November 25, 2019
by Kyosuke Maruyama, Shunpei Sakoda, Shiho Koutoku
Kyoto
There is a lot of culture and history in Kyoto. For example, macha, maiko and yatsuhashi are popular culture. Kiyomizu temple and Kinkaku temple are known as favorite historical places in Kyoto. In recent years, many foreigners come to Japan from a lot of countries. So Kyoto is becoming a sightseeing destination for tourists to experience another culture.
Toji temple
Do you know Toji temple? Toji temple was built in the year 796 by the emperor Kanmu. later, The emperor Saga gave it to Kukai, who was the high priest. He founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism. This temple has been poplar since then. Now a lot of visitors come to this temple to honor Kukai.
Toji Temple Market
Toji Temple Market is held on the 21st of every month at Toji temple. It is called Toji temple market or Koubou sama. Koubou sama is another reference to the founder, Kukai. Kyoto people love Kukai and Toji temple. So 20,000 people come to this festival every month. In particular, more people come to this market in year-end and New Year holidays. In Japan, festival doesn’t mean only an event or party. Many shops gathered in one place is also a called a festival. It is called ennichi too in Japanese.
Ennichi means special day. En means relationship and nichi means day. And 21st day is the day of Koukai’s death. So Kyoto people believed that Koukai is in the temple on the 21st day.
This kind of temple market or ennichi is often held in shrines and temples in Japan.
There are about one thousand two hundred shops at the market in Toji temple.
Three months ago, I went to Toji temple market with my friends for the first time. I was so surprised. Because about half of people is foreign country people. They look at a lot of stuff. They can buy Kyoto curios, textiles and figures. Of course, they can buy food and drink there. There is a lot of food and drink shop which sell regional food and local beer. I think they will be able to be here for half a day.
Then, I looked at one shop. This shop seemed unnatural for me. I came into this shop. There are a lot of felt dolls and clothing. I had never seen this kind of stuff in Kyoto. It was Nepal stuff. I had thought the sellers had to sell only Kyoto stuff. But this was different. After I talked a little to the seller, I sought out shops which were selling overseas stuff. Then I can found several such shops in this festival. For instance, wine shop, doll shop and curiosity shop without Japanese stuff. In particular, wine shop gathered a lot of people. This shop held free wine festival. I heard that sellers selling overseas stuff is increasing here. Because I was interested in this process and the seller, I wanted to interview him to find out more about his experience.
He is a 39- year-old Japanese man. He organizes a lot of companies and jobs. When he was 22 years old, he first went to Nepal. He was impressed deeply by Nepal. He thought he wanted to do something for Nepal. But he had to seek good tools and methods to earn money. Then he heard by chance that buttons which are made in Nepal is so rare and expensive. He went to a factory by using his relationship with a friend in Nepal. Because of this visit to the factory, he was able to start a business. These buttons were so beautiful. He decided to sell these buttons. These buttons have been made for over one hundred years. From there, he went to other companies and shops. He made connections to stock cheaply.
When he started this business, he was unsure of what place he could sell. So he began selling at a lot of festivals. There is many historical place in Kyoto. So various festival every month. There is a theme of festival per this place. So he tried to sell a lot of festival in Kyoto. And he decided to sell in Toji temple market. But most shops there were about Kyoto. This festival is just in Kyoto. However, there is no required theme. So he can sell his Nepal stuff here. He pays ¥5000 rental fee to Toji Temple every time he comes to the market. Why did he choose Toji temple? He said Toji history is so deep. So this traditional event will not decline or disappear in the future. The kindness of Kyoto people was another important reason. Of course, there is power balance. Veteran vendors who sell every month can get a good location within the market, which is critical to making sales and attracting customers.
He can earn up to five hundred thousand yen per day at the Toji Temple Market. He thinks it is such a good place. In the future, goods and sellers from other countries may increase. He may face a struggle to continue his business in the future.
He comes and goes between Japan and Nepal every month to looking for goods to sell, and brining them to his Toji temple market stall. He buys and sells in a lot of places and has a variety of goods, for instance, vegetables, dolls, antique coins and coffee. He usually seeks a possibility of job all over the place. He said it is important to seek small awareness in all places and keep facing challenges every time.
Toji temple market will be changing. But I think it is not bad thing. A lot of culture comes to Kyoto. Possibilities will be increasing too. The Nepalese buttons he sells are used by Ralph Lauren in the Paris correction.
Maybe, Kukai smiles above from the sky.
Access
Address Toji temple (Kyoougokokuji temple)
601-8473
1 banchi Kujo-machi Minami-ku Kyoto-shi
Tell 075-691-3325 / Fax 075-662-0250
15 minutes from Kyoto station Hachijoguchi by walking
10 minutes from Toji station by walking
Please get off on Omiya station and change to bus (18, 71, 207 line)
To Toji temple higashi mon-mae
Homepage https://toji.or.jp/