On April 9, 2026, the International House of Japan (IHJ) concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with the City of Kyoto.

(From left)：Koji Matsui, Mayor, City of Kyoto, James Kondo, Chairman, International House of Japan

As a pioneer in promoting private-sector diplomacy and international cultural exchange, IHJ has been exploring opportunities to collaborate with leading cultural capitals around the world to advance outstanding initiatives in the fields of visual arts, design and architecture.

For its part, the City of Kyoto is working to realize the vision set forth in the Kyoto Philosophical Charter: to become a city where outstanding, world-class talent from across countries and regions gathers; where diverse and dynamic people interact to continuously create new culture through exchange; and that is chosen as a cultural hub by people from around the world.

Through this newly concluded partnership, IHJ and the City of Kyoto will work together to actively promote international exchange and foster new cultural creation. The partnership also aims to contribute to global peace by deepening international understanding and respect, while addressing social challenges and invigorating regional economies.

The key areas of collaboration are as follows:

(1)　Creation and global dissemination of culture
(2)　Development and exchange of exceptional global talent
(3)　Preservation and utilization of historic buildings
(4)　Other initiatives deemed conducive to achieving the objectives of this agreement