The Kyoto You Wished For is Going to Disappear
Vložit
- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- I believe many people who want to visit Japan also would want to go to Kyoto, a city full of history and traditional culture. I’ve been living in Kyoto for about 10 years now, and I really love this city.
However, did you know that behind the beautiful scenery and glamorous culture, the city is actually on the verge of economic collapse?
Why has a city as popular as Kyoto fallen into such a situation?
So today, I will explain what kind of economic crisis Kyoto is facing. Then next, I will also talk about its causes and the measures currently being taken. Unfortunately, however, there is actually much criticism from local residents regarding the measures.
This video is especially recommended to those who are hoping to study or work in Kyoto someday. Please let me know in the comments about your ideas on how Kyoto should overcome this crisis.
[Timecodes]
0:00 Let's START!
1:40 Kyoto's Critical Financial Situation
3:08 Causes of the Financial Crisis
6:14 Response to the Financial Crisis and Residents' Frustrations
9:15 Today’s Conclusion
▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼
• Shogo’s Self Introduct...
▼Related videos in this channel▼
-Must Watch Before Coming to Kyoto | 5 Things NOT to Do Explained by a Local Japanese Born in Kyoto
• Must Watch Before Comi...
-This Video Will Change Your Image of the Kyoto Completely
• This Video Will Change...
-Why It’s a Hassle to Live in Kyoto
• Why It’s a Hassle to L...
▼MY DREAM▼
• The "TRUE REASON" why ...
“To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in”
I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more.
▼Join our Membership▼
/ @letsaskshogo
●Membership benefits
-Limited behind-the-scene videos
• Members-only videos
-Weekly Zoom call or live stream
-Priority reply to comments
▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼
/ @shogospodcast
Please subscribe!!
The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores.
Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments.
▼[Listen to the real voices of the Japanese] "Voices from Japan series"▼
• [Shogo] Japanese Tradi...
▼[Places recommended to visit in Kyoto] "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼
• [Shogo] Kyoto Hidden Gems
▼Instagram▼
/ lets_ask_shogo
*Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠️I do not use e-mail）
♪Music♪
おとわび
otowabi.com/category/material...
トーマス大森音楽工房
/ @fm_thomasoomori
ぽるぽるMusic
/ @music-qx3gy
♪Sound effects♪
効果音ラボ
soundeffect-lab.info/
♪Pictures♪
かわいいフリー素材屋 いらすとや
www.irasutoya.com/
#kyoto #kyotocity #kyotobankrupt
Honestly, despite people in Kyoto talking about how nice it is that everything is quiet they might need tourist money more than ever at this point.
Hi Gaijin!
Xenophobia has entered the chat
I think there was an article in the Japan Times saying some residents don't want tourists back because it's finally quiet again. They might want to rethink that if this keeps going.
You wouldn't believe how important tourism is for Kyoto, especially historically speaking.
The solution of kyoto tourism Is difficult, this side want to preserve and that side want to change. If it not done correctly the people will split and tension will grow among the people itself.
Kyoto going bankrupt is honestly one of the saddest thing I can hear from a city that I can deeply love in this entire world. I wish them the best and hope that the gradual opening up to tourism will bode them well.
Couldn’t agree more 😪
Right, my grandmother has gone to Osaka before
Mismanagement won't be saved by more tourists
@@kyotoben610 you have a point
They haven't gone officially supporting LGBT. Considered by some, as the The End of the Road.
See Xenogears' Zeboim.
Tourism (imo) is what kept Kyoto alive for so long, because it’s pretty rare to see a traditional city from long ago still thriving, it’s like wise for other countries, but in Kyoto, it’s more on the massive scale.
@Dan Caffrey Tourism would have been great for the city if it was managed well. The real issue seems to be that the city doesn't know how to manage its own money.
This is patently untrue. The reason you rarely see traditional buildings in thriving cities is because they keep building new things in new styles - and because half of them got bombed into oblivion during WWII and little historical building stock remained. If you make a point to preserve traditional architecture, cities still thrive. Just look at Germany. Munich is certainly a better place to live in than almost any (or perhaps even any) skyscraper city in the world, and the richest city in all of Germany. Skyscrapers don't lead the way to economic growth, they are only the result - and only if a set of conditions is in place that makes the option viable to begin with.
@Dan Caffrey True, rely too much on tourism, your entire industry becomes reliant on tourism and when that pipe dries up, it will destroy that city. Best to rely on something else.
@@johnisaacfelipe6357 welcome to Philippine Tourism as well to some degree. However, The weirdest thing my country has over Japan during tge pandemic was on how our BPO industry kept it somehow barely afloat when our tourism and natural resources plummeted. Especially Metro Manila and its multiple cities established on other industries, but moreso on BPOs.
@Dan Caffrey Unregulated growth in the name of capital gain has always spelled its own doom.
I’m coming back to Japan this July for my Japanese language course, and I chose Kyoto because of how beautiful and culturally rich the city is, I just love it. Hearing this information just brakes my heart. I hope they will manage to recover soon, this city has to be culturally preserved.
Been thinking of doing that too, how’s ur Japanese learning rn? Do you need a level of basics like N3 first?
@@s.z.x.01 no, you can start at the very bottom with no Japanese, the only requirement is that you need to at least know and memorize hiragana and katakana symbols.
I wish I had a Japanese course at my high school
It’ll be okay
Let a few Rich companies to come and invest in a few hundred high-rises BAM!
Money problems are gone!
Government have seen that problem one of the reason why they will open its border to tourists this June. Kyoto will rebound 🙂🙂
The lack of tall buildings is part of what makes Kyoto so appealing to tourists. Imagine Paris clogged with skyscrapers that block out the sky...it would destroy all its qualitative value.
Paris is still dogshit with all of the foreigners and pissy smell of the streets
As a person from a country that has very little amount of skyscrapers, I'd like to see the opposite
sadly that qualitative value isn't being translated into public revenue or said qualitative value revenue is being wasted.
They could build nice looking skyscrapers with a traditional design.
@@gamevalor No
Atrocious allocation of funds aside (and it really is, spending fortunes on tea rooms and mascots and then forwarding the cost to primarily women, children and the elderly is despicable), considering Kyoto’s uniqueness as a cultural heritage site, I’m surprised the central government isn’t more involved in keeping the temples and palaces up and running. Those sites benefit all of Japan, so I’d think it would be fair if the local government was subsidised to make up for the lower property taxes and inability to build highrises.
I came to make a similar comment, but you put it so much better than I ever could. Misallocation of funds is bad, but placing the burden of the cost on such specific portions of the population is dreadful. And absolutely the central government should help uphold the shrines, temples and historical sites too! I think it should subsidize Kyoto a lot more, given how important Kyoto is both culturally, and on a global scale with regards to representing Japan and it's popularity as a tourist spot (both for people within the country and abroad).
They should just increase property and sales taxes, plus allow tourism, until they get their finances together.
Or, maybe they need to crumble to learn their lesson and get it together.
I’m just shocked. I have high expectations of Japanese… but how did these clowns come into authority???
@@cathhl2440 It is one of the most indebted countries in the world, actually. Something like 235% debt-to-GDP ratio. So Kyoto being in heavy debt really shouldn't be surprising.
@@cathhl2440 corruption exists everywhere. Everyone wants their folks to get or stay rich and powerful, even if at the expense of others.
The first step is to deal with the people who came up with such "solutions". How did they come into their offices?
Agreed. These solutions make no sense and if anything, will detriment Kyoto and Japan as a whole in the long run; if not sooner than that.
They are big shots that have all the power, are made untouchable, and are mainly busy maintaining their status. This is a major problem in the country, common to most Japanese institutions.
@@Axel181 screw those kids
me and the boys on our way to make the parents of young children pay for our new tea room
kyoto mayor is an old man with support from the main parties (LDP, komeito, CDP/DDP) there's no wonder he's a bit out of touch since those parties have very loyal voter bases, usually made of old people themselves. their only usual opponents is the communist party and sometimes the regionalist party. but the mayor himself has been comfortably re-elected 4 times and has a sizable majority in the city hall assembly.
As a former firefighter, they seriously underestimate the amount of fires are put out a year. This is be a HUGE detriment to your city.
I agree. One would think they should KNOW by now that natural disasters is something they live with. They have history of kyoto being burned down before with having homes made out of wood so close to each other and the many earthquakes...
Not to mention the importance they put on preserving a lot of things there, which is mostly built from wood...
In times of financial crisis, I don't want my job cancelled either.... So what's your solution?
Reducing firefighters is a big no. I still remember KyoAni disaster and it was a really big hit to the animation industry.
2.5 MILLION yen for designing an anime character ? Sounds to me that Kyoto might be suffering from corrupt politicians and overspending.
l bozo learn what is corrupt politican before you bark
Thats nothing. Try 250 million yen. Then your talking.
@@tomboysupremacy spending 2 million on an anime character anyone could make for 500$ is corruption idiot,
it cost like 50$ in reality to make the character and the rest is pocketed.
2.5 million is not that much compared to their infrastructure spending
$25,000 for intellectual property isn't much.
As someone that lives in the UK but has visited Japan several times, it always astonishes me how cheap and how clean public transport is. I hope they keep the price rises under control and don't end up cutting services, I wouldn't wish our public transport costs on anyone. In fact, projects going wildly over budget, funds being misused, Kyoto's problems kinda sound like an average day here tbh. I hope Kyoto can avoid our fate.
at least it’s not car-centric transport which is far more costly.
The real solution is to place limits on government acquiring debt - until then, they have no reason not to sell everyone’s future.
I wish people in power weren’t like this, but it seems to be an inevitability. Not a lot of George Washingtons in this world.
I'd say "misallocation" of finances. I'm quite sure those expensive things, were planned since the beggining, so some politicians can get money to their wallets... Can see those kind of actions in my country as well unfortunately, and I'm sure that it's also the case in many more. I hope that citizens of Kyoto, will fight for their rights, instead of accepting bad management of their city, and that one day, Kyoto will shine as bright as ever
It's classical embezzlement. The construction companies are probably linked with the polititians who approved of such extravagant expenditures.
I would agree to this. For far too long they got away with it because the tourism industry cash cow keep covers for the deficit. But now with tourism in trouble things begin to fall apart. A city in my country listed as UNESCO Heritage Site also has a very incompetent government and they had gotten away with it so far.
Nope, you just want to believe that. It’s lack of taxes per area/the services they want. They want all these public services but don’t want to pay for them.
@@DengueBurger You're talking about Shogo's reason number 1, which is low taxes revenue, while I talk about point 3, misallocation of finances 😅 problem is defienietly complex, there are many reasons behind it. And if you're telling me that spending multiple times more for something unnecessary is not on purpose, but is a mistake... What can I say, I really envy how naive you are, wish I could be so blind to politician's actions.
@@JanneAhonen69 While I tend to agree with that in most places and regards, it is worth bringing up how important appearances are in East Asian culture ('face', traditionally translated as 'honor'), and that, compared to many embezzlement or other corrupt construction deals, the construction in question actually _was_ done, and seemingly done well. I think it is worth considering to what extent vanity and delusion of grandiosity may have factored in, rather than (necessarily) deliberate corruption. Mind, it could also well be varying degrees of both.
Has corruption been ruled out? I think a federal investigation of the City's spending is not a bad thing.
Japan is not a federal country...
@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 ok how about they start to using independent auditor?
@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 thanks for the info but I hope you understand my point: an independent audit of the city spending will do well.
Kyoto = needs auditor 👍
The causes of bankrupt in Kyoto are truly and honestly saddening. I'm very shocked about the problems of economic situations in Kyoto and it's where Shogo was born. I want to help Kyoto by the crisis of economic situations and hopefully not everything has to be expensive and people need to think about their money to be spending on and and for their bank.
Kyoto’s problem is generally a Japan problem.
Outdated ideas that has not been re-examined and kept being implemented by “out of touch” administration “Japanese government”
And when the structure starts to crack, these administrators enact new laws that will encourage pretty much everyone to not live there anymore.
At this point, I’m not even sure if tourism is going to save Kyoto and other places from inevitable downfall.
Apperantly, in Japan, like in everywhere else in the world, there are clueless politicians wasting public funds on unnecessary pet projects.
Bingo!
What about the people who voted those clueless politicians into office again and again? Culpable?
@@demef758 They indeed are but everyone, not only those that voted for them suffer for it. The fact that the media no longer investigate the political elite but constantly exposes threat to them help cause this. If people do not know that politicahs are clueless because they are not informed of that, lets just say that "reinforced elections" are the norm since many, many years back.
Modern Kyoto is built on tourism so without tourist they can’t make nearly enough money. However I do think before the pandemic, Kyoto was over burdened by tourists. I remember going to Kinkaku-Ji (Golden Pavilion / Golden Temple) and Byodo-in Temple in 2018. When I first got to these places there were a lot of tourists, but there was plenty of room to walk around and lots of opportunities to get clear photos and videos of the temple and surrounding gardens. But then literally an army of tour busses came all at once, flooding the grounds with so many people that it became hard to walk and even harder to get the photos and video you want. These massive group tours are designed to pass saving on to budget minded travelers but I believe it’s a burden to not just the locals but to other tourists. I can’t imagine the budget minded traveler could even enjoy their trip in such crowded conditions, which could give them a bad experience.
I think they should limit the amount of tourists that visit temples and shrine locations and add a foreign tourist tax to hotel rates, food, and which will reduce the amount of tourists to prevent over tourism. Quality over quantity. This will also ensure that foreign tourists will be able to enjoy their trip even though it will end up costing more. I think there will be a lot of foreign tourists would would gladly pay more if they know the extra costs will be used properly to preserve Kyoto for future generations to come.
Russia is by no means a shining jewel in most things, but when I went there, I simply paid more than the citizens for museums, cultural sites etc. Just do the same in Kyoto. Citizens pay it in tax, foreigners pay it at once. As long as it is within reason.
Yeah, I went to Maui recently and even though it’s expensive, it was relatively quiet, clean, spacious, and relaxed, compared to what I’ve seen in Honolulu, which is much more affordable in comparison, but also more crowded, busy, and prone to over-tourism.
@@jamegumb7298 Reminds me of my school days when a turkish classmate went to Turkey over his holidays and he was laughing all the time because everyshop literally wrote "price" and underneath "price for tourists".
there's already a sayonara tax
and hotel tax
@@cks2k2
What is sayonara tax ?
Gee, this is tragic. I've been to Kyoto back in 2019 and it is sadden to see something like this is happening, especially the temples.
What is happening at temples?
@@kyotoben610 no firefighters -> more fires -> bye bye temples
This reminds me a lot of the situation in Berlin, who once called themselves "poor, but sexy" for the same reason: A large amount of debt. The historical reasons are different, but the public spending for nonsense building projects are similar.
So the only things one can do is voting as a resident and as a tourist voting with your money at smaller, local businesses. So booking small pensions instead of chain hotels, visiting all the nice little shops and craftmen we see in Shogos videos and spend there money for souvenirs. Throw money in the donation boxes at shrines and temples (as you would do when visiting a european cathedral). And maybe ride the subway. I met extremely helpful employees there when i had a medical emergency and I can tell you from experience the floors are very, very clean.
I'm very happy to hear the floors were clean for you. Hopefully, one day, when I visit Japan, I will have the privilege of having those clean floors there in case I need them!
@@shadowsneak100 Indeed. And the privilege of free ambulance rides as well.
Berlin has clean floors? You dont mean clean streets, right? Because those are not clean xD
@@jonson856 No, Berlin is more on the ruddy side, but in Kyoto you could eat from the subway floors.
@@mirabellegoldapfel6256 Ah ok, yeah makes sense, Japanese cities are quite clean. I still wouldnt recommend eating from or on the floor though xD
Kyoto has had a big problem for a long time. They have essentially rejected "modern business" and relied mostly on their "traditional" and "long running" businesses (most "large" companies in Kyoto are well over 100 years old and starting any new business with any significant size or employee count in Kyoto is almost unheard of) as well as tourism for a long time. This has proven disastrous over the last 2 years as the Pandemic has obliterated their tourism industry as well as many of their older traditional businesses which relied heavily on tourism to stay afloat. Kyoto was doing poorly even before the Pandemic but the Pandemic has ruined Kyoto and their might be many bad years ahead for the troubled city as it recovers from 2 years of very low tourism. Some aspects of the culture may never recover from the Pandemic and subsequent economic collapse which is the worst part of all of this.
It's the baby boom and low birthrates all over again. This is a known problem for decades and nothing is being done about it and it kept getting pushed forward and forward.
... wait. A city of tradition, with many old landmarks, is not receptive to tourism? That is one of the _greatest_ draws for a lucrative tourism industry.
Having been a resident of Kyoto, this mismanagement of tax revenue should be criminal. Since the subway has low ridership only run it when most used.
There are other areas in Kyoto outside of Kyoto City. Also Nara is close to Kyoto and has lower taxes. Osaka has a lot of suburbs so city life won't be like Namba or Umeda.
Nooooo. Kyoto is one of the places I’ve been dying to go for the longest time! It’s so beautiful and rich in culture and history.
It’s actually first on the places I want to visit. Event more then Tyoko. Kyoto has that feeling of Japan that I feel in love with when I was a kid.
I do not live in Kyoto myself or in Japan, so my opinion doesn't really count. But their solutions are not promising. The child care and firefighter ideas are bad. Those are truly needed for the people of Kyoto and the neighboring areas. So they shouldn't be the one's to be changed. I have no solution, but I know myself that government officials don't think about the lives of the everyday working man. That's just my two cents, thank you.
What about the responsible individuals who choose to not have children they don’t have the time or money to care for? Why should they subsidize the horny folks?
When I visited Japan in 2019 I went to four major cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima. they are all great, but Kyoto is my favorite. I really hope they are able to turn things around for the better soon, because I am definitely planning to return. Thank you for the information Shogo, please update us on this as new information is released.
Those are cities I would like to visit. How long were you there? Would two or three weeks be enough time to see them?
However, I did see a CZcams video from another tourist who said that even a month would not be enough time to spend in Kyoto because there is so much to see there.
Horrifying and saddening. Much respect for choosing to remain and trying to improve your home.
I’ve been enamored with Kyoto since I was a small child. I watched an anime set in Kyoto and assumed it was a beautiful fantasy location made up for the show. Eventually I saw pictures of the place and was amazed that such a gorgeous, fantastical locale actually existed. I’ve wanted to visit ever since. When I was finally able to start planning a trip after over a decade of dreaming of visiting, the covid apocalypse hit.
Wishing the best for Kyoto and her people. Surely such a wonderful, culturally rich city can flourish again in time.
I’m curious that anime your talking about, is it Ruroni Kenshin? If so it was the same for me, I was about 9-10 when I first heard of Kyoto. Ever since I vowed I’d get there myself one day.
@@Darkknight0777 I was about 10 as well. It was actually Negima, though shortly after discovering that Kyoto was a real place I watched Ruroni Kenshin as well.
We'll have our shot one day! Japan is finally open for tourism, though unfortunately only guided tours. But this change makes me hopeful that free for all tourism will eventually be possible again.
@Dan Caffrey Doubtful. I've done a lot of travelling in my day both for work and studies. Every country I've visited with one exception had something great about it. I'm not sure where I implied that I have any hatred for urban environments. There's plenty to love in most places if you're willing to look imo.
My dream was to study in Kyoto but now after getting information of the economic crises. I will listen as you say. Thank you. May Kyoto recover from all crises ASAP From India 🇮🇳🎌
▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼
czcams.com/video/nhEamHfzyyg/video.html
▼Related videos in this channel▼
-Must Watch Before Coming to Kyoto | 5 Things NOT to Do Explained by a Local Japanese Born in Kyoto
czcams.com/video/uHHdS9ESH0E/video.html
-This Video Will Change Your Image of the Kyoto Completely
czcams.com/video/SunLMx7VMJ0/video.html
-Why It’s a Hassle to Live in Kyoto
czcams.com/video/tP1h-6uttLc/video.html
▼MY DREAM▼
czcams.com/video/EgowIV_kagA/video.html
“To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in”
I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more.
▼Join our Membership▼
czcams.com/channels/n7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVw.htmljoin
●Membership benefits
-Limited behind-the-scene videos
czcams.com/play/UUMOn7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVw.html
-Weekly Zoom call or live stream
-Priority reply to comments
▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼
czcams.com/channels/ZAe1VayWxp5NLO4Net78DA.html
Please subscribe!!
The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores.
Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments.
▼[Listen to the real voices of the Japanese] "Voices from Japan series"▼
czcams.com/play/PLpIWoYf9KNFXxLyeQa85jDudDKqkwPg-2.html
▼[Places recommended to visit in Kyoto] "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼
czcams.com/play/PLpIWoYf9KNFU7LIIFB0P_reDt_oMdkCOq.html
▼Instagram▼
instagram.com/lets_ask_shogo/
*Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠I do not use e-mail）
Pin this comment, please.
The making of a fancy hallway that cost over half of the deficit for that year, and then making the residents pay for it in a reduction in their quality of life makes me think that this is a failure of the government to manage such a unique and culturally important city.
Also:
> country has incredibly low birth rate because, among other things, the amount of work that workers have to dedicate themselves too makes it nearly impossible for them to want to or have time for a family
> political elite looks at this
> yeah we can increase the price of child care and thus the burden on new parents or anyone with enough time to consider becoming one
Ah. So overworking (job inflation) is drawing Human Resources away from producing families? Get well soon. Ganbatte!
It's even worse. How can you have a kid with anyone if you hardly have time for meeting new people even school time when you have to always return home just after school. In work it gets only worse
I went to Kyoto for a uni exchange years ago and remember public transport fees being so expensive. When I saw that they'll raise the prices I was like EVEN MORE?! hahaha. Hope Kyoto recovers!
Why you didn't use a bicycle going to University?
It seems to me that Kyoto bears the burden of all that culture being maintained on its own. That's not right and the city should start taxing tourist attractions, to recoup costs and place some of that burden on tourists who benefit from those cultural sites remaining accessible. Also, it seems like a luxury that is least affordable at the moment to ban high-rise buildings completely.
The biggest problem is that religious tourist attractions are fully tax exempt and this is protected by the Constitution. Kyoto literally can't tax them.
@@wiegraf9009 Not only that, but there are already taxes on things like hotels. They are already taxing tourists. This about the city not being able to manage its money well.
I think that the internationally-recognized attractions, at least, should be maintained at the country level. After all, Tokyo and other cities are indirectly benefitting from travelers who come there as part of their trip.
Truly appreciate the slower cadence and pace in your oration. Keep uploading more media, this news is invaluable!
I have been living in Japan Kyoto for 2 months and back then when I was in Nepal I used to watch your video and I loved to watch entire video thank you for such a informative video for me and other foreigners like me too.
Noooooo! I love Kyoto, I'm Australian, I went on a 6 months study exchange at Kobe University in 2019, I found myself being drawn to Kyoto and its beautiful city and countryside.
My heart breaks for Kyoto, is there anything I can do? I'd love to live in Kyoto, maybe even retire there!
I wanted to go in Kyoto too
I love Kyoto too! Maybe not the hot humid summers though.
As an outsider, respectfully speaking, the Japanese economy is really suffering. When I travel around Japan I see the economic devastation. I really believe it is due to the closed education system that encourages Japanese only reading/writing - and therefore, the knowledge gained by Japanese citizens is limited to only Japanese news. This limits interaction with the outside world and understanding how the world of commerce and business is changing far faster than they are able to adapt. I wish Japan well.
I visited Kyoto in 2019 and was surprised that most of the tourist attractions were completely free. In most countries I would have expected to pay an entry fee for upkeep. Entry fees could be graded at 3 prices of Kyoto residents, Japanese and foreigners. I would also expect a bed tax for accommodation.
Shogo, your channel is the best on CZcams to understand many topics on Japan and on Japanese history & culture. Your information is priceless and not something you can get easily from textbooks. So thanks very much for the great work you do. 👍👍👍💐❤️
I wonder if that city hall is overpriced. Usually, when a project is made to be extravagant, most likely it will be overpriced.
Kyoto is the first city that I was able to visit in Japan. I loved that there are lots of Temples and Shrines. I loved that it was more of a rural city than a metropolis. I loved the more accomodating and slow-paced nature of the residents as compared to Tokyo's. I pray for the residents of Kyoto. May your city thrive and achieve more prosperity.
Shogo-san! Great video again by you and your team. You are quite brave to share this news that may upset the appearance of "wa" in Kyoto. Keep making your amazing videos which give us a deeper view of Japanese culture. Thank you!
Thank you for this! I was literally thinking about pursuing university studies in Kyoto during the past week, and this popped up in my YT recommendations haha :'') I'd been to Kyoto and I absolutely loved the city and its scenery. It's a shame to hear about the situation there. Hope it gets better soon, hang in there!
informative content which took time with research like this deserves more than just a 'like' - please know content like this is valued ... with four decades in the industry I'm confident your channel will gain the influence it deserves.
Thank you very much for understanding the effort I put in making my videos! I really hope it was educational and interesting for you😊
@@LetsaskShogo they always are 🤟🏻
I worked for a company whose boss is from Kyoto. He literally borrowed from different banks just to pay our salary.
Beautiful and informative exposition!
I plan to visit 4 of 6 days in Japan in Kyoto directly this August. That is because I enjoy your videos and want to see for myself everything you have talked about. I am reviewing your videos to plan my trip. So thanks for your help in advance.
I always love learning new things about Japan and it’s culture 🙏🏽
As someone who's family is from Kyoto, I'm dying to get back. I didn't realise how dire the situation is and I'm hoping the citizens of Kyoto fight back again these decisions despite being a conformist society
you are from Kyoto? If i was you i would want to return its a complete zen vibe perfect for a hopeless romantic like myself
You just need to think to heck with conformity and such fluff ‼️ Your city has so much heritage and culture. It's world 🌎 heritage and culture ‼️ You need people willing to think differently in order to solve Kyoto's issues. In my humble opinion Kyoto may not survive otherwise.
This is so enlightening Shogo!👍👍👍
Thank you for the effort!!
(1) The total population of Kyoto as Japanese residents, and foreign residents involves the volume of income tax that the threshold of Local Income Tax permits. Kyoto can only house so many residents even if they attend the institution of higher education, Osaka is a separate tax jurisdiction! (2) Consumption tax is levied on “Taxable Sales”. “Taxable sales” conditions; Effectuated in Japan, for business purpose, compensation, and transfer or lease of assets or by the provision of services (See, Basic Knowledge: Taxable Sales. From, National Tax Agency of Japan). Kyoto has great public transportation and taxis are not necessary, thus more rental private catering of residents with luxury improves quality of tourism and generates sales tax. Other revenue for business to business that is exclusively "Kyoto by design" as service within Japan for the Japan National Tourism Agency to recognize with trademark and quality of tourism. Some celebrity testimony to support Kyoto might be assistance, as idea. Some opinion, in survey, titled "Save Kyoto" from learning from the National Tax Agency of Japan with other Japanese can be useful, even if the municipal government does go bankrupt.
Wow, thank you so much!!
We love living in Kyoto but its management is anything but logical. Hearing the mayor complain that the reason for the dept is the lack of tall buildings to tax is so frustrating. Even with a failed subway line they are planning to build another to the north that will negatively impact so much and most likely not make any money. And the fact that they don't tax temples and shrines is pretty ridiculous. Especially when you see some of the fancy cars and clothes of the seemingly well off priests here.
Are they seriously gonna build another subway line? Madness.
@@BosworthMcG Kyoto Journal wrote a story about it recently in English but besides the Obama prefecture website it isn't really mentioned anywhere in Japanese. So frustrating that nobody knows about what's about to happen here.
I'm really sorry to hear that :(
I hope you, your family and your friends will be alright.
I have visited Kyoto twice. I love this city so much. It is one of my favorite spots in all of Japan. I remember taking the subway around Kyoto and thinking, even at its busiest, it wasn't very full. I hope to return to Japan soon. I pray Kyoto will finically recover from its problems. Thank you Shogo-san for your wonderful videos! Your videos always make me happy and remind me of happy days I spent in Japan.
May your work give Kyoto, Japan, and all the world more harmonious love from the wise, authentic truth you are peacefully producing
At first when i saw the title my first thought is the pandemic have the biggest role on it but apparantly it's a 30 years problem that crystalize in the flow of time
informative video, thanks Shogo
I hope the officials and locals can figure out a way to help Kyoto get back on its feet. It’s definitely a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Thank you for the information Shogo-San!
This is so Heart Crushing! I did not know this!
I agree that it is Absurd that Kyoto has so many Characters, and that that one You mentioned was so Expensive! This is Scandalous!!!!!
But, on the other Side, since Kyoto has such a Rich History and Culture, I understand how some People would Think that Kyoto Deserves a Great City Hall! So, that is Appropriate!
Japan has a lot of Smart People, so why don't they ask People who are Smart, have Knowleadge and are Creative that they Think up Ways how Kyoto can get more Money! Some of them would work for Free!
Shogo, You should Run for Mayor of Kyoto! Then You could find new Ways of Saving Kyoto!
Or, Maybe, Kyoto could do Crowdfunding or a Fundraising to get some Money!
Never in my life did I think that Japan would be one of the first countries to have a "New Detroit" city
Great video. It would be cool to see more videos like this one on this channel :)
Hello Shogo, thank you for this video. As a futur student in Japan and maybe in Kyoto, I can only be scared by this piece of information ! Unfortunately the current pandemic situation doesn’t allow the city to get touristic incomes (as I already read in the comments), even though it drastically needs it ! A first solution would be to get tourists back very fast, while taxing, maybe, cultural products they would buy for sure if they come (without raising prices drastically)… by the way, I didn’t know a character such as つかさ could be so expensive to create😅
I am surprised Kyoto doesn't have some sort of sales tax in place. As I understand it Kyoto's main industry is tourism, so having a sales tax would make the most sense, as its a easy way to increase revenue from tourists. Could make some sort of targeted sales tax that affects items typically purchased by tourists rather than the locals which would help the city repay its debts without putting too much burden on its residents.
I am quite shocked to hear they will be cutting caretakers salaries and raising the cost of childcare, that is a terrible decision. Caretakers are already underpaid and in short supply, it is going to make it harder for parents to work, which will hurt the local economy even more. Easy access to affordable childcare is also likely one of the reasons for declining birthrates.
Osaka is a quite nice city to live for parents, there are quite a lot of generous policies in place for parents in many wards. For instance in our ward the city gave us a 10,000 yen coupon we could use to pay for a maid service to clean the house. It is a small thing but it was very helpful.
sales tax is usually a national goverment prerrogative. business licenses are often municipal though. also residential and property tax seems to be a big item of local gov't revenue if i recall the video well.
yes, exactly! I just suggested to Shogo a "bed tax" like the one that is collected by German councils for each night a tourist spends in their town. It is small but many Tourists are going to come and pay ...
It seems to me, in my trivial opinion, that a quick way to save money would be to shut down the subway for one or two days a week. Desperate circumstances call for harsh measures.
Yeah, this isn't really a practical solution in a city where most people don't own a car and rely solely on public transport to get around.
I would love to visit there one days. Didn't get to go there when i was in Japan last time. Love the rustic looking buildings, Temples n Shrines.
Wow, this kind of breaks my heart. When I make my trip to Japan, Kyoto has always been my number 1 place I want to visit and spend the most time in.
Dear Shogo,
I want to thank you for your great journalistic work, it was very interesting.
If I may just ask you for one favour (if possible), would you introduce subtitles with currencies in €/$? For the international audience stopping the video to convert Yen in €/$ to understand the situation is a bit uncomfortable.
Domo arigato for your great work!
I've lived in Japan for 12 years. Last time I went (3 or 4 years ago) I was surprised that locals were so rude to tourists. Hard to feel bad for them now needing that "dirty gaijin" money 🤷♂️ Even Japanese people say that Kyoto people are closed minded snobs.
sub'd and gl on your 2 million subs.
Konnichiwa Shogo sensei, I am your fan from the Philippines and thanks for your informative videos you uploaded on youtube. I think those are harsh descisions they made for the solution of their problem, with the opening of Tourism in the country, I think Kyoto will get their economy back, and I better suggest that giving some taxes on small buildings and private establishments, not only on higher buildings. and they need to make a team of experts in managing expenditures so that they can manage their money accurately.
Sorry to hear that the city is in dire straits financially. It sound like it needs other streams of income to help offset the cost of the debt.
This is really shocking to hear. Kyoto has left the deepest impression on me of all the places in the world that i've been to, i really hope the mismanagement won't take away it's unique spirit T.T
Also, it is always so telling when you see the priorities of anyone in power. Imagine, out of EVERYRTHING you could do, going first after children and firefighters! especially in a city like Kyoto where, as you said, so many structures are made of wood and not up to modern dire hazard standards! Ridiculous....
The wakizashi with the white handle looks beautiful!
So sorry to hear this.
Maybe... I don't know... Reopen for tourism!!!!!
I actually work for the City of Kyoto right now, and I feel like I can see the city's economic situation more directly than most. The benefits that I received as a new employee in 2021 is way less than the benefits my senpais received when they were hired in 2016. Also I'm responsibility for a lot more than the position used to entail, so employees are stretched pretty thin right now. The starting salary for my position also dropped compared to what the starting salary used to be 15 years ago.
i love the summary at the end
I've visitted Kyoto just yesterday. Super stunning view.... I don't even need to search for places because everywhere look like a complete balance of human culture and nature. best city in the world.
I have never, ever heard of a city that deficit spend in over 5 years, never mind 10 or 30 years. That is pretty extreme. It's a miracle the mayors don't get voted out of office with each term.
Here are some other things that the city of Kyoto can do or encourage businesses to do: promote themed historical tours, sell goods from local companies abroad (such as some of the food in Bokksu boxes), turn city hall into a tourist attraction (much like South Korea's president did with the Blue House), make driving in Kyoto more expensive (also promotes walkability), follow up any audit of corruption at the municipal level with a dramatic re-organization of city government (preferably one geared toward greater de-centralization and greater transparency).
For Japan in general, I would argue for the necessity of cutting the pay of politicians and the implementation of some form of universal basic income.
As soon as I am able to return to Kyoto, I will definitely help out its economy through any method I can think of, even if i have to do something as simple as buy a local snack or meal. It might not be much, but I would like to believe that every little bit helps.
Im coming to Japan june 15. Kyoto visit is on my agenda !
I feel like a city would be able to pay off 55 million dollars, especially one as popular as Kyoto.
Still have to think about how and where a government gets money. They aren't a business, can't just create something new to sell
@@TheWeakMinded
Governments all around word do own partially or fully many companies and goverments themself also can create and do things that give them in return income without being a tax.
@@TheWeakMinded You're absolutely right. I just find it surprising that this is the case.
Kyoto's property tax situation reminds me of Boston: the Catholic Church and Federal Government together own about a third of the land in Boston, and neither of those pays property taxes.
Hi Shogo, nice of you to include the Osaka solution for people wanting to study there =)
My heart goes out to Kyoto, it was home to me for so many reasons...every step I took along those streets and the people, Kyoto ben.. will always be with me.
Meanwhile Nintendo is becoming a suburb of kyoto
I am not sure I understand the recommendation to live in a neighboring city like Osaka for people who want to study in Kyoto.
If the problem for students is the increase of the bus and subway fare, how does it help to get further away from the University ? Would it not just make it more expensive for them for the longer commute ?
I came here looking for this comment!
Exactly my thinking. It is not like the train from Osaka is hugely expensive but surely not cheaper than taking a metro within Kyoto.
I studied in Kyoto for a bit, but was placed in a dorm over an hour away from the university and downtown. It was a great time but I wished I had been able to live closer to the centre. I could have saved time on the commute and wouldn't have been forced home by the last train being at 23.30.
My first stay in Japan was in Kyoto, and I am surprised to learn about the city's economic dilemmas. As a foreign resident, I never considered the financial burden of the residents, and as a student I never considered the financial burden on the city. Everything was always hunky dory, and as someone who looks back on Kyoto with fond memories, I wonder, what can anyone do to turn the tides and bring the city back? Thanks for the video shogo, was very informative!
I’m watching this video from Kyoto, I came to visit it before tourism restarts and it’s crazy how quiet it is. I hope that the city recovers financially as it really is one of the gems of the world
For the firefighters.
Start a volenteer program.
In America 2/3rds of our firefighters are volenteer. Trained by the full timers.
Kyoto is favorite city in Japan = (
Hey Shogo I’m a fan of your show! I live in Misawa japan. I wanted to ask. Could one weekend I come down to Kyoto meet you and maybe you show me around Kyoto to some of your favorite places??
Love the taiko necklace man!
Sounds like they really need some financial oversight and regular auditing of local governments.
"The services provided by the city are reduced to the lowest level, while the burden on residents is raised to the highest level"... It sounds like many cities on Brazil 🤣
Kyoto was great. Loved walking around there.
If you're planning on moving to Fukuoka, let's meet up. =) That was a really interesting video. Many thanks as always. =)
You can always count on the local government to waste your money
If they are beholden to party politics
other youtuber: recommend their city by going on the street, mumbling, buying local street food, talking with random people..
shogo: recommend kyoto by studying its first
Kyoto is amazing I haven’t gotten there yet I hope it recovers it’s so stunning rich in culture !!
Thanks!