# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine
- **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 01 Jul, 2026 at 06:30 pm
- **Event Description**: Canterbury Film Society presents The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine

Gokōgū is a small, ancient Shintō shrine in Ushimado, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea. Home to dozens of street cats, it is also known as the “Cat Shrine.” 

Many people visit the shrine for various reasons: some to worship gods, others to enjoy gardening. Some people come to clean the shrine as volunteers while others just stop by on their way to fish Japanese sardinella – and it is the perfect place for kids to play after school. In addition, some people visit Gokōgū to feed the freely roaming stray cats. Others just come to see these cats or to take pictures of them. 

It is a heaven for cat-loving residents and visitors, but some residents complain about the waste the cats leave around the neighborhood. Gokōgū looks peaceful on the surface, but it is also the epicenter of a sensitive issue that divides the local community. 

In 2021, after living in New York City for 27 years, director Kazuhiro Soda and Kiyoko Kashiwagi relocated to Ushimado where they had previously filmed Oyster Factory (2015) and Inland Sea (2018). As new settlers, the couple tried to blend into Ushimado’s local community and thus got caught up in the problem around the cats of Gokōgū. The filmmakers started rolling their camera to observe and depict the aging, traditional community and its spiritual center Gokōgū. The result is a beautiful and cruel, simple yet complex portrayal of the universe of Gokōgū, interwoven with people, cats, and all living beings.

「五香宮の猫」
Running time: 119 minutes
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Trailer: https://www.kazuhirosoda.com/cats 

Free Entry
Wednesday 1 July at 6.30pm
Philip Carter Family Auditorium
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/christchurch/canterbury-film-society-the-cats-of-gokōgū-shrine/200030245700356
- **Event Categories**: entertainment, kids, art
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 32

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Christchurch
- **state**: CA
- **country**: New Zealand
- **location**: Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
- **lat**: -43.530513400917
- **long**: 172.63103728487
- **full address**: Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, 312 Montreal St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand, Christchurch

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/66ad261f11128a0a4687f29c495e44ef59ef238ceea33fd1e04169374f61da80-rimg-w1200-h675-dca6b9e8-gmir?v=1782879686

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine being held?
  - **A:** Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine takes place on Wed, 01 Jul, 2026 at 06:30 pm to Wed, 01 Jul, 2026 at 06:30 pm at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, 312 Montreal St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand, Christchurch.
- **Q**: Who is organizing Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine?
  - **A:** Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine is organized by Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Christchurch, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Canterbury Film Society: The Cats of Gokōgū Shrine sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

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