Tamashima, Kurashiki City, is known as the place where Ryokan, a Zen monk in the late Edo period, practiced ascetic training.
Ryokan was beloved by children.
Because of his character, the people of Tamashima affectionately call him “Ryokan-san.” Wanting to learn what kind of person “Ryokan-san” really was, I attended a training seminar hosted by the Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association.
The information presented is current as of the article’s publication in October 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association Training Seminar: “Ryokan Culture in Tamashima”
A training seminar on the theme of “Ryokan Culture in Tamashima” was held at Tamashima Civic Exchange Center on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
The seminar was organized by the Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association.
The association is an organization with around 200 individual members from across the prefecture, primarily in Kurashiki City’s Tamashima area, as well as members from various cultural groups, businesses, and other organizations.
Here is an introduction to the seminar.
A training seminar conveying the deep affection the Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association and participants feel for Ryokan-san
The Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association training seminar was held at Tamashima Civic Exchange Center.
A total of 49 people attended, all with an interest in Ryokan-san.
More people applied than expected, so the venue was changed at short notice to a larger space. This shows the high level of interest and enthusiasm for Ryokan-san.
The 90-minute program began with greetings from Higashi Kikuchi, chair of the Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association, and continued with a picture-story show, a video screening, and a lecture.
The participants listened attentively and learned about Ryokan-san, taking notes and asking questions.
A picture-story show that conveys Ryokan-san’s gentle character
First, a picture-story show titled “Ryokan-sama” was presented, narrated by Keiko Gotoda, head of research.
The work was reportedly presented at the Minamiuonuma National Ryokan Association Conference, held in Niigata Prefecture in June 2025. Ryokan-san’s life is depicted in gentle, warm colors, interwoven with heartwarming episodes involving children.
A video titled “Ryokan-san and the Children” also described how Ryokan-san played with children and showed them kindness and support.
Ryokan culture passed down in Tamashima
Next, advisor Takeshi Moriishi gave a lecture on “Ryokan Culture in Tamashima.”
Ryokan-san’s Chinese poems, tanka, haiku, and calligraphy are widely known. Of these, around 35 Chinese poems are associated with Tamashima. At the temple where Ryokan-san trained, Tamashima Entsu-ji Temple, many stone monuments engraved with his works have been erected.
A huge stone monument at the edge of the rest area is engraved with the Chinese poem “Jirai Entsu-ji.” It expresses Ryokan-san’s thoughts and describes what life was like while he was training there.
At times, while longing for his hometown of Niigata, Ryokan-san continued his rigorous training in Tamashima; his image comes vividly to mind.
Efforts to introduce “Ryokan-san” to children
The Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association published a booklet titled “Ryokan-san.”
It was created to help more people learn about Ryokan-san, whose life was filled with compassion.
The 27-page, B5-size booklet introduces Ryokan-san in an easy-to-understand way, including the following:
- Color photographs and illustrations throughout
- Easy-to-read text with furigana
- Anecdotes that convey Ryokan-san’s character, as well as Chinese poems, tanka, and more
The booklet is distributed as material for outreach lectures at elementary and junior high schools, Community Centers, and other locations in Kurashiki City, and is reportedly used to share Tamashima’s Ryokan culture.
From the Writer
Ryokan-san was a monk who never had a temple of his own throughout his life and treated people with compassion. He is said to have especially supported poor children by playing with them.
Just as Ryokan-san practiced wagan-aigo—kind expressions and gentle words—I felt that “Ryokan culture” means using “loving words” to gently encourage others and create a compassionate society.
The Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association holds “Ryokan Training Seminars” several times a year.
The next seminar, titled “The Great Wind in Heaven: Stories of the Wind Associated with Ryokan-san,” will be held at Tamashima Civic Exchange Center on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 10 a.m.
If you are interested in Ryokan-san, why not attend?
Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association Training Seminar Information
| Name | Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association Training Seminar |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, September 4, 2025 10:00–11:30 a.m. |
| Location | 1-10-1 Agasaki, Tamashima, Kurashiki City Tamashima Civic Exchange Center |
| Admission | Free |
| Website | Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association |
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Okayama Prefecture Ryokan Association Office
Tetsuro Moriwake
090-4375-3141