Kan’ei Gyoko 400th Anniversary Festival
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Travis Seifman
Sep 30, 2026, 8:55:25 PM (3 days ago) Sep 30
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Dear colleagues,
In connection with the 400th anniversary of a significant visit to Nijo Castle by Emperor Go-Mizunoo and Empress Tofukumon-in (Tokugawa Masako) where they were welcomed by Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu and retired former shogun Hidetada, numerous institutions in and around Kyoto are holding exhibitions and events on the theme of "Kan'ei culture" 寛永文化 between now and the end of the year.
These anniversary events will all culminate in a reenactment of a grand imperial procession from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Nijo Castle, on Dec 6, 2026. (https://kaneigyoko400.jp/procession/)
I am eagerly looking forward to learning more about this event, which the anniversary website describes as having signalled "reconciliation between the Emperor and the shogunate and proclaimed the arrival of peace throughout the land" in the aftermath of the final fall of the Toyotomi clan only eleven years earlier. Apparently, roughly 80% of the daimyo were in attendance during the five days of banquets, entertainments, etc. at Nijo castle, and the emperor's procession to the castle was of an unprecedented size, at roughly 9,000 participants. I am particularly eager to see to what extent the various exhibitions around town might mention that the entertainments included performances by Ryukyuan court musicians....
In any case, for more details on the exhibitions and events being held in and around Kyoto in connection with this, please see: https://kaneigyoko400.jp/en/
My apologies for not having shared this earlier, as some of the events have already passed. Even living here in Kyoto, it can be all too easy sometimes to somehow just not hear of things that are going on....
Happy autumn, and looking forward to seeing some of you here in Kyoto sometime.
All my best
I am eagerly looking forward to learning more about this event, which the anniversary website describes as having signalled "reconciliation between the Emperor and the shogunate and proclaimed the arrival of peace throughout the land" in the aftermath of the final fall of the Toyotomi clan only eleven years earlier. Apparently, roughly 80% of the daimyo were in attendance during the five days of banquets, entertainments, etc. at Nijo castle, and the emperor's procession to the castle was of an unprecedented size, at roughly 9,000 participants. I am particularly eager to see to what extent the various exhibitions around town might mention that the entertainments included performances by Ryukyuan court musicians....
In any case, for more details on the exhibitions and events being held in and around Kyoto in connection with this, please see: https://kaneigyoko400.jp/en/
My apologies for not having shared this earlier, as some of the events have already passed. Even living here in Kyoto, it can be all too easy sometimes to somehow just not hear of things that are going on....
Happy autumn, and looking forward to seeing some of you here in Kyoto sometime.
All my best
Travis
Travis Seifman
Art Research Center
Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University
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