Shoganji Temple (7-11-30 Tateishi, Katsushika Ward), a Shinshu Otani sect temple in Tateishi, Tokyo, is quietly gaining popularity. The secret to its popularity is that, despite being a temple, it houses a planetarium, a rare sight in the world.

The director is the temple's 17th abbot, Ryo Kasuga. A vocalist and magician, he also served as a newscaster and commentator on various television networks, including TV Asahi's "CNN Daywatch" from 1988 to 1995, so his name may sound familiar to some.

The temple's history dates back to 1600, when Shogan, the third son of Uesugi Tamibunosuke, founded it in Yushima. After being relocated to Asakusa following the Meireki fire, it was relocated to its current location in 1932 due to land readjustment following the Great Kanto Earthquake. In 1996, the Planetarium Gingaza opened in the building's temple quarters connected to the main hall. It hosts screenings twice a month and also holds sermons. The reason for using "planetarium" over "planetarium" is to accurately represent the accent of "planetarium." This reflects Kasuga's unique attention to detail, as he speaks six languages and sings in nine. The twice-monthly screenings, open to the public, each have a different theme, ranging from the allure of space and starry skies to anecdotes from astronomers to comparisons between the Kojiki and Western mythology. The commentary is delivered in dialogue between Kasuga and a female commentator. "I treat each screening like a live performance, and I try to tackle a new theme each time," he says. He spends several days planning the screening content, devising various ideas to entertain audiences. "We don't want visitors to have any unpleasant experiences, so we always have candy available for those with sore throats to prevent complaints like, 'The person sitting next to me coughed too loudly.'" The museum also offers impeccable service. The sound system, carefully selected by the musicians, not only ensures exceptional sound quality, but also showcases the museum's sophisticated sound, including the use of wind chimes to accompany the shooting star images. The intros and outros to the screenings are recorded by musician friends, now world-famous, performing at the museum. These high-quality recordings include masterpieces like Jules Massenet's "Meditation from Thais," Tchaikovsky's "Melody," and Eugène Ysaÿe's "Childrens' Dream." Furthermore, the museum's playful interiors are filled with a variety of captivating items, captivating visitors. A toy electric train runs under the planetarium equipment, and globes and Hello Kitty in a space suit line the walls of the museum.

Even with such a wide variety of items on display, the seats are wide enough to prevent elbows from bumping into each other, and the seats are well-cushioned and reclining, so that everyone can enjoy the screening in complete relaxation. The floors are also heated to prevent guests from getting cold from the feet. It's great that you can immerse yourself in the screening in comfort, whatever the season.

Screenings are by reservation only. Reservations can be made on the Planetarium Gingaza website.