|
|
|
|
||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
HOME > the spirit of the brabd nihonbashi-bijin > Aesthetics of Iki–Natives of Edo Yutaka Nakamura, chairman of the board at the Royal Park Hotel
Women who embody this aesthetic stand proud, exhibiting an inner radiance and distinguished grace.
Yutaka Nakamura, chairman of the board at the Royal Park Hotel and a successor to traditional Edo (old Tokyo) aesthetics, gave his impressions of Iki and women considered Nihonbashi-bijin for the beauty of the body and mind.
Yutaka Nakamura, chairman of the board at the Royal Park Hotel and a successor to traditional Edo (old Tokyo) aesthetics, gave his impressions of Iki and women considered Nihonbashi-bijin for the beauty of the body and mind.
Iki and Nihonbashi-bijin
Yutaka Nakamura, chairman of the board at the Royal Park Hotel
The lure of Japan in Nihonbashi
People who visit foreign countries are fascinated by the culture, architecture, art, and rare customs of those countries. Steeped in the old-world flavor of Edo, Nihonbashi possesses the beautiful sights, time-honored establishments, and traditions that attract foreign visitors.
The food, for example, exhibits uniquely Japanese tastes cultivated since the Edo era. Even western-style and Chinese restaurants manifest uniquely Japanese elements in the selection of ingredients and seasonings, and the attention to pleasing the eye when arranging food on the plates is very Japanese. Nihonbashi is truly a cornucopia of Japanese cuisine. Our hotel maintains close community ties with Nihonbashi and the many local resources it offers so that we provide visitors with hospitality and highly personalized service.
People who visit foreign countries are fascinated by the culture, architecture, art, and rare customs of those countries. Steeped in the old-world flavor of Edo, Nihonbashi possesses the beautiful sights, time-honored establishments, and traditions that attract foreign visitors.
The food, for example, exhibits uniquely Japanese tastes cultivated since the Edo era. Even western-style and Chinese restaurants manifest uniquely Japanese elements in the selection of ingredients and seasonings, and the attention to pleasing the eye when arranging food on the plates is very Japanese. Nihonbashi is truly a cornucopia of Japanese cuisine. Our hotel maintains close community ties with Nihonbashi and the many local resources it offers so that we provide visitors with hospitality and highly personalized service.
Displaying Iki
Japan has a unique culture of hospitality found nowhere else in the world. The Japanese style of hospitality is world-class and consists of attending to the subtle needs of people. I believe it is based on being alert, attentive, and considerate. These words sound simple and even clich?d, but I find them to be extremely important in relations between people. They are, in fact, unconscious habits. I find them to be an extraordinary part of the foundation underlying the Japanese spirit.
Similarly, Iki is manifested through alertness, attentiveness, and consideration of others. People whose personalities exhibit Iki are unpretentious and reserved, but they unconditionally rise to the occasion when necessary. People receiving such attention experience a sense of what Iki is from the actions of the giver. I feel the true Nihonbashi-bijin is someone who is not only beautiful in body and mind, but whose entire being is pervaded by the refined sense of Iki.
Japan has a unique culture of hospitality found nowhere else in the world. The Japanese style of hospitality is world-class and consists of attending to the subtle needs of people. I believe it is based on being alert, attentive, and considerate. These words sound simple and even clich?d, but I find them to be extremely important in relations between people. They are, in fact, unconscious habits. I find them to be an extraordinary part of the foundation underlying the Japanese spirit.
Similarly, Iki is manifested through alertness, attentiveness, and consideration of others. People whose personalities exhibit Iki are unpretentious and reserved, but they unconditionally rise to the occasion when necessary. People receiving such attention experience a sense of what Iki is from the actions of the giver. I feel the true Nihonbashi-bijin is someone who is not only beautiful in body and mind, but whose entire being is pervaded by the refined sense of Iki.
Nihonbashi-bijin Hakurankai (Exhibition)
Based on the concept of Nihonbashi-bijin, the Nihonbashi-bijin Promotion Council was formed in June 2007 to rediscover the essence of Japan that grew out of the Edo era. The Council is sponsoring several projects to communicate the enhanced meaning behind “Japan Beauty from Edo-Tokyo.”
One of these projects is the special edition of the Nihonbashi-bijin Newsletter (No. 1 to 3) that you are reading now. The newsletter looks at traditional culture and sophistication as the basis of Nihonbashi-bijin. (Also available through the Tokyo Chuo Net : http://www.nihonbashi-bijin.com)
What's more, sightseeing routes visiting old shops and historic sites have been created for the Edo-Nihonbashi Walk, which was established in November 2007 to improve Nihonbashi tourism services with the cooperation of businesses, shops of long standing, and famous establishments. Many people have already experienced the walks. The project has met with positive responses for promoting the attractiveness of Nihonbashi's features and the Nihonbashi-bijin brand name, and plans exist to create more routes.
In addition, the 2008 Nihonbashi-bijin Hakurankai (Exhibition), scheduled for October 24 to November 9, 2008, will promote tourism to foreign and domestic visitors for the entire Nihonbashi District as part of an initiative to secure the Nihonbashi brand image. This initiative is designed to attract visitors and stimulate commerce. We hope the exhibition will serve as a means to express the concept behind Nihonbashi-bijin/Japan Beauty from Edo-Tokyo and the dignified, sophisticated wisdom of Tokyoites.
Graciously welcoming visitors to Nihonbashi and strengthening recognition of the area is an extremely rewarding task. We would like to continue introducing what Nihonbashi has to offer through these and other events and work to broaden and diversify the business scope of Nihonbashi-bijin.
Based on the concept of Nihonbashi-bijin, the Nihonbashi-bijin Promotion Council was formed in June 2007 to rediscover the essence of Japan that grew out of the Edo era. The Council is sponsoring several projects to communicate the enhanced meaning behind “Japan Beauty from Edo-Tokyo.”
One of these projects is the special edition of the Nihonbashi-bijin Newsletter (No. 1 to 3) that you are reading now. The newsletter looks at traditional culture and sophistication as the basis of Nihonbashi-bijin. (Also available through the Tokyo Chuo Net : http://www.nihonbashi-bijin.com)
What's more, sightseeing routes visiting old shops and historic sites have been created for the Edo-Nihonbashi Walk, which was established in November 2007 to improve Nihonbashi tourism services with the cooperation of businesses, shops of long standing, and famous establishments. Many people have already experienced the walks. The project has met with positive responses for promoting the attractiveness of Nihonbashi's features and the Nihonbashi-bijin brand name, and plans exist to create more routes.
In addition, the 2008 Nihonbashi-bijin Hakurankai (Exhibition), scheduled for October 24 to November 9, 2008, will promote tourism to foreign and domestic visitors for the entire Nihonbashi District as part of an initiative to secure the Nihonbashi brand image. This initiative is designed to attract visitors and stimulate commerce. We hope the exhibition will serve as a means to express the concept behind Nihonbashi-bijin/Japan Beauty from Edo-Tokyo and the dignified, sophisticated wisdom of Tokyoites.
Graciously welcoming visitors to Nihonbashi and strengthening recognition of the area is an extremely rewarding task. We would like to continue introducing what Nihonbashi has to offer through these and other events and work to broaden and diversify the business scope of Nihonbashi-bijin.
  |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
