We want to increase the number of people who enjoy shrine and temple architecture across Japan - Miyadaiku Group Shokodo holds a fun and easy-to-learn shrine and temple architecture course
Shokodo, a group of Miyadaiku (master carpenters specializing in shrines and temples), is holding a casual, hands-on event called "Yurutto Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk♪" to promote and preserve the culture of shrine and temple architecture. Launched in 2025, the event aims to lower the psychological barrier to participation and foster interest in traditional Japanese architecture.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 09:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:00
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Our company endorses April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day to share dreams. This press release embodies the dream of 'Shokodo Co., Ltd.'.
### The Background of Shokodo's Dream
It is said that there are approximately 160,000 temples and shrines in Japan. However, in recent years, due to declining religious affiliation and a decreasing birthrate, the number of ujiko (parishioners of Shinto shrines) and danka (patron households of Buddhist temples) who support these religious institutions has been decreasing. Although people have opportunities to visit famous temples and shrines for Hatsumode (first temple/shrine visit of the New Year), there is concern that the number of people who visit them regularly will further decrease in the future. We, who work in this field, are gradually experiencing these changes.
The decrease in income for temples and shrines makes it difficult to secure the necessary funds for maintaining and repairing their buildings. On the other hand, temples and shrines symbolize Japan's original landscape and culture, and inheriting their valuable wooden architecture to the next generation holds great cultural and historical significance. We do not want this scenery to disappear in our generation. Shokodo, a group of Miyadaiku specializing in the design and construction of shrine and temple architecture based in Kyoto, bears the responsibility of protecting this culture and connecting it to the future.
Since its establishment in 2001, in addition to its core business of shrine and temple architecture, Shokodo has implemented initiatives where the general public can learn, such as workshop tours and Miyadaiku experience programs. Through accepting junior high and high school students for school trips, conducting outreach lectures, field research for university students, accepting corporate visits, and organizing construction site tours, we have conveyed the charm of shrine and temple architecture and the work of Miyadaiku to over 2,000 people.
Nevertheless, many people still feel that "shrine and temple architecture seems difficult" or "it's too specialized and has a high barrier to entry." There was also the challenge that traditional lecture formats were not easy to participate in casually.
Therefore, Shokodo planned a new casual and hands-on event to attract more people. This event, which started in 2025, is an original project where participants can enjoy alcoholic beverages or soft drinks in a relaxed atmosphere while listening to the representative of the Miyadaiku group Shokodo. It was created as a place where even those who have never had the opportunity to engage with shrine and temple architecture can easily participate.
By lowering the psychological barrier to participation, we aim to allow people who previously had no contact with shrine and temple architecture to experience its charm and create opportunities for them to visit temples and shrines.
This initiative is part of Shokodo's social contribution activities, aimed at promoting understanding of shrine and temple architectural culture and passing it on to the next generation.
### Planning and Operating the Original Event "Yurutto Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk♪"
Following the above background, in 2025, in addition to the conventional workshop tours and school trip acceptance, we held a total of two original events under the title "Yurutto Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk♪".
Both events featured "slightly humorous" stories about shrine and temple architecture told by Mr. Yokokawa, the representative of Shokodo, in a relaxed atmosphere where participants enjoyed alcoholic beverages or soft drinks.
- **First Edition: [Event] Held on May 8, 2025 (Ended) 'Yurutto Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk♪ Vol. 1' ~Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk with Craft Beer~"
### The Background of Shokodo's Dream
It is said that there are approximately 160,000 temples and shrines in Japan. However, in recent years, due to declining religious affiliation and a decreasing birthrate, the number of ujiko (parishioners of Shinto shrines) and danka (patron households of Buddhist temples) who support these religious institutions has been decreasing. Although people have opportunities to visit famous temples and shrines for Hatsumode (first temple/shrine visit of the New Year), there is concern that the number of people who visit them regularly will further decrease in the future. We, who work in this field, are gradually experiencing these changes.
The decrease in income for temples and shrines makes it difficult to secure the necessary funds for maintaining and repairing their buildings. On the other hand, temples and shrines symbolize Japan's original landscape and culture, and inheriting their valuable wooden architecture to the next generation holds great cultural and historical significance. We do not want this scenery to disappear in our generation. Shokodo, a group of Miyadaiku specializing in the design and construction of shrine and temple architecture based in Kyoto, bears the responsibility of protecting this culture and connecting it to the future.
Since its establishment in 2001, in addition to its core business of shrine and temple architecture, Shokodo has implemented initiatives where the general public can learn, such as workshop tours and Miyadaiku experience programs. Through accepting junior high and high school students for school trips, conducting outreach lectures, field research for university students, accepting corporate visits, and organizing construction site tours, we have conveyed the charm of shrine and temple architecture and the work of Miyadaiku to over 2,000 people.
Nevertheless, many people still feel that "shrine and temple architecture seems difficult" or "it's too specialized and has a high barrier to entry." There was also the challenge that traditional lecture formats were not easy to participate in casually.
Therefore, Shokodo planned a new casual and hands-on event to attract more people. This event, which started in 2025, is an original project where participants can enjoy alcoholic beverages or soft drinks in a relaxed atmosphere while listening to the representative of the Miyadaiku group Shokodo. It was created as a place where even those who have never had the opportunity to engage with shrine and temple architecture can easily participate.
By lowering the psychological barrier to participation, we aim to allow people who previously had no contact with shrine and temple architecture to experience its charm and create opportunities for them to visit temples and shrines.
This initiative is part of Shokodo's social contribution activities, aimed at promoting understanding of shrine and temple architectural culture and passing it on to the next generation.
### Planning and Operating the Original Event "Yurutto Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk♪"
Following the above background, in 2025, in addition to the conventional workshop tours and school trip acceptance, we held a total of two original events under the title "Yurutto Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk♪".
Both events featured "slightly humorous" stories about shrine and temple architecture told by Mr. Yokokawa, the representative of Shokodo, in a relaxed atmosphere where participants enjoyed alcoholic beverages or soft drinks.
- **First Edition: [Event] Held on May 8, 2025 (Ended) 'Yurutto Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk♪ Vol. 1' ~Shrine and Temple Architecture Talk with Craft Beer~"