Japan
KMK assists a creative and vibrant society through mécénat.We are supported by corporations, with association from arts and culture organizations and individuals.
Association for Corporate Support of the Arts. - Kigyo Mécénat Kyogikai
Japan
KMK assists a creative and vibrant society through mécénat.We are supported by corporations, with association from arts and culture organizations and individuals.
Ms. Tomoko Yamazaki at the Human Resource Development Center in the Personnel & Labor Relations Division
At the concourse of the Koishikawa Building, the headquarters of Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as TOPPAN), bathed in gentle natural sunlight, is a corridor full of superb artworks that won awards at the Kanosei Art Project in FY2022 (the company has worked on this project since 2018).
History of Kanosei Art Project for art and cultivation of human resources
“In 2022, those paintings will be on display year-long for the first time since the project was launched. I expect they will be enjoyed not only by our company members but also by people visiting us and many of those using the concourse as a passing route,” says Ms. Tomoko Yamazaki at the Human Resource Development Center in the Personnel & Labor Relations Division, who is in charge of this project.
Ms. Rumiko Inoue, Senior Expert of Planning Group, Town Management Department, Tokyo Midtown Management Co., Ltd.
The TOKYO MIDTOWN AWARD is an art and design competition for artists aged 39 and under that was launched in 2008. It has been held annually since 2008 as a project to embody the concept of Tokyo Midtown, with 2022 marking its 15th anniversary. I interviewed Ms. Rumiko Inoue from Tokyo Midtown Management Co., Ltd., who has been in charge of this award project since its inception, and asked her about the overall theme and concept of the competition.
Nobuyoshi Inafuku, President of Sachibaru no Niwa Co., Ltd.
Many visitors to Okinawa will no doubt be familiar with a café called Hamabe no Chaya (literally, “Beachside Café”). Run by Sachibaru no Niwa Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Sachibaru no Niwa), this café has become a landmark among cafés with ocean views and spectacular scenery in Okinawa. Celebrating its 28th anniversary in December 2022, Hamabe no Chaya has enjoyed such long-lasting popularity that even today it is always part of the conversation when speaking of cafés in Okinawa.
The entrance to the MAP and PRINTING exhibition, featuring an impressive display of large maps in the exhibition room
Since its establishment, Printing Museum, Tokyo has conducted research and studies into the relationship between printing and people from the viewpoint of the history of culture and civilization through a variety of activities, with the aim of creating Printing Culture Studies to be passed on to future generations. Among these activities is an exhibition that plays a central part in the dissemination of information. Join me as I take a room-by-room tour of the museum while preparing for a report on the temporary exhibition that is currently being held here.
Ms. Yoko Shiki, a curator of the Printing Museum, Tokyo, who showed me around the museum
Printing Museum, Tokyo was established in 2000 as part of a project commemorating the 100th anniversary of Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (In October 2023, the company has changed its name to TOPPAN Holdings Inc.) Since its opening, the museum has worked to raise people’s awareness about the roles and the significance of printing that has contributed to the development of society and culture, holding this as its mission, and has continued activities contributing to collecting, studying, exhibiting and providing materials related to printing as well as experiencing and spreading such materials. Despite being located within the head office building of TOPPAN, instead of featuring the company’s products as its collections, the museum has continued to maintain its attitude of genuinely pursuing the expansion and possibility of printing.
The museum is run by employees who have gained work experience in other departments, are attached to the printing business, and are familiar with printing technology and its history. Ms. Yoko Shiki, who showed me around the museum this time, is one of the employees who have been certified as curators; she was transferred to the museum from another department a few years ago.
Left to right: Mr. Hagiuda, Ms. Katsumura, Mr. Okamoto and Ms. Akiyama
of the Public & Investor Relations Office
Many people will have heard about Miru Concert Monogatari on TV commercials featuring Ms. Rika Adachi. Actually, this concert has been held for 30 years since 1994 as part of ACOM’s mecenat activity. The company has held as many as 254 concerts nationwide, collectively bringing in 250,000 visitors. ACOM received the Award of Making Everyone Smile at the Mécénat Awards in 2018.
On one hot day in August 2022, I visited “Miru Concert Monogatari: Peter Pan” and interviewed staff from the Public & Investor Relations Office about what is happening behind the scenes.
At Yuki Engineering’s Kozainomori tatami room: (left) Kazuki Arita, Corporate Planning Department/ (right) Naoki Makita, Representative Director and President
12 years have passed since Yuki Engineering Co., Ltd. from Fukuoka Prefecture received the Demolition and Rebirth Award at the Japan Mécénat Awards 2011. The company, which specializes in demolition, restored a townhouse built in the Meiji era. It is currently preserved and utilized as a café-restaurant and event space named Kozainomori. In this report, I would like to talk about the impact that the Mécénat Award for Kozainomori had on Yuki Engineering’s business, as well as the company’s initiatives since receiving the award.
Association for Corporate Support of the Arts. Kigyo Mécénat Kyogikai “KMK”
Add:5-3-2, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014 JAPAN
Tel: +81-(0)3-5439-4520 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5439-4521 / Mail: mecenat@mecenat.or.jp
Business hours Mon-Fri 9:30a.m. to 5:30p.m.
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