Exploring modern environmental consciousness in Kyoto, Japan

At 4:32 a.m., after an 11-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean with only a few hours asleep, I was awoken and greeted with a cacophony of pinks, yellows, and blues as the sun rose above the Kyoto skyline. Despite the relentless exhaustion from the prior day of travel, my roommate and I were wide awake and decided to take a stroll throughout the city while the rest of Japan, well-versed in times of harsh sun rays, remained asleep.

Walking by office buildings and residential areas, I marveled at the stunning blend of flowing streams, lush verdant green Japanese maple trees, numerous open spaces, and the cityscape. I soon decided that a walk was not enough to satiate my wonderment and quickly returned to my hotel room to adorn running shoes and begin a faster paced tour of the city.

On the onset of my run, I had planned to only do 4 short miles but as I explored, this plan quickly fell through. I quickly found the Kamo River, which I later found out flows 19 miles through the city. I saw beautiful paths full of trees and shrubs sitting along the river for morning dog walkers, bikers, and runners. I took advantage of these paths to become truly lost in the city, running nearly 12 miles visiting parks, neighborhoods, forests; all before our scheduled class breakfast. My takeaway: Kyoto was an unbelievably gorgeous city that had somehow mastered combining the urban cityscape with an indescribable quality of nature.

My name is Ryan Stanley, and I am a graduated senior in with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. This summer I received the J.G. Evans and Marylynn Evans Scholarship to study the relationship between the cultural identity of Kyoto and its relationship with the natural environment under Professor Jason Webb’s Kyoto Maymester with the East Asian Studies Department.

I had applied to the Maymester because I had completed two Maymesters prior which were some of the best experiences of my life: studying aquatic microbiology on Catalina Island and climate change in Alaska were unforgettable. As a graduated senior, this was my last opportunity to take a course at USC and I quickly seized the opportunity and applied. I had grown up fascinated with Japan’s culture, cuisine, and natural wonders, and Kyoto as Japan’s old capital called to my interests in history, culture, and the environment.

My research project hoped to understand and explore how Kyoto was able to maintain its environment while developing a modern and vibrant city structure, examining this phenomenon through a cultural and religious focus. My project was made possible through the Wrigley Institute Environmental Summer Award, which supported my research and travel in Japan.

Throughout the course taught by Professor Webb, I gained an intimate knowledge of Kyoto. I learned not only about its complex subway system and city layout, but also about its unique characteristics as the country’s old capital. As a class, we traveled to numerous temples including the Enryaku-ji Temple, located on Mount Hiei in the nearby town of Ōtsu. The temple was distinct with its location beyond the city and it contained a deep history as one of the largest temples founded during the Heian Period (794–1185) in which Kyoto was Japan’s capital. To reach this temple, rather than hike to its peak like in the days of old, a beautifully adorned cable car allows you to ascend the mountain while classical music accompanies your view of the surrounding forests.

Visiting this temple had a special significance for my research as I began to explore a religion known as Shugendo, which comprises elements of Buddhsim, worship of gods in nature (Kami), and Taoism. An essential element of Shugendo involves mountain worship and climbing mountain ranges such as Mt. Hiei.

After the visit to Enryaku-ji and learning more about Shugendo, my research became quickly formed around the idea that Shugendo teachings influence a modern environmental consciousness, and I used Kyoto and its natural resources as a case study. Towards the end of my 2 weeks in Kyoto, I found that the city’s commitment to environmental preservation, rooted in traditional values and modern sustainability initiatives, showcases a unique balance between development and conservation. The historical practices of Shugendo have significantly influenced Kyoto’s environmental ethic, fostering a profound respect for natural spaces. This reverence was reflected in the city’s design, rituals, and daily life, demonstrating how spiritual tradition can inform a modern environmental consciousness and sustainable living habits.

Being able to study in Kyoto was an unforgettable experience and helped to inform my own environmental ethic going forward. I found myself comparing Los Angeles to Kyoto and trying to figure out how I could incorporate my research with L.A.’s challenges in sustainability. Most notably, the Kamo river–which started my journey in Kyoto–showed me what the L.A. river could look like going forward: a beautiful, lush, welcome respite for residents to come and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Being able to incorporate my love for sustainability and the environment with the a cultural study of Japan was dream came true and truly memorable way to end my undergraduate education at USC.