A City That Cultivates Culture — Culture, Architecture, and the Public: Perspectives from Kyoto

Takatoshi Nishiwaki (born in Kyoto, Japan in 1955) graduated from University of Tokyo and joined the Ministry of Construction in 1979. After working as Deputy Director-General of the Road Bureau, Director-General of the Policy Bureau, Chief Cabinet Secretary, and a Vice-Minister for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport before becoming the Vice-Minister of the Reconstruction Agency in 2016. In April 2018, he was elected Governor of Kyoto Prefecture. In April 2022 he was re-elected, and began his second term. He also holds many official positions including Deputy Chairman of the Union of Kansai Governments, and Deputy Director of the National Governors’ Association.

Website: https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/chiji/profile.html

Born in Ibaraki Japan, Kazuyo Sejima graduated from the Japan Women’s University in 1981.
In 1987 she opened her own studio in Tokyo and then in 1995, together with Ryue Nishizawa, she founded SANAA. Her own works include House in Plum Grove, Inujima Art House project, and Japan Women’s University Mejiro Campus. SANAA’s main works include the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, the Rolex Learning Center, Louvre-Lens, Grace Farms, La Samaritaine, Art Gallery of New South Wales -Naala Badu Building, and Kagawa Prefectural Arena. In 2010 Kazuyo Sejima was appointed director of the Venice Biennale. Her honors include the Venice Biennale Golden Lion Award, Pritzker Architecture Prize, Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Prix de l’Équerre d’Argent, Praemium Imperiale, and 2025 Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects.