Introduction

The History of the Foundation

Symbol and Character

Symbol

Purple, the color associated with royalty…　The official color of Kyoto is purple, and the symbol of the Foundation uses this color in a circular pattern with lines stretching outward expressing our wish to expand the role of Kyoto in international exchange. The dot in the middle at the end of each line is the expression of “i”, the first letter in “international”.

Character

“kokoka” is the abbreviation for Kyoto International Community House, taken from the Japanese “KOkusai KOryu KAikan”and it was chosen by the people of Kyoto on the 20th anniversary of the Foundation. On the 25th anniversary of the Foundation, “kokoka”, the logo, and the character all became registered trademarks of the Foundation.

Greetings

Mayor's Greetings

Mayor of Kyoto City, Koji MATSUI

Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan for over a thousand years, has fostered a rich culture accepting diverse people from inside and outside of Japan to interact. At present, there are 55,000 foreign nationals, including nearly 14,000 international students, active in various fields such as academia, culture, and industry in Kyoto, and they account for about 4% of the population of the city.
Kyoto City International Foundation offers a wide range of services such as multilingual information and consultation services, Japanese language education, and exchange activities to develop cross-cultural understanding, based in the kokoka Kyoto International Community House, which opened in 1989.
The Foundation has played an important role as a key organization in promoting international exchange and harmony in multicultural context in Kyoto, together with many volunteers who cooperate with the management. In prospect of further globalization, the Foundation is required to play a more significant role.
The City of Kyoto shall make Kyoto an outstanding global city, receiving assistance from those who are engaged in international exchange. I hope that Kyoto will be a place where multi-talented people gather and anyone can get excited while cherishing culture and tradition inherited from our predecessors. Your continued support and cooperation will be highly appreciated.

President's Greetings

President of KCIF Genshitsu SEN

The Kyoto City International Foundation was founded in January 1989, and in September of the same year it made the Kyoto International Community House its base from which to promote activities at the "citizen's level". During this time, information provision activities, support activities for overseas students, internationalizing activities for the youth who will carry the next century, overseas experience activities and so on have been carried out, but this time information provision activities by the Internet havebeen started. As to the Internet, in the recent years a part of it has been noticed as some kind of a trend.
However, if the substance of Internet is the ability of "individuals" around the world who sit in front of their computers to exchange information with "individuals" around the world exceedingly "equally" and "directly", then we may flatter ourselves that it may have a large bearing to this Foundation's aim which is to promote "international exchange at citizen's level". From now on, by increasing the provided information in both quality and quantity, also by responding to provided information adequately, we will try to promote the true aim of this Foundation, so as to yourselves we hope that you will continue to support and cooperate as you have until now.

Charter

The technological innovations of recent decades have given us a world where we are getting closer and closer, with speedy transportation and seamless world-wide instant communications.
In this modern world, it is necessary to have a global perspective when we seek to improve our lives and welfare. As we have now held a place as an economically developed nation for most
of our lives, our role in the international community has increased, and the realization of a Japanese society truly open to the world is more important than ever. To deepen mutual understanding
and achieve effective goodwill relations betweens peoples, it is necessary to have cooperation and exchange not only at the national level, but also development of international exchange at
various levels such as cities to cities, and citizens to citizens. In particular, internationalization through cultural exchange on a personal level can encourage citizens to open their minds
to the world and even contribute to world peace. Kyoto was established as Heiankyo more than a thousand years ago, and is proud to be recognized by the international community as the finest
representation of Japanese traditions to the world. Every year millions of visitors from around the globe, including state guests, businessmen, tourists, and international students, come to
Kyoto to experience the essence of Japanese culture. In the decades since Kyoto City’s "Declaration of Kyoto as a City Open to the Free Exchange of World Cultures" in 1978, great strides have
been made with the aim of making Kyoto into a new international city where the cultures of the world can meet and draw strength and vitality from one another. We at Kyoto City International
Foundation, at our home in Kyoto International Community House, now in the 21st century will continue to promote our mission of creating mutual understanding and friendship with international
visitors and residents with various international exchange projects in Kyoto, and in this way contribute to the continuing development of Kyoto as an open, welcoming, cultural city of the world.

Declaration of Kyoto as a City Open to the Free Exchange of World Cultures

Any city is in need of some ideal. When the ideal is based upon an accurate evaluation of conditions in the world and upon a deep reflection on its proper traditions, and if the citizens endeavour to realize that ideal, then that city can be expected to play an important role in the historical development of the world. In this spirit we have decided to declare the city of Kyoto to be a culturally free city, open to the exchange of the cultures of the world.
A free city for international cultural exchange is one where peoples of any country may assemble freely and in peace, regardless of race, creed or social system, for the purpose of cultural exchange.
Kyoto is an ancient city which has preserved old cultural heritages and scenic natural beauty for over one thousand years. We cannot, however, merely take pride in past glories, nor live isolated. We must communicate widely with the world, and through international exchanges Kyoto must be always renewed culturally and continue to create her own unique culture. It is our hope, therefore, to make Kyoto a center of international cultural exchange.
A declaration of ideals is, of course, much easier than its execution, but we, the citizens of Kyoto, would like calmly to make this resolution and pledge our efforts towards what we can do for the realization of this ideal.

Octorber 15, 1978 Kyoto City

Article of Association / Financial Statements