niche_japan2025 | Page 25

Kamishichiken Kaburenjo in Kyoto: The Sacred Film Location of KOKUHO

Nestled in Kyoto’s oldest hanamachi, Kamishichiken Kaburenjo is more than a theater—it is a living cultural treasure. By serving as a set for KOKUHO, the venue reveals how traditional performing arts and modern film can merge to create new cultural value.

2025.10.04

CONTENTKOKUHO

The sacred site of the film KOKUHO, “Pontocho Kaburenjo” (Kyoto Prefecture), appears as the exterior and lobby of “Naniwaza” in the story

For over a century, the Pontocho Kaburenjo has been the stage supporting Kyoto’s Geiko and Maiko. In KOKUHO, it appears as Naniwaza, drawing renewed attention to its history and elegance.

2025.10.04

CONTENTKOKUHO

Is the Kanji for Cabo Verde “佛得角”? The Hidden Charm and Culture of an Island Nation as Seen by the Japanese

The name “Cabo Verde” comes from Portuguese explorers who once described the land as a “Green Cape.” In Japanese, the country’s name is expressed in katakana, while Chinese uses the kanji “佛得角.” Beyond its written form, Cabo Verde represents a hidden paradise, a nation of music, and a rising force in sports, shaping how Japanese people perceive this island nation.

2025.10.04

LOANWORD

Is Brunei’s Kanji Notation “文莱”? Japanese Impressions of Its Gentle National Character and the Charm of Its Hidden Tourist Destinations

In Japanese, Brunei is written in katakana and does not have a fixed kanji notation, while in Chinese it is expressed as 文莱. For many Japanese people, Brunei remains unfamiliar, but perceptions of wealth, calmness, hidden tourism appeal, and growing sports exchanges shape how the country is viewed.

2025.10.04

LOANWORD

Is New Mexico Written as 新墨西哥 in Kanji? The Diverse Images Japanese People Hold

Located in the American Southwest, New Mexico is associated among Japanese people with the deserts of the West, the art of Santa Fe, and also with the Roswell Incident and college sports.

2025.10.04

LOANWORD

Is Mississippi Written as 密西西比? The State as Seen by Japanese People Through Blues and the Great River

Mississippi is often introduced to Japanese audiences not through geography lessons, but through culture—blues music, Civil Rights history, and the legendary river that bears the same name. While everyday familiarity is limited, the state carries powerful symbolic weight in Japanese imagination, blending art, struggle, and Southern tradition.

2025.10.03

LOANWORD

Does La Paz Have a Kanji Version? How Japanese People View Bolivia’s Capital

La Paz is known as one of the world’s highest-altitude capitals, yet in Japanese it is written only in katakana with no official kanji form. Beyond its name, the city captures Japanese interest through its vibrant Andean traditions, political activity, and unique sports culture. For many in Japan, La Paz is not just a distant capital but a place that embodies peace, struggle, and endurance.

2025.10.03

LOANWORD

What is Go? A Simple Yet Profound Board Game Loved Worldwide – An Intellectual Strategy Game with 4,000 Years of History

Easy to learn yet impossible to master, Go is one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating board games. With its origins in ancient China, the game spread throughout Asia and eventually reached the entire world. Played by children, adults, and even artificial intelligence, Go represents both tradition and innovation in the realm of intellectual competition.

2025.10.03

LOANWORD

Biwako Otsukan (Shiga Prefecture), the sacred filming location of the movie KOKUHO, was used for the exterior of the Kabuki theater “Hinomotoza” and for the rehearsal scenes in its lobby

Biwako Otsukan, with its striking white walls and red-tiled Momoyama exterior, was featured as “Hinomotoza” in the movie KOKUHO. The film used its lobby for rehearsal scenes, highlighting the venue’s grandeur and atmosphere. Beyond its cinematic fame, the building has become a unique place where history, architecture, and tourism intersect, drawing countless visitors eager to experience its cultural significance.

2025.10.03

CONTENTKOKUHO

Izushi Eirakukan in Hyogo: A Sacred Site of the Film KOKUHO Where Kikuo and Shunsuke Dance “Futari Fuji Musume”

Known as a cultural treasure of Western Japan, Izushi Eirakukan embodies more than a century of theatrical history. In the film KOKUHO, it was not merely a backdrop but a living character that amplified the drama. To enter this playhouse is to experience both the past and the cinematic world that brought it back into the spotlight.

2025.10.03

CONTENTKOKUHO