Fujinomori & Aoi Matsuri Festivals

　　　　Prior to the start of the Aoi-Matsuri Festival (葵祭り), there are various purification ceremonies held to sanctify the course of the procession and pray for a safe, incident-free event. The activities kick off with Yabusame (流鏑馬), a type of archery competition performed on horseback on the 3rd of May (13:00-) at Shimogamo Shrine (下鴨神社). The archers, wearing ancient costumes used for hunting, shoot arrows at three wooden targets in succession while riding along through the Tadasuno-Mori Forest (糺の森). Each of the targets are 50 centimeters squared, and set up every 100-meters along the course.
　　　　Another event is Kamo Kurabeuma (賀茂競馬) or Ritual Horse Race, which is held on the 5th of May (14:00-) at Kamigamo Shrine (上賀茂神社). Dating back to the Heian period (794-1185), this event is said to have spurred the beginnings of horse racing in Japan. The riding style and manners observed have not changed since the event began, and are followed still today. Unlike modern-day horse racing, in this race just two horses compete. One horse starts ahead of the other, with the winner decided by whether the distance between the two horses has lengthened or shortened, and the courtly manner in which the horses perform. About five races are held, although would-be gamblers may be disappointed to hear that betting is not allowed!
　　　　Also on May 5, the Fujinomori Festival （藤森祭り）takes place at Fujinomori Shrine
(藤森神社). Beginning from 9:00, there is a procession of people in period dress (see right) accompanying deities hidden within mikoshi (portable shrines). Held in the shrine precincts from 13:00-15:00 is another Horse-riding spectacle called Kake-uma Shinji (駈馬神事). It is a very exciting show of horsemanship dating back to the Muromachi Period (14th century) when the samurai warriors guarding the Imperial Palace presented their horsemanship to the god of the shrine. Riding at breakneck speed, the horsemen stand on the backs of their galloping horses and perform many other thrilling feats, including writing calligraphy! (see below).
　　　　The Aomatsuri Festival falls on the 15th of May. It takes its name from the custom of decorating the procession participants and the bulls that are used to pull the carts with hollyhock (aoi) leaves. The procession leaves from the Imperial Palace from about 10:30 and makes the rounds of Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines.

Access for YabusameEvent:
City bus (#1, 4, 205) to Shimogamo-Jinja-Mae
(下鴨神社前), or Tadasuno-Mori (糺の森), free admission.
Inquiries:
075-781-0010 (Shimogamo Shrine).
Access for Kamo Kurabe-uma Event:
City bus (#4,46,67) to Kamigamo Jinja- Mae (上賀茂神社前), free admission.
Inquiries:
075-781-0011 (Kamigamo Shrine).
Access for Fujinomori Shrine:
5 min. walk from Fukakusa-Kita-Hasuike-cho bus stop or
10 min. from Keihan Sumizome stn.(墨染駅).
Inquiries:
075-641-1045 (Fujinomori Shrine)

K. Kimura & K. Naka

Water-World Series
Water Purification in Kyoto

　　　　Water demand in Kyoto has steadily increased over recent years. At the same time, public confidence in the quality and purity of the water supplied to households has fallen. Life in Kyoto takes a look at how the Kyoto City Waterworks Bureau is tackling the issue of water purification, and introduces alternative purification systems.
　　　　The city's waterworks began operation in April 1912, following the completion of Biwako Waterway No. 2 (第二琵琶湖疎水), and Japan's first rapid sand filtration system, the Keage Purification Plant (蹴上浄水場: Keage Josuijo). Surrounded by the mesmerizing color and beauty of over seven thousand azaleas, the Keage Plant is something to behold. In fact, the azaleas, originally planted on it's northern hill-face to prevent a possible landslide (see right), have made the facility one of Kyoto's most popular sightseeing spots during early May, when it is open to the general public free of charge (please call for exact date!).
　　　　With the growth of Kyoto City, the waterworks expanded and other purification plants were built in succession: Matsugasaki, Yamanouchi, and Shin-Yamashina. While each plant facility has been continuously upgraded and restored over its lifetime, the city has recognized the need for an advanced and efficient waterworks system that is also resistant to drought and earthquakes. To pave the way, the city has been pushing forward various long-term projects, such as introducing a block system for distribution pipes for earthquakes, reinforcing control functions for waterworks facilities and formulating emergency control plans. These are all positive steps toward a safe and reliable waterworks system for the future, but what of water purification?
　　　　In spite of concerted efforts by waterworks authorities, in the area of water quality, safety and taste, desired levels are still unrealized. A chief concern for many years has been the degree of water pollution in Lake Biwa, the region's major source of water. Since the 1960's, the water quality of the lake has gradually deteriorated alongside population growth and industrial development in the area. Due to large quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus and other chemicals, which have entered the lake as part of industrial and household waste-water, the growth of plankton and weeds within the lake has accelerated. This process is known as "eutrophication", and causes the build-up of algae and micro-organisms that pollute the lake. The central government and Shiga Prefecture were forced to enact stricter regulations and control measures, while Kyoto City formulated "The Kyoto City Advanced Treatment Master Plan" to help solve taste and odor problems. While these changes have halted the downward trend in water quality, the situation remains tenuous. The recent emergence of unforeseen problems, such as cryptosporidium parvum, a chlorine-resistant bacteria, indicates the importance of further research and monitoring of conditions.
　　　　The contamination of a raw water source (lake/river) causes not only off-tasting and off-smelling water, but leads to other problems at the purification stage. The more polluted raw water has become, the higher the concentration of chlorine required to kill existing bacteria - the final means of cleaning water. As chlorine reacts with organic matter it produces trihalomethane, a carcinogenic byproduct. Admittedly, levels of trihalomethane are not high enough to cause serious concern, and innumerous tests are carried out daily at Lake Biwa, the canal intake and every stage of purification to ensure the supply of safe drinking water. Assured nevertheless, it raises the question - are there any alternatives?

Current Alternative Systems
　　　　The Hanshin Water Supply Authority's Amagasaki Purification Plant is equipped with the latest technology that combines existing purification systems with ozonation and activated carbon absorption, instead of the chlorination process (which is illustrated above). This process has already been adopted in parts of Europe and the United States. In the late 1980s water purification plants in the U.S., the Netherlands, France and Australia began introducing membrane filtration, which exceeds the solid-liquid separation performance of sand filtration by 100-1000 times. In membrane filtration, the microscopic particles that are usually difficult to remove using other forms of filtration, are completely removed. This is because the pores in the membrane are actually smaller than the particles being removed.
　　　　While Japan is home to several of the world's preeminent membrane manufacturers, the total volume of water purified by membrane filtration plants is only 1/400 of the total volume of water treated in Japan. However, before it can become a widely used purification process, the issue of cost must be addressed and several technological issues must also be overcome. Some specialists in this field, such as Professor WATANABE Yoshimasa, advocate the introduction of this process to revolutionize Japan's water supply system.

Future Alternative System
　　　　Still undergoing research is a method of water purification using irradiation. Despite people's fear of radiation-related problems, this process has been proven to effectively decompose unwanted chemical byproducts such as trihalomethane, trichloroethylene etc., without emitting radioactivity. Currently this system has been implemented in certain sewer processing systems in the U.S. and Germany, although has not yet been employed for drinking water purification. In Japan, this process has been intensively studied for its level of safety at the Osaka Prefectural Radiation Research Center since 1984. In the future, a variation of this process may be utilized. 　　　　
　　　　In conclusion, the fundamental problem is protection of raw water sources from contamination. If this can be achieved, no matter which system of water purification is utilized, be it the rapid sand filtration currently used in Kyoto, membrane filtration, or a combination of two systems, water purification will be safer and more effective. The requirements of a waterworks system of the future cover an array of areas: prevention of lake water pollution, protection against natural disasters, research and monitoring of current conditions, improved water safety and quality standards, and last but not least, greater public awareness of related issues. While taste is very relevant, water safety (clean drinkable water) is of the utmost importance when considering alternative water purification systems.

Keage Purification Plant
Access: Tozai Subway-line, Keage stn., Keihan Bus No.17 or 19
Inquiries: (075) 672 7707 (Suido-kyoku, Somu-ka: call in Japanese)

References:
Kyoto Waterworks Technology: New Standards for the 21st Century, published by Kyoto Municipal Waterworks Bureau,Mar. 1999.
Look Japan: Pipe Dreams,Y. Watanabe, Dec. 2001 Issue.
「すぐ役立つ水の生活学」K. Matsushita, Keyaki Publishing, 1992.

N. Suematsu