Shimogamo Jinja is one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful temple in Kyoto. It stands where the two rivers join into one. It is a place of contemplation and deep worship for people willing to connect to water and forest’s spirit.

Both Hojoan and Shimogamo talk about Japanese people’s relation to nature, their religious respect toward it and belief that man should live in her with care and respect, as a being of ephemeral nature like any other thing that composes it.

But saying that, I don’t question the Japanese-ness of Mr Kuma. He surely has a good reason to put a pile of plastic sh*t in the middle of this holy land. Like in all of the other places where he was invited in the past.