About us
About Wa Culture International Communication
November 2017 - Establishment of Wa Culture International Communication.
UNESCO's spirit: ‘Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.’ The organisation started activities to nurture richness of mind through Japanese cultural exchanges around the world.
Based in Tokyo and Kyoto, we organise and runs Japanese cultural experience events (tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arrangement, fragrance culture, tea culture, Japanese dance, kimono, samurai sword dance, Japanese food, making Japanese sweets, making incense, zazen, picture writing, origami, etc.) and proposes opportunities for international exchange through Japanese culture. So far, the organisation has organised exchanges with people from countries and regions all over the world, including Ireland, the USA, Italy, India, Indonesia, Ukraine, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Germany, Nigeria, Norway, France, Brazil, Belgium, Peru, Poland, Hong Kong, Mexico, Russia, and many others. Japanese cultural experiences with participants of all ages, from kindergarten and primary schools children to adults in their 90s, as well as students, working people and housewives from various occupations. It is also involved in the planning and management of events in Japan and abroad, such as events commemorating the relocation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto and the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Traditional Culture for Parents and Children Classroom project.
Wa Culture International Communication is working to promote the registration of Japanese calligraphy as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
2017
Nov
Establishment of Wa Culture International Communication.
UNESCO's spirit: ‘Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.’ The organisation started activities to nurture richness of mind through Japanese cultural exchanges around the world.
2018
Nov
‘Nodate experience & Kanji-ru ichigo ichie at the Kamogawa River in Kyoto in autumn’. Other events were subsequently postponed due to Covid-19.
2021
Oct
‘Let's compare Tea Time around the world’ at the Setagaya International Exchange Centre, Tokyo Setagaya Cultural Foundation. Video footage of Tea Time in 10 countries (UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Egypt, France and Japan) will be shown by foreign lecturers, followed by a talk show by lecturers associated with each country.
Dec
‘Nodate experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie at Yohoji Temple, Kyoto in winter’. (Supported by Kyoto City) Participation in and appreciation of the art exhibition ‘Gei-Ten’, which was simultaneously held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kiyomizu Temple to showcase the diversity of Japanese art to the world.
2022
Mar
Participation in and appreciation of the art exhibition ‘Gei Ten’ at the Museo Querini Stampaglia, Venice, Italy.
Apr ～Mar 2023
A Japanese culture course, ‘Kanjiru ichigo ichie in Kyoto - Etegami Course’, was held at COSMOS, a joint project with the Kyoto City International Foundation.
Apr
Participation in Experience Japan festival 2022 in Dublin, European Capital of Culture Ireland.
Jun
European Capital of Culture Lille, France ‘Calligraphy Experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie in France in Summer’. (Supported by Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City and Kyoto City International Foundation) .
Participation in and appreciation of the International Peace Art Exhibition Paris at the UNESCO Paris Headquarters, which was held at the same time. Preview viewing of Creative Japan 2022.
Also, lobbying activities to promote the registration of calligraphy as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
A class on ‘Japanese Calligraphy Culture’ was held at International School Montebello in Lille, European Capital of Culture, France. (Cooperation: Association Japon et Culture )
Sep
The ‘Autumn Stroll through Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto, Etegami Experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie’ was held. (Supported by Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto city,Kyoto City International Foundation.) At the same time, the ‘Ukraine Evacuee Exchange Meeting’ organised by Kyoto City and managed the calligraphy experience event ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association).
Oct
Commemorative event for the relocation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto: ‘Kyoto Marugoto Art Festival’ - ‘Calligraphy Experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie ’ workshop in Maizuru, Kyoto in autumn. Planning and organisation of the ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association).
Nov
‘Autumn in Tokyo - Film Talks, Calligraphy Experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie in places associated with film directors’. (Supported by Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City and Kyoto City International Foundation). Through arts and culture at the simultaneously held Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. Participation in and appreciation of the International Peace Art Exhibition Tokyo by transmitting a message of desire for peace and the SDGs. Appreciation of concert by Ukrainian folk instrument bandura player Katerina and harpist Alexander Boldachev. Awarding of a letter of appreciation for support of the activities of the Ukrainian children's magazine ‘Poznaika’.
2023
Feb
‘90th anniversary of the ward system, 6th Setagaya International Messe’ ‘Kanjiru ichigo ichie at Setagaya International Messe’ workshop in Tokyo. Planning and organisation of the ‘Feeling Kanji in Setagaya International Messe , Calligraphy by Calligrapher Ouka Magari’ stage. Planning and organisation of the ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association). Planning and operation of an exhibition to introduce the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Kyoto relocation commemorative project, the Kyoto International Community House, the Japan Etegami Association, etc.
Feb
The ‘Kyoto Marugoto Art Festival’, a commemorative event for the relocation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto, and the ‘Calligraphy & Kanjiru ichigo ichie in Kameoka, Kyoto in spring’ workshop were organised. Planning and organisation of the ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association), 'Etegami Experience'（in cooperation with the Japan Etegami Association）.
Feb
‘Etegami Experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie in Kyoto in Spring’. (Supported by Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City). Planning and organisation of the ‘Let's Deliver the Fragrance of Happy Flowers - Etegami Exhibition’ at the Kyoto International Community House (cooperation: Japan Etegami Association), which was held at the same time.
Apr
Participation in Experience Japan festival 2023 in Dublin, European Capital of Culture Ireland.
Oct
Commemorative project for the relocation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto: ‘Calligraphy Experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie in Ginza, Tokyo in Autumn’. Concurrently held ‘Tour of Europe with the Scent of Kyoto - Ouka Magari Kanji-ru Calligraphy Exhibition’. Planning and organisation of three Kyoto aromas (1) Calligraphy experience, (2) Incense at the venue, (3) Japanese tea tasting. Planning and organisation of the ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association). Supported by: Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City. cosponsorship : Gallery Sugino, Kyoei Seicha Co. In cooperation with Shoyeido incense co.
2024
Feb
Commemorative event for the relocation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto: ‘Kanjiru ichigo ichie for Tea - Kyoto Uji TEA SQARE Morihan’. Supported by: Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City and Kyoto Shimbun. In cooperation with Kyoei Tea Co. ） Planning and organisation of the ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association).
Apr
Commemorative event for the relocation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto: ‘Kanjiru ichigo ichie in Ireland in spring - calligraphy, Etegami and kimono experience’. Supported by: Embassy of Japan in Ireland, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kyoto Shimbun, EU Japan Fest Japan Committee. cosponsorship:House of Japan, Kyoei Tea Co.,Naraya hompo. Co-operated by TCD Japanese Society‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association)., Japan Etegami Association, All Japan Japanese Dress Consultants Association, Piacha Music Method, EJ Committe Executive Committee）. Participation in Experience Japan festival 2024 in Dublin, European Capital of Culture Ireland. Conducted a class on hands-on calligraphy at Gorey Community School, Gorey, Ireland. （Organised by Embassy of Japan in Ireland, co-operated by ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association).
Jun
Participation in and appreciation of the International Peace Art Exhibition Hiroshima at the MS Aster Plaza Civic Gallery in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the opening of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, by transmitting the message of the desire for peace through art and culture.
Jul～Sep
Agency for Cultural Affairs Traditional Culture Parent and Child Classroom Project ‘Kanjiru ichigo ichie for Tea - Kyoto Uji TEA SQARE Morihan’. (Co-organised by Kyoei Tea Co. Cooperation:Urasenke Sokyu Takagi, All Japan Japanese Dress Consultants Association, Naraya Hompo Co Ltd, Piacha Music Method). Planning and organisation of the ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association).
Oct
Participation in and appreciation of the International Peace Art Exhibition Santiago de Compostela in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, to deliver a message for peace through art and culture. At the same time, a ‘Calligraphy Experience & Kanjiru ichigo ichie’ is scheduled to be held at a secondary school in the Cultural Capital of Europe, Ireland. Planning and organisation of the ‘Calligraphy Experience in the City’ (in cooperation with Japan Shodo Culture Association).