The Cultural Agency is a governmental organization responsible for promoting cultural arts and international cultural exchange. In March, the agency moved from Tokyo to Kyoto. After the capital was moved from Nara to Kyoto in 794, it became not only the Emperor’s primary residence but a lso the epicenter of politics and culture in Japan. Later with the rise of samurai , and during the Edo Period (17 - 19th centuries), the political hub moved to Edo (present-day Tokyo). After the Meiji Restoration (1868-), a period marking the modernization of Japan, Edo was renamed Tokyo. Although Tokyo is virtually considered as the capital of Japan, there is no official declaration or law that specifies Tokyo as the capital. There were strong objections, including those from court nobles, to the relocation of the capital from Kyoto (the capital for over a thousand years) to Tokyo. To avoid problems, it is said that the Emperor made a pretext of visiting Tokyo. The “Kyo” in Kyoto translates to “the place where the Emperor resides,” and “miyako 都” means “capital.” The original meaning of “miyako ” means “a place people gather.” It is said that Tokyo was named as such to reflect the “eastern capital.” For Kyoto locals, there are many expectations for the move, such as it represents a “groundbreaking event for Kyoto to become the cultural capital” and has “great s igni f icance in promot ing the charms of this historic city, both domestically and internationally.” ( From June issue, 2023 / 2023年6月号より）