Message and fundamental principles

aim for a fusion of traditional culture and industry

Greetings from the executive head of the foundation, Tatsushi Kani

head of the foundation, Tatsushi Kani

There are various numbers of amazing traditional cultures and precious important cultural heritages preserved in Kyoto, which we can boast to the world. These assets are what our ancestors have protected wholeheartedly since our history began. It is not too much to say that it is our own responsibility to hand down this globally precious “Kyoto Culture” to posterity. To leave this Kyoto Culture to the posterity, our foundation aims at preserving the cultural properties by utilizing the latest digital technology, introducing them to the world through cultural exchanges, and promoting our mutual understandings. Also, as digitalization will enable us to send out the information worldwide via the Internet, it will open up an opportunity of the new birth of “Kyoto Brand”. Our culture is valuable not because they are old, but I think because any design, sensibility of color, and technical capability are world-class, understood and accepted by the people in the world. In international relations in which sense of values and view of the world are seriously crossed and are against each other, I am immensely convinced that cultural exchanges on the private-sector level is the only way to deepen mutual trust and understandings. I sincerely ask for your understandings for the purpose of this foundation.

Congratulatory message from mayor of Kyoto city, Yorikane Masumoto

mayor of Kyoto city, Yorikane Masumoto

I believe it is good timing for Kyoto International Culture Foundation to start a new project of digital archive of precious important cultural properties of Kyoto and to promote protection of cultural properties and international cultural exchanges. Kyoto city which was founded in 794 where there was an ancient city Heiankyo is a city of wisdom which not only keeps upholding the old traditions and cultures, but also has free exchanges both domestically and internationally and always has innovative spirits based on the cultures our ancestors built up and creates a new culture. I think it is a clear evidence that new technology and industry are born and brought up in Kyoto by making use of the characteristic of Kyoto that continues creating culture boasting to the world. I also believe that it will be essential activities for this foundation to preserve cultural properties with the latest digital technology, to expand possibilities of traditional handicrafts for their contents and to deepen cultural exchanges by transmission of information to the world from Kyoto in order for the future development of Kyoto. I sincerely wish for continuing prosperity and success of this foundation.