Cherry tree in full bloom
Yoshie Doi
 April 3, 2024 Kyoto Prefectural Office Former Main Building |
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 April 4, 2024 Kyoto International Conference Center Sakura Room |
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 April 4, 2024 Kyoto International Conference Center Garden Mt. Hiei and cherry blossoms |
This year, the cherry blossoms bloomed later than expected. I was looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms, but unfortunately there were many rainy days. On April 3rd, in the light rain, we visited the former main building of Kyoto Prefecture, an important cultural property, and enjoyed the Katamori cherry blossoms and weeping cherry blossoms in the courtyard.
The former main building of the Kyoto Prefectural Office is the oldest active government building in Japan that still retains its original appearance from its construction, and the former assembly hall inside the former main building of the Kyoto Prefectural Office is said to be the oldest existing assembly in Japan (See photo) The former main building of the Kyoto Prefectural Office was designated as an important cultural property in 2004.
The former main building of the Kyoto Prefectural Office was built in 1894 by Shigemitsu Matsumuro, a Kyoto prefectural engineer born in Shimogamo Village, Atago District, Kyoto Prefecture (present-day Kyoto City), under the guidance of Ministry of Education engineer Masamichi Kuruma. It was designed with reference to the Tokyo Prefectural Government Building, which was completed in 1899 (Meiji 27).
It is a Renaissance-style building whose construction began in 1901 (Meiji 34) and was completed in 1904 (Meiji 37). It is rectangular in shape with a courtyard, with a carriage porch in the front and the parliament building protruding in the back. The left and right wings project symmetrically around the raised slate roof in the front, and the interior is made of excellent technology with the warmth of Japanese-style wood. has been incorporated.
The former main building of Kyoto Prefectural Office was used as the main building of Kyoto Prefectural Office until 1971, and is still an active government building used as offices and conference rooms for the Prefectural Government Information Center and the Personnel Committee Secretariat.
Katamori cherry blossoms
In the courtyard of the former main building of the prefectural government building, there are six cherry blossom trees, including the weeping cherry tree, which is a grandchild of the first weeping cherry tree in Maruyama Park, and is well-loved. Mr. Toemon Sano, who is active as a cherry blossom guard in the courtyard, investigated and discovered that one of the cherry blossoms was a rare variety that has the characteristics of Oshima cherry blossoms and wild cherry blossoms. Mr. Emon named it Katamori-zakura.
The grounds of the Kyoto Prefectural Office were once home to the residence of the Kyoto Shugoshu, so it was named after Katamori Matsudaira, the lord of the Aizu domain, who was the Shusho at the time. ) was named.
It seems that it has larger flowers than the normal wild cherry tree, which has the genetics of the wild cherry tree that is a mutation of the wild cherry tree, but also has the flower elements of the Oshimazakura family.
It is said that at the end of the Edo period, Katamori Matsudaira had the Shinsengumi under his control as the guardian of Kyoto, and was responsible for protecting public order in Kyoto.
The Kyoto International Conference Center is located in the north of Kyoto City, in a place with very clean air. The location overlooking Mt. Hiei is wonderful.
Thirty years ago, before the cherry blossoms bloomed, former Soviet Union President Gorbachev and his wife visited Japan and held a Green Cross conference for four days at the International Hall. In April, when the beautiful cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the beautiful cherry blossoms and the smiling faces of the couple were very impressive.At the environmental conservation conference, participants from all over the world were also enjoying the cherry blossoms.
Even now, the splendor of the cherry blossoms at that time comes back to me, and even 30 years later, I still remember those days, as I helped out at the conference. In any case, the cherry blossoms were beautiful and welcomed everyone.
The Kyoto International Conference Center opened in 1966, and has become an international tourist city in Japan, hosting many international conferences. The museum is open to the general public on days when it is open to the public, and visitors can also view the cherry blossoms. Please check the schedule and visit us. There is also a lodging lodge available to the general public. Like Nishi Honganji’s Monpo Kaikan, it is also open to the general public.
Please enjoy Kyoto to the fullest during the cherry blossom season.
Last year, I posted a cherry blossom blog on March 16th. Has the flowering time returned to the old flowering time this year? The flowers of plants and trees bloom facing upward toward the sunlight, but only cherry blossoms bloom downward. I think it reflects the feelings Cherry trees want people to see about the cherry blossoms. It has also been said that the blooming of cherry blossoms is a signal to start preparing for agricultural work. We hope that you will enjoy the cherry blossoms along with the roots of T21 cherry blossom viewing on the Kyo-Suzume website that we have explained about the cherry blossoms.
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Translated by Masami Otani
