Yoshie Doi

“The Fifth Love Letter to Kyoto” Award Ceremony and Love Letter Plaza October 6, 2024

　Now that the “Love Letter to Kyoto” award ceremony is over, we have received emails, phone calls, letters, etc. expressing our gratitude and comments.

　I was surprised to receive letters that read, “I’m happy to have found a small connection with my beloved Kyoto. Please continue to spread the word about how wonderful Kyoto is,” and “I have asked my family that if I die, I want my high school textbook on classical Japanese, my university books on ancient law, and my collection of love letters to Kyoto placed in my coffin, so could I have one extra book please?”

　We are grateful for their attachment to Kyoto and their affection for Kyo Suzume, and we are deeply touched by it. Their strong desire to continue their feelings for Kyoto even in the afterlife is the best in the world.

　For 24 years since the founding of Kyo Suzume, whenever we learned that a member had passed away, we would enclose the member’s nameplate along with a letter of condolence. We would always receive a reply from the bereaved family saying, “They were looking forward to going to Kyo Suzume School,” and we would mourn them.

　I have been a lecturer at the NHK Culture Center for about 22 years, and there was a doctor who commuted from Hyogo Prefecture. He attended both the Kyo Suzume course and the NHK Culture Center course, and he would often say, “I changed my path from medicine to Kyoto,” and “I bought a commuter pass to come to Kyoto.” I was always amazed at his enthusiasm, and I am grateful that such an enthusiastic Kyoto fan visits from all over the world.

　About 24 years ago, when Kyosuzume was first established, I wrote a letter of request to Masaaki Ueda to become an advisor. I had heard that he would not be appointed as an advisor to a private company, but I was determined that Masaaki Ueda and I should be an advisor, so I wrote him a letter and met him.

　As soon as I met Professor Ueda, he accepted the position of advisor. People around me were surprised and asked me what I wrote in the letter. I remember telling him, “I wrote Professor Ueda a passionate love letter.

　Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have refrained from holding courses and have been focusing more on events and posting on our website, but we are also seeing an increase in interactions with people from all over the country.

　Recently, we have received many announcements of the deaths of members who have been with us since the beginning, which is saddening. However, we have also made many new encounters, and we often share our common thoughts about Kyoto. For this, we are grateful.

　Tourists from all over the world visit Kyoto to experience the unique atmosphere of Kyoto. Kyoto is a city close to nature, yet relatively urban and sophisticated, and has preserved and connected its history. These days, I am proud of Kyoto, a city of tradition and innovation.

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Translated by Masami Otani

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