Save the Date!
MINKA SUMMIT 2026
Hanase, Kyoto
April 24, 25, and 26, 2026
Tickets Now on Sale!
Join us for a minka-packed weekend April 24-26, 2026 at Minka Summit 2026!
The Original International Grass-Roots Minka Event Returns for its Fifth-Year Anniversary Celebration – Minka Summit 2026!!!
We are thrilled to welcome Keynote Speaker Jeff Berglund, who will also host a special tour of his Edo-period machiya along the Kamo River and Special Guest Tassin Shima, the “legendary housekeeper who is impossible to book,” who will discuss the restoration of her 160-year-old minka in the mountains!
Other speakers include Paul Fradalé (traditional gardens), Chuck Kayser (organic farming), and Tim Smith (going solar), with special programs including an optional lunch at the Michelin-starred Meiji-era Miyamasou and an immersive course for those searching for that dream home: “Minka from A-to-Z.” You won’t want to miss it!
Buy your Minka Summit 2026 tickets online via Peatix here:
https://minka-summit-2026.peatix.com
Kominka Japan proudly presents Minka Summit 2026, held in Hanase, a charming minka-filled village in the mountains north of Kyoto (site of the 2022 and 2024 Summits), for a 3-day event, April 24, 25, and 26, 2026!
Join us for a fun-filled, event-packed weekend celebrating minka, traditional wooden Japanese farmhouses and machiya, coupled with the unique and special charms of inaka – Japan’s rural countryside.
Whether you’re a foreign resident, Japanese, or just visiting Japan, and whether you’re considering buying a minka in your future or in the midst of renovating, Minka Summit 2026 has something just for you!
We promise an innovative program of brand-new lectures and panel discussions, hands-on workshops, minka and machiya tours, and special evening gatherings where like-minded minka owners and experts from across Japan can enjoy a great selection of Japanese and international cuisine while making personal and professional connections that will last a lifetime!
A highlight of each Minka Summit is our Saturday Night Dinner & Keynote Speech. (Important note: This is a separate ticket purchase.) A specially-catered vegetarian option is available! Capacity to this event is limited to 115 persons and typically sells out months prior to the Summit, so be sure to get your tickets now!
While we’re excited to shake up our weekend with much new and innovative programming, we’re also bringing back old favorites, as well as our signature events that define each Minka Summit, including our Minka Mall – a large open marketplace of minka-related goods, DIY and traditional crafts (many hands-on), representatives from area akiya bank and other NPO programs, and more! Adjacent to the Minka Mall will be food stalls offering a variety of cuisine, including Japanese favorites, western-world fare, and vegetarian options.
(All our events will be in English and/or Japanese, with simultaneous translation in those languages)
Minka Summit 2026 – Announcements!!!
Keynote Speaker: Jeff Berglund
Born in South Dakota in the United States, Jeff Berglund has lived in Japan since 1969, when he came to study at Doshisha University. After graduation from Carleton College in 1970, he became a teacher at Doshisha High School, and in 1992 he became a university professor, and for many years was a Professor of Intercultural Communication at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. He also became a fixture on Japanese television and radio for decades, appearing on more than 1,000 programs, including 13 years as an emcee on NHK.
Now Professor Emeritus at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and principal of Kyoto Japanese Language School, under the previous mayor he acted as an International Goodwill Ambassador for Kyoto City.
For the last quarter-century he’s lived in a storied, late-Edo period machiya townhouse, a former ryokan, nearly one hundred tatami mats in size and located in the heart of Kyoto City. He may be the only foreign-born resident boasting a yuka (納涼床), the emblematically Kyoto-style veranda overlooking the Kamo River. We are honored to have Mr. Berglund as our fourth Minka Summit Keynote Speaker.
Special Guest: Tassin Shima
After studying culinary arts in France and working for many years at French restaurants in Japan, Tassin Shima became a freelance housekeeper. She received media attention as the “legendary housekeeper who is impossible to book.” Cooking every day, she’s determined to share the warmth of family meals that she learned from French cuisine and French people with busy Japanese families. She lives with her French husband, three children, two cats, and one dog, moving into a 160-year-old house deep in the mountains. Their renovation was featured in a documentary on the TV program “Boiling World 10.” At Minka Summit 2026 Shima Tasan will share her passion and stories for minka and rural living.
Summit Spotlight – Machiya!
You’ll want to get to Minka Summit 2026 early to participate in our special Summit Spotlight – Machiya! It all begins in downtown Kyoto late Friday Morning on April 24th, with tours of traditional machiya. You’ll also enjoy a rare visit the traditional machiya ( 町家) of Keynote Speaker Jeff Berglund – conducted by Mr. Berglund himself! Afterword you’ll take the #32 Kyoto Bus to Hanase and Minka Summit 2026!
Immersive Course: Minka, from あ to ん
We’re very excited to present something new and wonderfully useful: a Summit-long series of speaker presentations and panels that will chronologically take you through the process of searching for your dream minka through the buying and renovation stages. Each step will be hosted by an expert in their field: minka specialist realtors, akiya bank representatives, expert traditional carpenters and building code experts. Get a crash course on the entire process from people in-the-know and attend the entire marathon of information, or join in where it best suits you! (Program curated by Satoko Kasagi)
Minka, from あ to ん Program Curator Satoko Kasagi
Satoko Kasagi is a certified Kominka Appraiser and a real estate agent specializing in representing overseas buyers in Japan. After gaining experience in property brokerage, she joined RE/MAX and will transfer to eXp Realty Japan in December 2025. Through her professional experience, she recognized how challenging Japan’s real estate process can be for non-residents, even when it seems simple for Japanese buyers. To help overseas buyers better understand the Japanese market and transaction process, she launched The Agent-S (https://www.theagent-s.com/), an online resource that serves as a practical guide covering key procedures, costs, and insights about buying homes in Japan. To further support individual needs, she also co-founded The YUI (https://www.theyui.com/), a service that provides consulting and advisory support tailored to each client’s goals, beyond just real estate transactions. The YUI works closely with specialists, traditional craftsmen, and builders skilled in historic construction methods to help clients navigate every stage of owning or restoring a kominka.
Guest Speaker – Paul Fradalé
The role of formal and agricultural gardens in “situating” minka within their historical and current local contexts
Dr. Paul Fradalé and his wife are international school leaders, and have lived in Japan for 24 years, in Kanazawa, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, Tokyo, and Tochigi. In 2015 they bought a farmhouse that was built in Meiji 23 (1890) and have been renovating it and rebuilding the formal gardens for the past decade with the kind support of their local community. Their home was featured on CNN during the pandemic. Most recently they have undertaken grain farming for the first time and harvested 190kg of wheat and 60kg of barley. Paul has given university lectures on traditional houses in Japan and is a former board member of Kominka Japan; his presentation marks his first Minka Summit appearance.
Summit Spotlight – Miyamasou!
Nestled in the mountains of Hanase a five-minute drive from Minka Summit 2026, Miyamasou is a traditional, Michelin-starred Japanese inn adjacent to Bujou-ji, a gorgeous 12th century temple. Built in 1892 during the Meiji era as a temple guesthouse, since 1937 it has served Tsumikusa cuisine crafted from the seasonal bounties from the mountains and rivers, inspired by the herb gathering enjoyed as a pastime by Heian aristocrats. A physical space designed by Sotoji Nakamura, a master of Sukiya-zukuri architecture. For Minka Summit 2026 Miyamasou is generously offering an enormously discounted lunch for ¥5400 (limited to 30 people).
The Return of Organic Farmer Chuck Kayser!
One of our most popular presenters, Chuck Kayser has been teaching for over 30 years and growing vegetables for more than 16. He now manages fields in Shiga and Kyoto, farming 4 days a week and delivering vegetable baskets all over Kyoto City. He sometimes appears as a guest lecturer for universities, groups and other gatherings both in person and online. With the goal of spreading the word about the power of organic farming, he hosts tours, events, and volunteers at the farm; he has created a YouTube channel and has constructed a classroom in Kyoto City to begin a gardening education program in 2023. Chuck continues to search for new ways to allow others to experience for themselves the tremendous value of joining a community dedicated to raising healthy food in balance with the environment.
Going Solar (and Working Toward Net-Zero) with Tim Smith!
We were fascinated by Tim Smith’s Kominka Japan Live! Presentation earlier in 2025, where he discussed the process of converting his minka to solar polar at a low cost. His electricity costs are practically zero and, equally important, he’ll have power in the event of an extended outage due to a typhoon or major earthquake. Tim combines his passion for sustainable energy with extensive knowledge and experience for a presentation that will have you rushing out to convert your minka to clean energy, too!
HoneyAnt Returns with Vegetarian Cuisine!
Vegetarians attending Minka Summit 2024 raved about the vegetarian option at our Saturday Night Dinner & Keynote Speech. They’re back for those craving meatless and organic cuisine. Their shop, located in a detached section of a minka in the heart of Hanase, they specialize in fermented foods such as homemade miso paste, mayonnaise, roux made from Koji, plum vinegar, and pickled plums, as well as organic food staples.
Matias Kitchen is Back with Delicious Mexican Cuisine!
Frijoles, BBQ Chicken & vegetarian tacos and tamales, Sopa de Mondongo, sweets and more! Their food is delicious!
Kansai Premiere!
Minka: The Journey of a Japanese Farmhouse (2025)
Join us for the Kansai premiere of director John Junkerman’s new documentary, five years in the making, about the relocation of a kominka from Nagahama, Shiga, to a suburb of Boston, yet the film is also about family and local histories, the technical and aesthetic challenges of traditional building methods and cross-cultural teamwork, and so much more! Co-produced by Japanese cinema scholar Peter Grilli and featuring outstanding cinematography, you’ll not want to miss it. Director Junkerman is tentatively scheduled to introduce the film. In English and Japanese with English subtitles.
Naomi Kawase
A filmmaker of both documentaries and narrative features and shorts, often blurring the boundaries and challenging cinematic conventions, she is perhaps best-known for her feature-length drama The Mourning Forest which was awarded the Grand Prix at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Like many of her other films, it is set in rural Nara, where Kawase was herself raised – her work often has autobiographical elements – and which concerns both universal humanism but also particular to those living in rural, aging parts of Japan. (The Mourning Forest, highly recommended, is about a young nurse working at an elderly home in a rural Nara minka, where she bonds with an elderly man with dementia.) This will be Kawase-san’s first Minka Summit appearance.
Haruo Nishio
Haruo Nishio is a Japanese craftsman who has devoted his career to reviving the art of tradition thatched roofing. Relocating to Miyama in the 1990s, a rural village known for its historical thatched houses, Nishio saw this as a chance to learn and preserve a disappearing skill. While others saw roof thatching an outdated profession, he committed himself fully, building a reputation for his expertise and deep respect for the tradition. He launched Miyama Futon & Breakfast, a hospitality venture that offers guests a chance to stay in restored thatched homes. The initiative connects modern visitors with Japan’s rural heritage in a hands-on way. He also wrote a book titled Why I Became a Thatcher , where he reflects on the meaning behind his work. For Nishio, thatched roofs aren’t just beautiful or nostalgic—they represent a living connection to the land and a sustainable form of building that, with care, can last for generations. Through his efforts, he has helped breathe new life into an ancient tradition while encouraging others to see its value in the present day.
Joy Jarman-Walsh has for more than two decades worked as an Assistant Professor teaching communication, tourism, business, and sustainability at the university level. She now teaches leadership and business courses part-time while continuing her work in sustainable tourism. Originally from Hawaii, in 1999, Joy and her partner Paul co-founded GetHiroshima, a regional website helping residents international and visitors experience the city like locals. Since April 2020, she has hosted Seek Sustainable Japan, a livestream talk show and featuring podcast inspiring individuals and organizations working toward sustainability across Japan. The series explores how to balance the needs of people, the planet, and profitability in tourism and beyond.
The ever-popular Emily Kaneko Reynolds returns to Minka Summit! Born and partially raised in Tokyo, she learned Japanese from a young age. In her late teens she was exposed to permaculture ideology’s natural building philosophy in the US, and was particularly drawn to earthen plasters. Twenty years ago, she learned of Japan’s versions of earthen walls and was smitten. Emily currently works in a fourth-generation sakan company in Kyoto. She has published two books, “Japan’s Clay Walls: A Glimpse into Their Plaster Craft” and “Sakan at Work: Japan’s Natural Plasters.” Residing in nearby Keihoku, north of Kyoto City, with her carpenter husband and their twin daughters, they are looking forward to both restoring old gorgeous wood and earth buildings, as well as creating wood and earth renovations which draw from both Western and Japanese manners.
Also appearing at Minka Summit 2026 will be Emily’s extraordinarily talented husband, Ryosei Kaneko who has been a professional carpenter working in both Japan and the United States for more than 30 years. He’s one of those daikusan who seems to know everything about a lot of things, and a lot about everything else, especially anything to do with traditional carpentry and minka. We’re delighted to welcome Emily and Ryosei-san back to Minka Summit!
Providing drinks at Minka Summit will be EZYCAFE, serving a variety of hot and cold coffee drinks, soy and milk drinks, Italian sodas, smoothies, lemonade and more! So whether you need a strong cafe latte to get you started in the morning, or a refreshing lemonade in the hot sun, EZYCAFE is ready to serve you!
Heart Country Stove
Longtime Miyama-based wood stove company not only imports maki stoves from around the world, they specialize in stove-installation for minka. With great care they can assess the safest, best placement for wood stoves in minka – even where thatch roofs are still used. Their display at the 2022 and 2024 Summits made a strong impression on Summit guests and we’re delighted to have them return for Minka Summit 2026! Visit: https://heartcountry.co.jp
Art Exhibition & Reading Room – with Prizes!
We’re doing something special for Minka Summit 2026 – a Minka Summit Art Gallery and Reading Room. Behind-the-scenes at Kominka Summit we’ve long talked about doing this, and for the next Minka Summit it’s finally happening!
First, there will be a gallery space and we are asking all of YOU to consider submitting YOUR original art in any medium – charcoal drawings, paint, sculpture, needlepoint, anything – the only requirement is that the art must feature or directly relate to minka, and/or is made using minka elements. You can ship your artwork ahead of the Summit, or bring it with you and register it when you arrive. A jury of five of our special guests and speakers will vote late Saturday afternoon, and winners will receive the following prizes: 1st Place (¥10,000); 2nd Place (¥5000); 3rd Place (¥2500). You’ll also be able to sell your artwork there, though only one competition entry per person, please, and be sure to submit your piece no later than Saturday, April 25 at 11:00am. Further, if you own a minka being used as a professional art studio making traditional crafts (ceramics, indigo dye materials, etc.) you can display and sell samples of your work out-of-competition.
Adjacent to the Gallery will be a Reading Room, with scads of Minka-related books, mooks, and magazines where you’ll be able to browse when you need to rest your feet for a while. Attendees are also welcome to refer to this library when they have carpentry and other questions.
Minka Annex – Volunteer and Limited Accommodations
We’re delighted to confirm we’ll be back at the “Minka Annex” for our Saturday Night Dinner & Keynote Speech, and grateful to Kodomo no mura for allowing us to use this wonderful facility once again. The space also has limited private rooms and shared accommodations for our volunteers and for those unable to drive during the Summit. If you’d like to volunteer and receive free shared accommodations (boys and girls in different tatami rooms with futon), or if you are relying on public transportation to get here, have no car and/or license, let us know!
Madonokoya – Yukihiro Tsugawa (Workshops and Minka Mall)
Though his main occupation is landscaping, Tsugawa-san first encountered saws when he met a master lumberjack at the age of 17. He was so impressed by the cutting power of his saws that Tsugawa spent three years mastering the art of sharpening forestry saws. His master lumberjack teacher taught him logging techniques, the sharpening of forestry tools, making handles, using tools, and other knowledge. He went independent at the age of 24 and apprenticed under Nakaya Denzaemon, the last sawsmith in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, to learn how to sharpen window saws. He opened Madonokoya about four years ago and, using his experience working on-site, he sells saws that are sharpened to suit the person and the wood, and also sharpens saws.
Guest Speaker Iain Davey
Originally from the UK, Iain Davey has been teaching EFL in Japan for over 30 years and is currently a Professor at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. His main area of teaching is Education for Sustainable Development. Davey holds an MA in Sustainable Development and Governance, and this has led to hands-on involvement in a number of sustainability initiatives, including building a self-designed eco-house, renovating old Japanese farmhouses, and creating a five-acre smallholding. As part of his efforts to reduce his family’s carbon footprint, he also runs the family car on WVO or waste vegetable oil.
At the Minka Mall – Empingao Cuban Sandwiches (Saturday Only!)
The folks at Empingao tell us their “Roast pork [is] marinated in citrus fruits, herbs, and spices for 48 hours and then grilled. It’s sandwiched between soft French bread with homemade pickles, cheese, and original mustard sauce, and then grilled until the outside is crispy. This exquisite dish (=EMPINGAO) was created with the aim of creating a flavor you’ll want to eat again and again.” We can’t wait to try them!
Guest Speaker – Tomoko Kawata
Joining our “Minka from A-to-Z” series of lectures is Tomoko Kawata. Born in Osaka and raised all over Japan, from Kyushu to Hokkaido and including small villages in Japan as well as Canada, Kawata worked as a representative of the Kyotamba government Akiya Bank. She is currently a Relocation Consultant with the NPO Small Farmers/Kyoto, providing online classes and workshops showing how to find rural houses and build traditional lifestyles, how to build trust with locals, etc. Kawata-san’s presentation offers essential information on how akiya banks work, addressing also how Japan’s increasingly restrictive policies toward foreign immigration may impact full access to those programs.
Minka Mall Booth and Workshop – Urujyu Kintsugi (Friday and Saturday only!)
“Though dust returns to dust eventually, kintsugi may be the answer to your prayers for keeping your beloved ceramics a bit longer.” Urujyu uses the ancient Japanese technique of repairing ceramics using urushi decorated with gold or silver. Urujyu Kintsugi will have a booth at our Minka Mall, and will be offering kintsugi demonstrations, free kintsugi consultations (repair advice, estimates, etc.), and sales of kintsugi kits. Visit their website at: https://urujyu.com/en/
At Our Minka Mall – Food Truck Craft Burger
Gourmet hamburgers! “Our original buns are made with Hokkaido-grown strong flour Haruyokoi,” they tell us, “organic whole wheat flour Kitano Kaori, and Hoshino natural yeast. Enjoy our Hawaiian cheeseburger, featuring an original patty kneaded with various spices, topped with fresh vegetables, egg, pineapple, and cheddar cheese!”
At the Minka Mall: One-on-One Consultations
New to Minka Summit! Many of our guest speakers and Minka Mall participants will be offering one-on-one consultations at various times. “Everyone’s needs are different” is a line we hear over-and-over, so the idea is that, after listening to a lecture or participating in a workshop, in many cases you’ll be able to confer with these experts about your specific search and renovation ideas for your minka – our experts are there to offer you personal advice!
Minka Tour/Workshop – Hands-On Earthen Wall Plastering at Ukai Residence (Sunday Morning)
Keita Ukai is in the process of restoring his minka using traditional methods wherever possible. Over the last few months he has completed the bamboo lath work for the exterior walls and plans to complete the interior walls this month. Ukai-san’s generosity and the timing of MInka Summit 2026 allows a rare chance for guests of the Summit to experience an on-site, hands-on earthen wall plastering workshop, co-hosted by expert Emily Kaneko Reynolds. Ukai-san will also talk about his other renovation efforts to this traditional minka, his family’s future home.
At the Minka Mall: Children’s Play Area
While Minka Summit isn’t exactly a children’s event, we know some parents need to bring their small children with them to Minka Summit 2026, so we’ll be setting up a play area where kids can read, play with blocks, etc. At the 2022 and 2024 Minka Summits, noise from the play area in the lobby of the main building was occasionally disruptive to the adjacent speaker presentations, so what we’ve done is to essentially move that space to the Minka Mall, a win-win for everybody!
Vietnamese Food at the Summit!
Welcoming a food truck serving Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and milk tea. According to owner Yumi-san, “Bread is a popular food enjoyed around the world. Vietnamese banh mi is particularly famous. This exquisite sandwich features crispy French bread, juicy meat, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and a special sauce. Its well-balanced flavors and convenient convenience make it a great choice. In fact, banh mi has been ranked 10th in a global street food ranking, captivating people around the world. One bite and you’ll be amazed by its deliciousness.”
Kyoto Chuo Kominka Association ((京都中央古民家再生協会)
Representatives Masae Hata, Tetsuya Hata, H. Mingi and more will host a massive, interactive 3-table booth tentatively featuring the following:
– Make Your Own Chopsticks Using a Traditional Japanese Hand Plane
– Hands-on Traditional Joinery (Shikuchi) Assembly
– Photo Exhibition of Kominka Restoration Projects
– Consultation Table: Kominka Reuse, Relocating to a Kominka, and Vacant Houses (Akiya)
Masae Hata is the Chief of General Incorporated Association of Housing Education Kyoto and Director of Sumairu Lab. Majoring in architecture in Canada, she obtained various certifications, including the Kominka diagnosis. She has dedicated herself to the preservation of traditional culture and raising public understanding. Rather than simply utilizing buildings, she pays attention to the philosophy of daily life for individuals and families, fostering deep connections with local communities to realize sustainable and autonomous projects. She is an architectural coordinator, using her broad knowledge of structures, details, and functions to connect people, communities, and spaces.
Tetsuya Hata is the Chief of the Kyoto Chuo Kominka Association and Master Daiku of Hata Construction. His primary profession is traditional carpentry, daiku, specializing in techniques for kominka as well as temples. He expertly assesses the characteristics of wood and carries out construction using traditional methods. In 2020, he won the Grand Prize at the 7th Renewal of Traditional Architecture Awards. Beyond preserving, and restoring Kominka, he actively engages in lectures, and events aimed at finding new applications for traditional architecture. Through diverse collaborations, he carries out a wide range of projects without being bound by conventional approaches.
Kominka Japan is very excited the KCKA will be making its first appearance at Minka Summit 2026!
Speaker Presentation – “Berlin to Kameoka: Why an Architect Shifted from Cosmopolitan Architecture to Traditional Kominka” by H. Mingi
Also at the Kyoto Chuo Kominka Association booth at the Minka Mall – Mingi-san will offer the following speaker presentation: “Berlin to Kameoka: Why an Architect Shifted from Cosmopolitan Architecture to Traditional Kominka”( ベルリンから亀岡へ：国際スタイルから古民家へ転じた建築家). A German-licensed architect, First-Class Kominka Diagnostician, and Leader Architect of MIN.ARCHI Architecture Studio, H. Mingi works in Japan, Germany and S. Korea. He earned his diploma at the Technical University of Dortmund and further honed skills at the Düsseldorf Art University. His experience includes architecture firms in Tokyo, Cologne, and Berlin, and he obtained his German architect license, worked on various projects including libraries, residences, and office buildings. In recent years, based in Kyoto, has been engaged in the revitalization of Kominka into a share house and community facility, developing initiatives that connect regional culture and society with architectural spaces.
At the Kominka Japan Art Gallery – Minka in Miniature
From the collection of David Claypatch, Kominka Japan is proud to present a rare public viewing of more than 30 exquisitely detailed handmade minka models Claypatch purchased from a retired craftsman living in Zushi. Using books and photographs, he would take detailed measurements and recreate photographed minka in miniaturized model form, using carefully chosen sticks from a local park to create post and beam structures. These beautiful models, each taking up to six months to complete, will receive a rare public display courtesy David Claypatch.
Team Tell Hanase
Local teenagers – under the banner “Team Tell Hanase” – will be selling hand-made sweets using local ingredients at Minka Summit 2026! We hope you’ll try some!
Speaker Presentation – Bae Sangsun Discusses Her Minka Art Studio and Personal Artist-in-Residence Journey
&
New at the Kominka Japan Art Gallery – Works by Bae Sangsun
Bae Sangsun is a Korean artist. She completed a master’s degree program in painting at the Graduate School of Art and Design in Musashino Art University in 2002 and a doctoral course without a doctoral degree in painting at Graduate School of Arts in Kyoto City University of Arts in 2008. Based in Kyoto, Bae is internationally active, moving between Japan and South Korea. Her charcoal monochrome paintings, a motif of which started with human bodies, were selected for the VOCA (Vision of Contemporary Art) exhibition in 2005 and 2008 as serene and dynamic artworks. Her other works include installations and ceramic pieces with string or knot motifs. She has recently broadened her activities to cover photographic works based on research on the modern history of Japanese-Korean relations and image works based on collections and research of archival materials, some of which were selected for KG＋SELECT 2019, a satellite of the KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival.
Located in Oharano, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, at the foot of the magnificent Mt. Nishiyama, Ohara Studio Gallery is a serene base where people and culture connect through art. Surrounded by rich nature and a rural landscape, this location offers a unique environment for artists from Japan and abroad to deeply immerse themselves in their work. While serving as a space for artistic creation, we also position this site as a “window” that connects diverse talents with the history and people of the local community. Our main activities include operating residencies for artists from Japan and abroad, organizing exhibitions and events at our gallery, and planning and managing cultural and artistic programs. The surrounding area is home to sprawling bamboo groves, mountains, and historical sites like Oharano Shrine and Shoboji Temple. It is also dotted with workshops of traditional artisans and craftspeople. Alongside the culture that has long been nurtured in this region, Ohara Studio Gallery strives to weave a new story where art and community intersect.
At the Minka Mall – Oimatsu!
A traditional Kyoto confectionery shop, Oimatsu was founded in 1908 in Kamishichiken, one of Kyoto’s oldest geisha districts. Confectionery is a communication tool that connects people through “Kyoto’s confectionery culture,” an intangible cultural heritage conveying the history and culture of Kyoto. The owner’s family is descended from court ceremonial officials from the Heian period, and has been making sweets for use in ceremonies and rites based on the ancient court customs and customs, as well as sweets for the tea ceremony, hence the name Yusoku Confectionery Preparation Shop. One of Kyoto’s most celebrated shops, at the Minka Mall attendees from across Japan and around the globe will have a rare opportunity to buy their amazing sweets!
At the Minka Mall – Ryugo Hoshino and His Rocket Stove!
Rocket stove master Ryugo Hoshino returns to Minka Summit, and this time he’ll be hosting a workshop on disaster resistant rocket stoves!
Speaker Presentation and Documentary Preview with Eiji Iwakawa
Filmmaker Eiji Iwakawa originally envisioned Japanese Dream as a four-part limited series but over the course of postproduction began rethinking his film, documenting an American foreign resident’s vision of making a life for himself and his wife in the Japanese countryside, as a feature-length documentary instead. The film is unusual because it records the setbacks, frustrations and sometimes-baffling cultural clashes and not just the “living the dream” idealization of this lifestyle found in many YouTube-types series. Iwakura will preview the film with the first two episodes of the original series cut, followed by a discussion of its subject and his filmmaking methods.
Eiji Iwakawa is a Japan-based documentary filmmaker and editor with a background in international film and commercial production. Born in the UK and raised between cultures, his work explores the intersection of Japanese and Western perspectives, with a focus on character-driven storytelling. He has contributed to a wide range of projects in Japan through his company, Fu Films, from independent documentaries to branded content for global clients. His past work includes Yadorigi: A Village in Portraits (2013), a short film about characters in a small village in Kanagawa, which was selected for Raindance, Sheffield Doc/Fest, and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
New!
Minka Tour – Kabitsubata Thatched-Roof Minka
Sunday only! A thatched-roof farmhouse with a history of approximately 280 years. In the garden on the south side of the building, irises bloom, said to have been planted by Prince Korechika, the eldest son of Emperor Montoku, the 55th emperor. The main house is a single-story wooden building, a thatched farmhouse with a hipped roof. It measures six bays in length and four and a half bays in width, with the entrance on the south side. The roof structure uses a combination of rafters and ridge posts. With the west side as the upper part, there are four living rooms, with a zashiki and nakanoma at the front. The zashiki has a joist ceiling and features alcoves and Buddhist altars, each one bay wide. At the back are a kitchen and nando equipped with a hearth. Part of the earthen floor at the back is covered with planks and has a hearth. Below the entrance are a stable, a shibagoya, and a karausuba. The exact construction date is unknown, but the use of decorative cypress wood between each pillar and the condition of the building materials suggest that it dates back at least to the late Edo period. This is a rare and important example of a farmhouse dating back to the early modern period in the Hirogawara area.
New!
At the Minka Mall – 山の家具工房 (“Mountain Furniture Workshop”)
Saturday/Sunday only! Located in the rural northern Kyoto City area of Keihoku, they use hard woods such as walnut, chestnut, and cherry to handcraft furniture and tools that can be passed down through generations. Their shop includes a gallery and studio, and can offer consultations on custom-made furniture. http://yama-kagu.com
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