Public Lectures

Lecturer:

Toshiro Ishii (Mayor of Nishinomiya City)

A place of rest and comfort for the future of Nishinomiya, an educational and residential city

Nishinomiya City has long been loved and supported by many people as one of Japan's leading sake-producing regions, and as a "place of rest and comfort" symbolized by its declaration as a cultural and residential city. In 1995, the city suffered serious damage from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, but has made progress toward recovery together with its citizens, and in recent years has continued to develop as an attractive city, having been ranked number one in the Kansai region's ranking of municipalities people want to live in for seven consecutive years.
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our city's incorporation on April 1, 2025, we would like to look back on the history of our town and share our hopes for the future toward realizing a sustainable society with you all.

Lecturer:

Takehito Tatsuma
(Public Interest Foundation
Chairperson of the Board the Hakushika Memorial Sake Museum)

Making rice a laughing stock! ~Together with the land of Nishinomiya~

"Traditional sake brewing" has been registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, and will be officially registered on December 5, 2024, in recognition of the long-standing skills and knowledge of sake brewing that have been passed down to the present day. We intend to continue brewing sake here in Nishinomiya, but it is a local industry that is only possible thanks to the support of the local community.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the city, I would like to think about the past and the future. Nishinomiya City, which is home to Nishinomiya-go and Imazu-go, is one of the Nada Gogo districts. I believe that wisdom, exchange, and action are always important in how we develop the city while protecting the groundwater "Miyamizu." I hope that this opportunity will lead to new discoveries about sake brewing in Nishinomiya, which has continued since the Edo period.

Lecturer:

Kazuko Tawaraya
(Director of Nishinomiya City Local History Museum)

A bird's-eye view of Nishinomiya's 100 years

The Nishinomiya City Bird's-Eye View (owned by the Local History Museum) is a large-scale painting created (1936 and 1951) by Yoshida Hatsusaburo, who was also known as the Hiroshige of the Taisho era. This painting, characterized by its detailed depiction, is a valuable historical document that visually conveys the state of the city after the merger in 1933 (Imazu Town, Taisha Village, Shiba Village) and the merger in 1951 (Naruo Village, Shiose Village, Yamaguchi Village).
It is said that there are several thousand of Hatsusaburo's works across the country, and in recent years they have been reevaluated as materials that accurately record the cityscape over a wide area. Through these paintings, we will trace the modern history of Nishinomiya.

Lecturer:

Yoshiaki Yoshii
(Chief priest of Nishinomiya Shrine)

"Nishinomiya Shrine's 100 Years of Progress and Expansion"

On April 1, 1925, Nishinomiya City began its journey with a ceremony to announce the establishment of the city in front of Nishinomiya Shrine. A lively ritual was held in the presence of government officials and representatives of the shrine's parishioners, and at the celebration that followed, the grounds were filled with the cheers of the new citizens.
100 years have passed since then. A 100th anniversary celebration will be held on April 1, 2025, at the main hall, which has had its roof re-roofed. Through the shrine diary written by the chief priest, we will introduce the history of the shrine, such as the reconstruction of the main hall, the spread of Ebisu faith, and "Nishinomiya" in various regions (place names, shrine names, stone monuments, etc.).