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Ken Yagishita MK Resume 18 years

We asked Mr. Yagishita, who values the four seasons as a treasured aspect of Japanese culture and faithfully conveys these feelings to his foreign visitors, about some of his encounters on the job.

・Many foreign tourists are very excited about visiting Kyoto. Can you tell us about what your guests are most pleased by when visiting the city?
The sound of the rain at Shisendo. The moment it falls, when it hits the treetops, the leaves on the plants, the earth and sand, the eaves of the temple, the bamboo water fountain and so on. These noises make you feel like you've heard the sound of nature.

・What are foreign tourists most confused by when visiting Kyoto for the first time?
They're surprised to learn that we have in common the feeling of valuing the four seasons despite the fact that we come from different cultures.

・"So this is how foreigners think!" Do you ever come across this feeling?
I think that we tend to look for points of similarity over points of difference in our cultures and personalities, because we hope to respect each other's differences.

・Do you have a motto when escorting foreign tourists?
I aim to drive safely and give my customers a sense of security, as if I were driving around members of my distant family.

・Please give us a message for visitors in English.
Enjoy Kyoto!

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・How do you spend your days off?
I've been doing Japanese archery on and off since I was a student, going on 30 years now.
I think the idea the "everyone has something they can teach you" is really important.

・Any last messages to customers?
This summer, on the Kyoto-Jukan expressway will open in its entirety on July 18, so it will become much easier to access the costal parts of Kyoto such as Amanohashidate in Miyazu, which is one of Japan's three most famous scenic views, along with Itsukushima in Hiroshima Prefecture and Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. It's possible to go to Amanohashidate as a day trip, but I would recommend staying overnight and taking your time to absorb the view.