The Kamakura mayoral election will be officially announced on the 19th and voting will take place on the 26th. We followed the issues at the feet of the swaying ancient capital.

Despite it being a weekday, many tourists crowd the Enoshima Electric Railway Kamakura High School Station in Kamakura City, Koshigoe (August)

In late August, a single van was parked in a residential area over 600 meters away from the Enoshima Electric Railway Kamakura High School Station (Kamakura City, Koshigoe), which was swarmed by inbound tourists. The number of inbound tourists visiting the railway crossing at this station, which has also become a sacred site for anime, has surged dramatically. This has led to rampant illegal parking by unlicensed taxis (“shirotaku”) providing transport and urban hire cars with license plates from other prefectures, with the nuisance spreading to nearby residential areas.

A local second-year junior high school boy noticed a vehicle parked in the same spot for several days and resolved to speak up, telling the driver, “Please don’t park your car here.” Reportedly, the foreign woman in the driver’s seat became furious, filmed the boy, threatened him by saying “I’ll spread your photo around your school,” then hit the boy’s bicycle with her car and drove away. The prefectural police are investigating the incident as a hit-and-run. The boy’s mother expressed her anger, stating, “I cannot forgive someone trying to harm my child.”

“The phase has changed” – What is happening on the ground?

Kamakura

Kamakura is a coastal city in Japan that served as the nation’s political center during the Kamakura Shogunate from 1185 to 1333. It is renowned for its numerous historic temples and shrines, most famously the Great Buddha (Kotoku-in), a monumental bronze statue dating back to the 13th century. Today, it is a popular destination for its rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty.

Enoshima Electric Railway Kamakura High School Station

The Enoshima Electric Railway’s Kamakura High School Station is a small, charming station on the scenic Enoden line in Kamakura, Japan. It is famously located directly adjacent to the grounds of Kamakura High School, making it a popular spot for its nostalgic school atmosphere and appearances in various anime and films. The station opened in 1971, primarily to serve the students and staff of the school.

Koshigoe

Koshigoe is a coastal district in Kamakura, Japan, historically significant as a place of exile for the defeated young samurai general Minamoto no Yoshitsune in 1185. Following his military victories, he was forced to wait here by his suspicious brother Yoritomo, who denied him entry into Kamakura. Today, it is known for its scenic beach and views of Mount Fuji.