While both culturally and physically a long ways from the modern capital of Tokyo, tracing back well over a thousand years into Japanese history one comes across Nara, a quiet, highly rural area which was established as the capital in 710. In doing so, a more centralized national administration was formed, stimulating Japan as a nation towards a significant amount of economic and cultural development. Doing a bit of calculation, this year is the 1300th anniversary of the original capital establishment in Nara, and festivities are aplenty (en [1]/jp [2])!
Aplenty is perhaps not a sufficiently inclusive word. Planning has been ongoing since as early as 1998 [3], with the formal establishment of a prefecture-operated working committee being ironed out in mid-2005. With the restoration of key historical sites, effective promotion via advertisements in every conceivable medium, a nice anniversary theme (はじまりの奈良、めぐり感動, or roughly “Experience the depth of Nara, Japan's beginning”) and of course the beloved mascot characters [4], in terms of scale, historical celebrations do not get much bigger than this.
[5]Crowds wait for the Kintetsu line trains, Suzakumon (朱雀門) in the distance
First a quick briefing on the words utilized in advertisements and such. While geographically located in Nara (奈良), historically the capital (while in Nara) was referred to as “Heijō-kyō” (平城京). Moving of the capital from one region to another has a specific word, “sento” (遷都), and thus the formal celebration name we are left with is 平城遷都1300年祭 – the 1300th anniversary celebration of the moving of the capital to Nara (or Heijō)!
Let's take a look at exactly what's going on over there. There are three main initiatives constituting the celebration as a whole – from the anniversary working group: [6]
「平城宮跡事業」では、我が国が世界に誇る歴史文化遺産「平城宮跡」（特別史跡・世界遺産・国営歴史公園）を舞台に、半世紀にわたる「発掘と研究」「保存と復原」の成果を踏まえ、平城京の建設と国づくりにかけた人々の情熱と知恵に触れ合う特別な展示・催事を展開します。また、本格的なフィールド・ミュージアムとしての魅力と価値を備えた特別な体験・楽習ツアーを提案します。
「巡る奈良事業」では、平城京を誕生させた県内各地の歴史文化力に新たな光をあてた「巡礼」「周遊」型の行催事を展開します。これまでの「賑わい・伝統行催事」に加えて、「社寺・国宝を巡る」「古道を巡る」「花と自然を巡る」。そして「遣唐使」や「正倉院」や「万葉集」などを素材とした「歴史・文化を巡る」。新たな魅力を備えた歴史探訪ツアーです。
Through our “Experience Nara” initiatives, we have designated a number of pilgrimage and excursion-type events and activities throughout Nara prefecture as a means in which to shed new light on the historical and cultural importance of the regions which contributed to the birth of the new capital.
In addition to previous events highlighting historical prosperity and tradition, themes centralized around nature [7], shrines and temples [8], national artifacts [8], and ancient roads and paths [9] are being promoted.
Finally, we have the “seek out history [10]” tours. Charging Nara's history and culture with a new appeal, exhibits revolving around such themes as Japan's diplomatic missions to Tang China, Shōsōin (ancient imperial treasure storehouse), or the Man'yōshū (historic poem compilation text) form the core content of this initiative.
「特別行事」では、唐との交流を通じて本格的な国づくりをすすめた平城京に想いをはせながら、奈良と世界に新たな交流を産み出す多彩なコンベンション事業を用意しました。
[5]遣唐使船： Recreation of ships sent on diplomatic missions to Tang China.
Essentially, the reconstructed Heijō palace area is the central site for this anniversary celebration. The festivities began on April 24, and will run until November 7 of this year. There is a tremendous amount of information online (en [11]/jp [12]) regarding the activities carried out there. A short bus ride from either Kintetsu or JR Nara station is the typical access route, though Kintetsu Saidai-ji station (近鉄西大寺駅) is also very close by.
Unbelievably, (while predominantly in Japanese) there's even more information online for the “Experience Nara” events (en [13]/jp [14]), which are running from January 1 until December 31 of 2010. I placed links to the Japanese sub-sections in the above translations.
The earliest events have been going on since January, but the real hub of activity only just opened up in late April, so reactions are still fresh. The author at Syuhari Design posted a write-up [15] of their visit.
今月、２４日より奈良県西大寺を中心に平城遷都1300年祭が開かれました。
奈良といえば以前、４年ほど住んでいたことがあったので、道を運転するには自信があったのですが、
いざ行ってみると、開発がすすんでいたのでなかなか目的地にたどり着くことができませんでした。
まあ、なんだかんだで迷いながらもナビなしで到着しました。
まずはメイン会場である西大寺の平城宮跡へ・・・
めざすは目玉である 「大極殿」
Centralized in the Saidai-ji area of Nara prefecture, the 1300th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Heijō-kyō capital kicked off on the 24th of this month (April). As a matter of fact I lived in Nara for about four years, so I was feeling pretty confident in navigating the roads. That said, due to the development that's taken place over there in the meantime, I did not arrive as smoothly as anticipated, only arriving (without the use of car navigation) after a fair amount of wandering.
First, over to the Heijō palace ruins site… sights were set on the site's key landmark, the Imperial Audience Hall [16].
瓦の色の不揃いなところがいい味をだしているように思えます。
内部へ・・・
帝のみに座ることが許される玉座というべき椅子・・・
内壁に描かれた絵は奈良県在住の日本画家、上村 敦之画伯による直筆画！
天井にもひとつひとつ丁寧に描かれています。
It feels as if the uneven coloration of the roof tiles really make for an interesting overall building style. Inside we go…
First we have a throne [17] assuredly fit for none other than the emperor himself. The illustrations on the inner walls were drawn at the skilled hands of artist Atsushi Uemura, a resident of Nara prefecture no less! Countless intricate designs [18] are also painted on the ceiling.
大極殿の向かいには、朱雀門・・・
かなり遠かったのと、何度も行ったことがあったので、今回は行かず・・・
続いてイベント会場の様子です。
にぎやかな舞台が上演されていました。
On the opposite side from the Imperial Audience Hall, stands the suzakumon [19] (the main southern gate). It's quite a ways away, and having visited a number of times already, this time we'll pass. As for the main event area, lively stage performances [20] were ongoing.
Besides the exhibits and displays, there have been a number of large-scale events held at the palace site in the weeks since opening. Via the celebration committee's staff blog [21], we have a report [22] on the evening light-up of the main Imperial Audience building.
平城宮跡の夜、普段は真っ暗です。
広い夜空に、月と星。
何もないところが魅力でもあります。
闇の世界に、今までは朱雀門がライトアップされいて、ひときわ目をひいていました。
ですが、4月24日から5月9日までは、第一次大極殿も光を浴びることになりました！
24日は点灯式が行われました。
照明を担当されたのは、東京タワー・横浜ベイブリッジなどを手掛けられた石井幹子さん。
ドキドキしながら、点灯を見守りました。
｢５・４・３・２・１｣
アレ？まっくらのまま？！
と思ったら、じわじわと下の方から緑の光が。
環境に優しいライトを使っているからだそう。
緑の光が、オレンジから白く明るい光へと変化していきました。
That special event has finished, but the staff noted their excitement about the evening events to come in the summer fair (August 20-27). Golden week was especially packed with events, and there seems to be focus on a certain numerical theme in these events… for a bit of historical fashion [26]:
花と緑のフェア最終日の今日。
総勢1300人の天平行列が行われました！
子供から大人まで、そして色んな身分の方々の衣装が再現されていましたよ。
こんな感じです← ここをクリック
平城京の頃は、服の色が位で決められていたとのこと。
On May 3, the site saw a record 69,000 visitors, perhaps drawn in by the day's activities [28]:
今日は「平城遷都祭2010」の催しで“1300人のボディドラム”が、第一次大極殿前庭にて行われました。
プロのダンサーやパフォーマーの方と共に、子供から大人までの総勢1300人の参加者が、和太鼓やパーカッションのリズムにのって、手をたたき、踊るというこのボディドラム！
北野武監督の｢座頭市｣のタップシーンを振り付けしたという、タップダンサーHIDEBOHさんも参加。
平城宮跡の広い空に、1300人の奏でる音が響きわたりました。
ノリのいいリズムに、見ている方も思わず体が動いちゃう♪
There are naturally festivals of all sorts which take place annually in Japan, but this celebration has both the financial backing and support of local residents and visitors alike to make it really a truly outstanding event.
A final tip to foreign residents of (or visitors to) Japan: since this is a prefecturally-run operation, access to many admission-based areas is made free to non-Japanese citizens [11]. I've ran into this government policy elsewhere in Nara, and while I naturally never carry my passport around with me, in the past my ID has been sufficient!