine restaurant, Arashiyama’s ‘Kyoto Kitcho’, which will be doing a special featured pop-up restaurant/eatery within the Kitano Tenmangu-Shrine’s premises during the span of the Festival. Fans of Nogizaka46 may also be prepared to be delighted with the special menu that Manatsu Akimoto created together with the restaurant chefs!

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU ©kyoto kitcho
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU ©kyoto kitcho
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU ©kyoto kitcho
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU ©kyoto kitcho ©Nogizaka46LLC

KNF 2018 x “Touken Ranbu -Online-” feat. ‘Higekiri’ (Japanese sword)

The treasured sword ‘Higekiri’ of the historical Genji Clan from the Heian Era is archived under the care of the Kitano Tenmangu-Shrine’s Treasure Hall. This ancient katana is also appointed as an ‘Important Cultural Artefact’ by the Japanese Agency of Culture Affairs (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Science and Technology). With the popularity of browser and mobile game “Touken Ranbu -Online-” developed by Nitroplus and distributed by DMM Games where ‘Higekiri’ is one of the most popular and sought-after anthromorphised ‘sword warriors’, the Shrine archives has been periodically organising exhibitions within their own Treasure Hall since early-2017 for this prized historical sword. The 8th  Round of the “Treasured Katana Exhibition” happen to coincide with the duration of KNF 2018, and fans (of the game, or of Higekiri the character) may get to view this prized artefact up-close!

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © DMM / Nitroplus
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © DMM / Nitroplus
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © DMM / Nitroplus

Lastly, fans and visitors to the KNF 2018 may also be delighted to know that the Festival has a special range of events-official original and collaboration goods lined-up for sales so visitors may bring back some souvenirs of the event. Let’s take a look at some of the line-up!

  • Higekiri acrylic figure standee set @ JPY 1,600:

    ©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © DMM / Nitroplus
  • KNF 2108 Higekiri Tote-bag @ JPY 1,800:

    ©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU © DMM / Nitroplus
  • KNF 2108 x Kitano Tenmangu-Shrine ‘goshuin-cho‘ (lit. the collation-booklet pad for special vermilion shrine seals) @ JPY 1,800

    ©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU
  • KNF 2018 special edition tote-bag @ JPY 1,800

    ©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU
  • KNF 2018 x Nogizaka46 special handkerchief (2 colours – white/purple) – item will be available from mid-October 2018; no information on price at time of announcement 
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU ©Nogizaka46LLC

The Kyoto Nippon Festival 2018 officially commenced on 6 October 2018 after an opening ceremony in which selected members of Nogizaka46 gave a special performance.

©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU
©2018 KYOTO NIPPON FES © Since 2015 KITANO-TENMANGU

Readers and fans travelling to the city of Kyoto for the city’s famous autumn foliage, do take the time (if travelling schedule allows) to try and attend the Kyoto Nippon Festival 2018!

 

Source: Fashion Press-Net