Nagato Yumoto Onsen and Yudo Culture Award Special Lecture “Hot Water Engraves a Debt in the Heart” was held in Fukuoka.

Discuss "Yudo" and Nagato Yumoto Onsen

On Monday, January 15, 2024, the Nagato Yumoto Onsen and Yudo Culture Award Special Lecture, "Hot Water Engraves a Favor on the Heart," was held in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City.

The overall moderator of the lecture was Shuichi Ito (Representative of Nagato Yumoto Onsen Machi K.K./Co-representative of Nagato Yumori K.K.).

This one was held to commemorate Nagato Yumoto Onsen's receipt of the Yudo Culture Award from the Yudo Culture Promotion Association in November 2023. This article provides an overview of the lecture, along with photos.

First, Nagato City Mayor Tatsuya Ehara took the stage. He expressed his joy at receiving the "Yudo Culture Award" and said, "Nagato City as a whole would like to continue to master the art of "Yudo".

Mayor Tatsuya Ehara

This was followed by a keynote lecture, "Travel and Yudo," by writer Hisashi Kashiwai. Mr. Kashiwai, who has spent many years touring hot springs throughout Japan, spoke about the charms of Nagato Yumoto Onsen, and also talked about "Why do people travel?

Hisashi Kashiwai

Finally, the panel discussion began. Along with Mr. Kashiwai were Kundo Koyama (Iemoto of Yudo and President of Yudo Culture Promotion Association), Toshihiro Takahashi (Chief Editor of DiscoverJapan), Kazuhiro Otani (Co-Chairman of Nagato Yumori Corporation), and Hayato Kimura (Area Manager of Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring Town Corporation).

From left to right: Toshihiro Takahashi, Hisashi Kashiwai, Kundo Koyama, Kazuhiro Otani, and Hayato Kimura.

The panel discussion was moderated by Toshihiro Takahashi. While enlivening the talk, he also introduced the appeal of Nagato's specialty, Nagato Yakitori, to the audience.

Mr. Koyama introduced the history of "Yudo" to date. In addition to the movie "Yudo," which was released last February, Mr. Koyama also talked about the history and culture of the Japanese people, who have the rare habit of soaking in a bathtub every day, sometimes with interesting episodes.

Mr. Kimura will introduce his past efforts to develop the Nagato Yumoto Onsen community and talk about the new charms of Nagato Yumoto Onsen, which are fostered year by year through the involvement of the local people and their thoughts behind the project.

Mr. Otani talked about "Onyu," the symbol of Nagato Yumoto Onsen. He spoke passionately about the history of Nagato Yumoto's hot springs, which are said to have been "given by God," and the bathing culture cultivated in the area, as well as the appeal of "Onyu," which is trying to sublimate the culture into a new one based on the history and culture.

Mr. Kashiwai said of the current Nagato Yumoto Onsen, "As it develops further, I hope that the town will continue to develop, valuing the individuality of each person involved in the hot spring resort, so that it does not change to look similar to other hot spring resorts.

The panel discussion concluded with Mr. Koyama's comments on the future of yudo, saying, "Right now, 'yudo' is still a style and a way of thinking that comes first, but I would like to link it to activities that will increasingly "enrich people's lives" in the future.