Yoshie Doi
　Kyoto was the residence of the Emperor for a long period of 1074 years. In the 13th year of the Enryaku era (794), Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Kyoto, and Heian-kyo was developed to take advantage of the earth’s veins, water veins, and dragon veins. It is now a world-famous tourist city. The Feng Shui city, which made use of the dragon veins, was judged to be a geopolitical and topographical feature that would make a thousand-year capital a peaceful place, and so the decision was made to move the capital there. For this reason, the Imperial Palace was the spiritual home of the people of Kyoto.

　”With mountains and rivers as its borders, a castle was naturally created. Based on this advantageous form, a new name should be determined. Yamashiro Province should be renamed Yamashiro Province.(Same pronunciation, different characters) The people of Shirai, the people who enjoyed the city, unanimously agreed and named the city Heian-kyo.” (Nihon Kiryaku, November 8, 13th year of the Enryaku era)

　For a thousand years, the people of Kyoto have followed a rule from the Heian period Dajokanfu that states, “Houses must not be built in places overlooking the Imperial Palace.” This rule has been passed down as a source of comfort. In London, height restrictions were imposed in 1938 so that St. Paul’s Cathedral can be seen from anywhere. This shows a clear determination of what is important to the city and its people.

　 The city of Kyoto provides healing and energy to all who visit.

　When Kyo-Suzume was founded, we defined Kyoto as “a city where just being there enriches the soul, and that energy is transformed into energy.” Even now, 24 years later, this definition has not changed. Rather, we have reaffirmed that Kyoto is a city that gives energy to people.

　I believe that Kyoto is the best city for absorbing something authentic through the skin, growing as a person, and honing one’s intellect and sensibility at the same time. Human DNA still has a lot to be made of. By continuing to come into contact with the real thing, the aura and energy it emits will reach your DNA, leading you to resonate with the real thing through your consciousness and brain.

　It seems as if a system that activates dormant genes is functioning throughout the city of Kyoto. With a history of 1,074 years as the capital, Kyoto has continued to transmit information about Japanese culture.

　As we enter the 21st century and our definition of wealth is on the verge of changing, I strongly believe that Kyoto has a role to play in leading the way in this new era where ancient wisdom, cutting-edge technology, and nature are fused together.

　We have been working with the belief that this is where Kyo-Suzume’s role lies. We believe that the growth of the mind is the key point, even in terms of quantum physics. We believe that the opening of a tourist library and the establishment of a concierge can promote an approach to Kyoto that will help cultivate awareness of how to organize the mind.

How tourism tax is used

　In Japan, a tourist library (travel library) was established in 1978 (Showa 53), and was renamed the “Travel Library” in 1999 as the “Tourism Culture Museum”.

　I was invited to give a lecture there once. I remember it was the “Travel Library Seminar”. When I gave the lecture, there was standing room only, and additional chairs were added, and the Q&A session went on for a long time, which made for a lively atmosphere. I was impressed by the high level of interest in Kyoto. I hope that a tourist library will be established in my hometown of Kyoto, with librarians and concierges in Japanese and English, and books in English so that people from all over the world can use it.

(Continued in the next issue)

The end of document
Translated by Masami Otani

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