Elternal Inc. (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Takayasu Kokubo; hereinafter, “our company”), a venture company established at Waseda University, will start offering spring-only paper-cut goshuin stamps produced by our company from Saturday, March 15th at Kan’ei-ji Temple, the head temple of the Tendai sect, where we provide consulting services. The temple is known as the prayer hall and family temple of the Tokugawa Shoguns, and is an extremely prestigious temple where six of the 15 shoguns in history rest, surpassing the two at Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Since the temple began offering its first paper-cut goshuin stamps in 2023, the response has been huge, and even today many people from all over Japan come to worship at Kan’ei-ji Temple in search of the paper-cut goshuin stamps.
1. Spring limited edition “Tokugawa Papercut Goshuin – Cherry Blossoms”
Ueno Park has long been a popular cherry blossom viewing spot.
Its history began when Tenkai Daisojo, the founder of Kan’ei-ji Temple, planted cherry trees in various places within the temple grounds.
Just as many people have admired the cherry blossoms of Ueno and enjoyed the arrival of spring since the Edo period, this goshuin depicts cherry blossoms in full bloom with delicate paper cutting and gold foil stamping.
In addition, the design features the chrysanthemum crest, giving it the appearance of being wrapped in the colors of spring.
Enjoy this spring photo while feeling the history of Ueno’s cherry blossoms.
Spring limited edition “Tokugawa Papercut Goshuin – Tsunayoshi-“
This spring-only paper-cut goshuin (shrine seal) features the Imperial Plaque Gate of the Kan’ei-ji Temple Jokken-in Mausoleum (the mausoleum gate of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th Shogun of the Edo Shogunate), and a Shiba Inu motif, made with paper-cutting and foil stamping.
Tsunayoshi is known for enacting the Edict for Compassionate Treatment of Living Things.
Based on this image, we faithfully reproduced the historic Imperial Gate and designed an adorable Shiba Inu.
It is decorated with gorgeous gold ornaments and cherry blossoms that bring color to the spring, giving it a finish that evokes the arrival of spring.
We hope you enjoy picking up these goshuin stamps that have a historical feel to them.
Award details:
◎Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025 – *Limited quantity available, while supplies last
◎ Location: Kan’ei-ji Temple, Konponchudo [1-14-11 Ueno Sakuragi, Taito-ku, Tokyo]
2. About Kan’ei-ji Temple
Kan’ei-ji is a temple of the Tendai sect. It was built in 1625 by the great priest Tenkai, who was known as Jigen Daishi, on the plateau of Ueno, which is in the direction of the evil spirits (northeast) of Edo Castle, to pray for the stability of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the peace of all people. Later, the mausoleum of the fourth shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna, was built there, and it also came to serve as the family temple of the shogunate. In addition, by welcoming the head priest of Mount Toei from the imperial family (Rinnojinomiya), it became the largest temple in Japan in terms of status and size during the Edo period. In 2025, it will mark the 400th anniversary of its founding, and it continues to convey the weight of history engraved in Ueno to the present day.
<Kan’ei-ji Temple Homepage>
3. Kan’ei-ji Temple Official Instagram
We will be posting information about the limited edition paper-cut goshuin stamps on our official Instagram account. In addition, we will be posting information unique to Kan’ei-ji Temple, such as historical buildings, places related to the Tokugawa family, and valuable cultural assets that were not widely known until now.
4. ELternal Company Profile
ELternal Inc.
Sumitomo Real Estate Iidabashi Building 3F, 2-3-21 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Founded in July 2020, ELternal Inc. operates in four areas to solve social issues: tourism development consulting, regional revitalization consulting, shrine and temple (temple and shrine) consulting, and next-generation permanent memorial services, with the mission of “Bringing excitement to Japan.”
[Representative profile]
Representative Director and CEO Takayasu Kokubo
Graduated from Waseda University Graduate School of Business Administration (MBA). Tourism resource development consultant. Shrine and temple consultant.
While studying at Waseda University Graduate School, he won a business plan contest and then founded ELternal Inc. with the university. He is skilled at planning marketing strategies and even handles actual sales promotion. He is particularly known for developing tourism resources centered around temples and shrines, and in 2018 he started the Saitama Yakuyoke Kaiun Daishi Regional Revitalization Project, which revived the first shrine visit of the year at ancient temples. In just five years, from 2018 to 2023, he aims to increase the number of visitors 500-fold (from 1,000 to 500,000). He is currently one of Japan’s leading temple and shrine consultants, working on multiple large-scale consulting projects, including World Heritage temples.
