KYOTO — Toei Kyoto Studio Park, a popular tourist destination here known for providing settings for numerous Japanese period dramas, will be renamed Uzumasa Kyoto Village when it reopens in late March 2026, with the aim of sharing the appeal of period dramas with a global audience.
This year marks the 100th anniversary since the location in Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward hosted its first film studio. It went on to lead the Japanese film industry and earned the moniker of “Japanese Hollywood.”
Ken Takahashi, 61, a director of Toei Kyoto Studio Park who has been involved in the production of numerous works at the studio, said enthusiastically, “Japanese period dramas are only just getting started.”
‘Rashomon’ ushers in the golden age
The history of Uzumasa dates back to 1926, when popular actor Tsumasaburo Bando (1901-1953), affectionately known as “Bantsuma,” opened a film studio there. At its peak, the area was home to studios operated by eight film companies. In 1951, Akira Kurosawa’s masterwork “Rashomon,” which was shot at the location, was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival, ushering in the golden age of Uzumasa.
Takahashi joined Toei Co. in 1987 and was assigned to the Kyoto studio. He supported filmmaking behind the scenes through budget management and other tasks, working on “Gokudo no Tsumatachi” and other movies. He was mostly involved in period dramas such as “Abarenbo Shogun” (The Unfettered Shogun), “Zenigata Heiji” and “Toyama no Kinsan,” to which he feels a deep personal attachment.
Ken Takahashi poses at Toei Co.’s Kyoto studio in the city’s Ukyo Ward on Dec. 8, 2025. He aspires to “pass down period dramas as a culture.” (Mainichi/Saki Hidaka)
Period dramas “carry a culture that has been cultivated in Japan over time,” Takahashi noted, emphasizing that “there are things that can only be expressed through period dramas.”
According to him, another charm of period pieces is their wide variety of works, ranging from serious to comedic, even when based on the same subject matter. “I think it’s not only thanks to the creators, but also because of the people who find them (period dramas) entertaining. In any case, Japanese people’s affection with period dramas is extraordinary, and their imagination is also profound,” he pointed out.
Experience-based content that can also entertain adults
After leaving the studio where he worked for many years, Takahashi became a board member of the company operating Toei Kyoto Studio Park. On March 28, the facility is set to reopen under the concept of “wondering into the world of Edo-period Kyoto.”
The visual arts staff of “The Legend & Butterfly,” a 2023 film starring Takuya Kimura that was shot at Toei’s Kyoto studio, re-created streets of the Edo period (1603-1867), and the park is planning to offer experiential content and staging to appeal to adults as well. “I hope visitors will enjoy the experience as if they have become characters in a period drama,” Takahashi explained.
Many traditional Japanese household items and everyday scenes, now only seen in period dramas, are gradually disappearing. Takahashi has found an increasing number of people no longer have a sense of reality about living in homes with tatami mats and “tokonoma” alcoves, which he says is saddening.
This is precisely why he strongly wants to do all he can to pass down period dramas as a form of culture. He is also putting efforts into initiatives aimed at having the skills, techniques, and know-how of artisans involved in period drama production, such as sword-fight choreographers, recognized as intangible cultural assets.
Looking ahead, Takahashi is also eager to bring works filmed at the Kyoto studio and Toei Kyoto Studio Park to international audiences. While he believes such efforts are essential for preserving period pieces, his excitement continues to grow. “I want to show people around the world the appeal of Japanese period dramas,” he said.
(Japanese original by Saki Hidaka, Kyoto Bureau)
AloJapan.com