Landscape-Making Through National Ceremonies: A Case Study of the Kyoto Station Front in the Modern Era

Abstract

This study investigates the transformation of the Kyoto station front as a result of Tennou no Sokui Tairei (enthronement ceremonies) during the modern era through the use of the analytical concept of “landscape-making.” Prior to the enthronement ceremony of the Taisho Emperor (Taisho Tairei), no permanent buildings had been built around the station front. After Taisho Tairei, commercial rivalries resulted in the emergence of Western-style buildings around the station front. After the enthronement ceremony of the Showa Emperor (Showa Tairei), the construction of Western-style buildings developed; however, concerns regarding the necessity to preserve the landscape also arose simultaneously. Thus, a conflict over the landscape around the Kyoto station front clearly existed. After Showa Tairei, the landscape around the station front was shaped by this conflict, which involved many actors. This study reveals the following: first, the establishment of Kyoto as a “tourist city” as a consequence of national ceremonies was ridden with conflict. Throughout the process, various interests were combined, and some practices stood idle. Second, the study reveals that such conflicts cemented the uniqueness of Kyoto as a “tourist city.” Many actors involved in the conflicts contributed to develop “landscape-making” of the station front. In the process, the landscape around the station front helped to create the uniqueness of Kyoto.