Yoshie Doi

Photo taken on September 28, 2024 Upstream of Togetsukyo Bridge

　「I read an article titled “Etsuro Sotoo becomes the first Japanese person to receive the Ratzinger Prize,” and it reminded me of a time more than 15 years ago when a friend invited me to a restaurant in Arashiyama, saying, “Tono is coming from Spain. Would you like to have dinner with us?”

　Etsuro Sotoo is world-famous as the sculptor of the Sagrada Família in Spain, but I had never heard of him before meeting him. The Ratzinger Prize award ceremony for Etsuro Sotoo will be held at the Vatican on November 22, 2024. I only found out about his award earlier this year.

　The “Gate of the Nativity”, completed in 2000, was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the “Works of Antoni Gaudí”, and in 2013 he was appointed chief sculptor of the Sagrada Família.　 When I actually visited the Sagrada Familia in Spain, I was amazed to see that Mr. Sotoo’s artistic talent was based on what he learned in Kyoto.

　I remembered that 15 years ago, he had said, “This location is the best in the world.” He was referring to the view of the Oi River (Katsura River) from the large hall of the tofu restaurant Shorai-an in Arashiyama. I was surprised. The view that we see every day is the best in the world. Kyoto people live in a basin and look at the mountains every day, 365 days a year. It’s a view that is so natural to them.

　The location allows we to see both the mountains and the water at the same time, and we can feel the tranquility of hearing the sounds of the quiet river and the mountains. It has also appeared in movie scenes, and is a very popular restaurant, with some people making reservations a year in advance during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons, when reservations are impossible to get.

　When we climb the stairs and enter the grounds through the gate, we feel as if we have crossed a barrier and are surrounded by a sacred air that creates a comfortable atmosphere. The soothing air by the water and the abundance of negative ions make we feel like our body is in balance just by breathing. The atmosphere is something that money cannot buy. The best hospitality becomes an invisible air, and tofu, a representative of Kyoto cuisine, is gentle on the body and helps to balance the mind and body.

　Perhaps it is this kind of atmosphere that creates the mind of Kyoto. Incidentally, thanks to the proprietress’s consideration, we were able to use Shorai-an as the venue for the “First Kyoto Love Letter Awards Ceremony.” Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.

The end of document
Translated by Masami Otani

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