Q: The Tokugawa family's grave is also located in Yanaka Cemetery. But how the cemetery has served as a burial ground for common people?
Urai: The Tokugawa family's grave is placed in Kan-eiji Temple's Yanaka Cemetery. A general deceased was buried in other place in this Cemetery. At first, shoguns' graves were not built in the precincts of Kan-eiji Temple. Shoguns and their wives' graves were built in Zojoji Temple. Their concubines' graves were also placed in Zojoji Temple. So, from the beginning, there were failures. Before they built Hidetada Tokugawa's grave, the grave of Oeyo, the wife of Hidetada, was built. I think the shogunate and Zojoji Temple did not consider the locations of the graves when they built the graves. When Hidetada's grave was built after his death, it turned out that his grave would not build apart with Oeyo's grave. Although there is no written record, I think the shogunate was really concerned about it. As a result, Zojoji Temple had no alternative but to continue building other shoguns' graves as well. However, Kan-eiji Temple separated shoguns' graves from their wives, concubines and children's graves right from the beginning. So shoguns' graves were placed on this side, and their wives, concubines and children's graves were placed in Yanaka Cemetery. Kan-enji Temple did not permit to build other graves in its precincts. The Edo Period is the interesting period because graves of shoguns' legitimate wives were built in Zojoji or Kan-eiji Temple, but concubines' graves could be built in their family temples if their families wanted.
Q: Could common people's graves be built (in Yanaka Cemetery) during the Meiji Period?
Yes, it was since the Meiji Period. The Government at Meiji Period constructed Yanaka Cemetery. Common people's graves can be built in the cemetery. Only the Tokugawa family's graves and graves like that were placed in Kan-eiji Temple's precincts (in Yanaka Cemetery), but common people's graves were placed in other areas of Yanaka Cemetery. However, many prominent figures', including the Date and Abe families and high-ranking officials in the Meiji Period, graves were also placed in the areas.
Q: You have looked at the situation of Ueno for a long time. How is the recent situation? Compared to the time when I was a student, I think there have been tremendous changes.
It has really changed. First of all, the number of trees has decreased. Many trees were cut down due to the construction of Tokyo University of the Arts and The National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo. I think the woods were thicker in the past. First, trees were cut down, and then reinforced concrete buildings continued to be built.
Q: It seems that monuments have also been built.
It has changed greatly in terms of that. An atmosphere of thick woods had disappeared in around 1902. The former Metropolitan Museum was demolished. They say that, on a dark day such as rainy day, they used to walk with lighted lanterns around the museum. It is said that there were many raccoon dogs and foxes around there.
Q: Though I went to the former Metropolitan Museum in Ueno Park when I was a student, so the atmosphere has significantly changed. How is the recent flow of people around here?
Still, not so many people come to the area around the temple. Most people go through the street, on both sides of which Tokyo University of the Arts stands, and reached Yanaka. I can see more people during the season for cherry-blossom viewing or some events, but I have to say that not many people come to the area considering the overall numbers of people.(continued in the right column)
Now, most cherry blossoms on Ueno Hill are Somei-Yoshino, one of the most popular cherries. I talked with Masamine Sasaki, the Director General at the National Museum of Nature and Science, and organized an association called "Sakuramori-no Kai," or association for keeping cherry trees.
The Somei-Yoshino cherries were planted at the end of the Edo Period, so we decided to revive Ueno Hill's original landscape with native cherries of Yoshino by planting them. The chairman of the association is Masamine Sasaki. Then, I notified my acquaintances and others that we were in need of good cherry trees. Fortunately, 18 cherry trees were donated to the temple. The cherry tree planted at the entrance was propagated from "Miharu-no Takizakura," or waterfall-like cherry tree in Miharu, in Miharu-machi, Fukushima Prefecture. When I had an opportunity to be with Kinpusen-ji Temple's Religious Affairs Chief Tanaka, which is located in Yoshino, I asked him, saying, "Please give me cherry trees in Yoshino." He replied, "How many trees do you need?" So I said, "I cannot dare to say that." As a result, he sent 10 trees to Kan-eiji Temple. Then, we presented two of the trees to "Tokyo-to Tobu Koen Ryokuchi Jimusho," or parks and greens division of eastern Tokyo. The two trees were planed at the main quarters in Ueno Park. Because those trees are original Yoshino cherries that Tenaki also planted.
Q: Were cherry trees brought from Yoshino at that time?
Yes. A letter saying "It is about time - please send plants" is also preserved. It is sure that the cherry trees were brought from Yoshino. However, those cherry trees have not remained in Ueno, so the two cherry trees were newly planted in Ueno Park.
Around this time, cherry blossoms at Hasedera Temple and Japan Mint in Osaka come into full bloom, but many kinds of cherry trees have not been planted in Ueno. I think most cherry trees - about 1,000 out of 1,200 - are Somei-Yoshino cherries. So we decided to hand down the cherry trees in Ueno to posterity by planting good trees and keeping them. It has been one year since those interested people got together to plan it.
Q: Kan-eiji Temple has undergone extension and reconstruction for a long time.
The temple has not been renovated for a long time, so I decided to carry out maintenance when I took over the position.
Q: I think Kan-eiji Temple has many national treasures and items designated by Tokyo.
There are many designated buildings. In addition to items related to the Tokugawa family, Kiyomizu Kannon-do is also designated as an important cultural property.
Q: Who has managed those buildings?
All the buildings are managed by Kan-eiji Temple. However, the temple does not have any national treasure.
Q: What about Toshogu Shrine?
It is an important cultural property. There is the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism, so its administrator is different. The five-storied pagoda is distantly located, so Kan-eiji Temple cannot manage it. The pagoda stands on the grounds of Ueno Zoological Gardens, and is managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Picture scrolls, mandala, hanging scrolls and others are important cultural properties designated by the nation. There are also good numbers of cultural properties designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government or Taito City.