Koto English-speaking Volunteer Guide Association

January 13, 2011

Free tours : January - March

We have the following free volunteer-guided walking tours in January, February and March.
Enjoy the friendly atmosphere of Edo Shitamachi (Tokyo’s old town) where the history and culture of Edo era (early 17th − mid 19th century) still lives. Friendly, English speaking locals are your guides.

Fudomyoo, God of Fire

【Course A】
“See the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples.”
Tour dates & time : (Saturday) January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (2 hours)
Visit: Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine and Fukagawa Fudoson Temple
Meet at: Torii gate of Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine (3 minute-walk from Monzen nakacho station on the Tozai Subway Line: see the map)
Tour fee: Free of charge

【Course B】

Kiyosumi Garden

“Learn about Basho, the founder of Haiku, the world’s shortest poems; See a Japanese Garden.”

Tour dates & time: (Saturday) January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (2 hours)
Visit: Basho Kinen-kan Memorial Museum and Kiyosumi Garden Park
Meet at: Basho Memorial Museum (7minute-walk from Morishita Station on Toei Shinjuku-Line or Oedo Subway Lines : see the map)
Admission: 100 yen for Basho Memorial Museum and 150 yen for Kiyosumi Garden (pay at the gate)
Tour fee: Free of charge

【Course C】 — Customized course
Please feel free to consult us concerning other courses and their dates as well.

Examples:
●Fukagawa Edo Museum
Here, you can get a feel for what life was like in Tokyo’s old town in Edo period.
●Sumo stables
You may have a rare opportunity to watch a powerful Sumo wrestlers’ morning training session.
●Edo wood carving
You can admire a skilled artisan’s precious traditional crafts.

For application: Please select your desired course and e-mail to <koto.guide (a) gmail.com> -- replace (a) with @-- (subject: Koto City Walking Tour) with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.

December 24, 2010

KEV Year-end party 2010 !!

We had our year end party at Monzen-nakacho.　It was much fun to have a party with KEV members ! Two gentlemen at front are our teachers.

October 12, 2010

Basho's haiku travels through time and spaces, Mabesoone says

Basho statue looking over Sumida river

Basho was a traveller and a time-traveller at the same time, Seegan　Mabesoone says.

Mabesoone is a French haiku poet living in Japan, specializing in Matsuo Basho and Kobayashi Issa. Last weekend, he had a lecture at Basho Museum in Koto-ku, Tokyo.

In Basho's haiku or haikai, Mabesoone says, both passage of time and transition of spaces are often represented in one phrase. Basho walked through space to trace back through history.
There also are implications in his haiku that a travel eventually goes back to what it starts, he says.

According to Mabesoone, it's in contrast with Western culture, which thinks time is something straightforward. But he found a striking similarity in an Arabian Nights story. He says both imply reincarnations.

I know my explanation is not enough at all, but Mr. Mabesoone's lecture was very very interesting. I think his books are must-read for Basho fans.

Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694) : One of the most famous haiku or haikai poets in Japan, known for establishing haiku as a major literature genre. He travelled around Japan many times to make lots of great works.
We have a free English guided tour to Basho Museum and Basho statue.
Click here for detail.