The Kan’ei Gyoko 400th Anniversary Festival will finally open this April.
Since 2024, the “Kan’ei Cultural Lecture” series has introduced a wide range of topics related to the Kan’ei Gyoko and Kan’ei-period culture. Beginning with this session, the lectures are scheduled to be held on a monthly basis.
For this occasion, we welcome specialists in architectural history to discuss how Nijo Castle was constructed and how it underwent major renovations in connection with the Kan’ei Gyoko. The lectures will explore the large-scale reconstruction carried out to prepare for the reception of the Emperor.
The speakers are Mr. Naoki Tani, Professor Emeritus of Osaka City University, who also served as Director of the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living for twenty years until 2021, and Mr. Toshikazu Inoue, Professor at Kyoto University of Arts and Crafts. Professor Inoue has also supervised graduation projects in which students have taken the buildings of Nijo Castle at the time of the Kan’ei Gyoko as their theme.
Who was involved in the extensive renovations of Nijo Castle undertaken to welcome the Emperor, and how were these works carried out? This lecture offers an in-depth look behind the scenes of this remarkable historical project.
Date and Time:
Sunday, February 22, 2026
From 2:00 p.m. (Doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Program Schedule:
- 2:00 p.m. Introduction to the Kan’ei Gyoko 400th Anniversary Festival
- 2:10 p.m. Lecture by Toshikazu Inoue
- 2:40 p.m. Break (10 minutes)
- 2:50 p.m. Lecture by Naoki Tani
- 4:20 p.m. Scheduled conclusion
Participation Fee:
Free of charge
Venue:
Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Room 7-B
7th Floor, Kyoto Economic Center
Shijo-dori Muromachi Higashi-iru, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto
(Direct access from Exit 26 of Subway “Shijo” Station and Hankyu Kyoto Line “Karasuma” Station)
Capacity:
Approximately 70 participants (admission on a first-come, first-served basis)
Registration: Peatix
Program:
Lecture 8: The People Who Built Nijo Castle
“Buildings Constructed during the Kan’ei Renovation of Nijo Castle”
Lecturer: Toshikazu Inoue (Professor, Kyoto University of Arts and Crafts)
Ahead of the Kan’ei Gyoko, Nijo Castle underwent large-scale renovations, during which numerous buildings were newly constructed. This lecture introduces the overall picture of Nijo Castle as it took shape through these extensive works.
“The Construction of Nijo Castle and the Nakai Family of Master Carpenters”
Lecturer: Naoki Tani (Professor Emeritus, Osaka City University)
The construction of Nijo Castle was overseen by the Nakai family, who served as Daikugashira (Chief Master Carpenters). The first-generation head, Nakai Masakiyo, directed the original Keichō-period construction, while the second-generation head, Nakai Masatomo, led the major Kan’ei-period renovations.
Drawing on the “Materials Related to the Nakai Family of Chief Master Carpenters,” a collection handed down within the Nakai family and designated as an Important Cultural Property, this lecture explores the history of Nijo Castle’s buildings as revealed through these invaluable records.
Inquiries Regarding This Event:
info@kaneigyoko400.jp
+81-80-9923-4252
(Secretariat of the Executive Committee; weekdays only, excluding weekends and public holidays, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
Organizer:
Kan’ei Gyoko 400th Anniversary Festival Executive Committee
(within the Agency for Cultural Affairs Collaboration Platform)
Co-organizers:
Living History KYOTO
Living History in Kyoto / Nijo Castle Council
