The program "Platinum Family: A Glimpse into the Lives of a Glamorous Family" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 7 PM *excluding some regions) introduces the lifestyles of "glamorous families." The April 28th broadcast will feature the Wakayanagi family (head of the Wakayanagi school), a prestigious family of traditional performing arts that has been in the family for 131 years and five generations.
The Wakayanagi family's home is a grand mansion located in a high-end residential area of Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, right next to the tomb of Emperor Meiji. The house was built by a master carpenter from Kyoto, and the garden features a "suikinkutsu," one of the most exquisite techniques in Japanese gardens, where water droplets produce a koto-like sound.
The guide is the young 25-year-old successor, Yoshikatsu Wakayanagi. His grandfather, the third head of the family, Judo Wakayanagi, received the Medal of Honor with Dark Blue Ribbon from the Prime Minister and even performed in front of the Pope. This time, his grandmother, Judo Wakayanagi, who succeeded to the title of fourth head of the family after the death of the third head, and his father, Yoshikatsu Wakayanagi, the fifth head of the family who received the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award for Meritorious Service, will also appear and talk about their feelings on preserving this traditional art form as a family.
When asked why he built his grand mansion right next to Emperor Meiji's mausoleum, Kotobuki-san said, "It was out of a desire to have this stage preserved for generations to come." Currently, he has classrooms in five locations nationwide and teaches more than 1,000 students, but the fifth headmaster, Yoshizo-san, speaks of a profound philosophy: "Our job is to shine from the shadows, allowing everyone else to shine." What is this traditional art form that the prestigious Wakayanagi school has preserved and that is loved by influential figures in politics and business...?
