The People Behind the Art–Connecting with Kyoto Through Who it Inspires

On July 9, I had the privilege of presenting at Asterisk in Residence, a gathering that brings together artists, researchers, designers, and other creatives to share their work, research, and questions with the local community. Unlike a conference, Asterisk encourages conversation just as much as presentation, and facilitates connection that goes beyond the evening. While each speaker shares their current interests and creative process, the evening is intentionally designed to foster discussion and connection among participants afterward.

When I first learned I had been offered the opportunity to present, I was so nervous. I have always loved speaking with fellow creatives–to me, exchanging ideas, encouraging one another, and collaborating on projects are the defining characteristics of an artistic community. And before coming to Japan, I had begun writing a novel that remains deeply important to me, and so at first I considered speaking about that work. However, after several weeks interning with Kyoto City Hall, it no longer felt like the most meaningful topic I could share.

Instead, I found myself increasingly fascinated by community itself.

Working with Kyoto City Hall has introduced me to neighborhood events, conversations surrounding cultural preservation, and people who dedicate themselves to strengthening Kyoto’s communities. Through these experiences, I became deeply interested in how communities are formed, sustained, and preserved. Rather than speaking about my own creative work, I decided to use this opportunity to explore the questions I had been asking throughout my internship. I arrived at Asterisk with one goal in mind: to speak with as many people as possible about their experiences of community in Kyoto and to better understand the city through the people who call it home.

The event took place at the kokoka Kyoto International Community House, a creative space that immediately felt both inspiring and welcoming. After walking through the main building, participants were guided into a traditional style house tucked quietly within the grounds. The atmosphere changed almost instantly. Tatami floors, wooden beams, low ceilings, and a small inner courtyard created a space that encouraged conversation and reflection. By this point in my internship, the familiar routine of removing my shoes before stepping onto the tatami had become surprisingly comforting. What had once felt unfamiliar now felt intimate–it was a happy reminder that small rituals often become the first steps toward feeling at home in another culture.

Before the presentations began, the presenters gathered together to receive an overview of the evening. Although we had all come from different backgrounds and disciplines, we shared the same nervous excitement. Our conversations bounced quickly between introductions, encouragement, and curiosity about each other’s work. I especially enjoyed speaking with Kosei Yamaguchi, an art history student, and Krishna Rammohan, a multidisciplinary designer based between California and New York. It was comforting to realize that despite our different experiences, we were all simply people who cared deeply about our work and hoped others might find meaning in it as well.

The evening opened with presentations from artists and researchers exploring an impressive range of topics. Textile artist Jetske Apollonia shared how traditional textile techniques such as knitting, weaving, spinning, and sewing have become ways for her to challenge modern consumer culture. Sculptor Sam Maske discussed how Japanese gardens, shrines, rivers, and stone landscapes had influenced his exploration of grief and memory through wood and stone sculpture. Krishna Rammohan shared his experiences traveling throughout Asia by boat while living alongside craftspeople, environmental activists, and Indigenous communities, ultimately connecting these experiences to the history of Asahiyaki pottery in nearby Uji. Although each presentation differed greatly in subject matter, they were united by a common thread, that they were understanding places through the people, traditions, and relationships connected to it.

When it was my turn to present, I spoke about my growing interest in third places–spaces outside of home and work where people gather voluntarily, build relationships, and develop a sense of belonging. Through my internship, I have begun to realize that preserving culture involves much more than protecting historic buildings or maintaining traditions. It also means preserving the relationships and communities that give those places life.

I was also able to share a thought that has become increasingly important to me during my time in Kyoto–when people visit a city, what they often remember most is not the building itself, but the person who guided them there, the conversations they had while visiting, or the smile of someone who clearly loved that place. I truly believe that cultural memory survives not only through architecture, but through encounters with people. Because of this, I believe communicating Kyoto through its communities is just as important as communicating it through its temples, shrines, or historical sites. If visitors are given opportunities to genuinely know Kyoto beyond its architecture, I believe they are more likely to care deeply about preserving it.

My fellow intern, Matthew Endow, presented immediately after me, sharing his experiences reconnecting with his Japanese heritage while interning in Kyoto and reflecting on differences between Japanese and American approaches to marketing. The final presenter, Yamaguchi,  discussed his research on contemporary museums as places capable of connecting local communities rather than simply preserving collections. Over the past year, he has traveled throughout Japan, visiting 151 museums and nearly 200 exhibitions while speaking with curators, students, and local residents. Kosei Yamaguchi’s presentation resonated deeply with me, particularly because it echoed many of the same questions I have been asking throughout my internship about how physical spaces can strengthen communities.

Following the presentations, the evening transitioned into an open networking session–almost instantly the room came alive with conversation as participants approached presenters with questions or gathered in small groups to continue discussing the ideas they had heard.

This portion of the evening immediately became my favorite.

Throughout the night I spoke with people from remarkably different backgrounds, including a Buddhist monk interested in overcoming social barriers within communities, a Japanese language teacher curious about how online communities influence local belonging, and numerous Kyoto residents, students, artists, and international visitors who each shared their own experiences of finding–or struggling to find–community within the city. Every conversation introduced a new perspective–while some people spoke about loneliness, others spoke about neighborhood organizations they loved, and others about the challenges newcomers face when trying to become involved in local life. What struck me most was not that everyone had the same answers, but that everyone cared about the question.

In many ways, the networking session became a living example of the very concept I had presented on–for a few hours, strangers gathered in a welcoming space, exchanged ideas, formed new relationships, and discovered shared interests. It reminded me that communities are rarely built through grand gestures. More often than not, they begin with simple conversations between people willing to listen to one another.

Walking back toward the train station that evening when my time at Asterisk was over, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. The nervousness I had carried into the event had gradually been replaced with excitement and hope–seeing people from such diverse backgrounds all brought together by their shared curiosity about Kyoto reminded me why I had become so interested in community building in the first place.

Every conversation I have through this internship deepens my affection for Kyoto. What once felt like a distant city has gradually become something much more personal–Kyoto has truly started to feel like a second home. Working with Preserve Kyoto has taught me that preservation is not simply about protecting beautiful buildings or maintaining historic traditions–it is equally about protecting the relationships, conversations, and communities that give those places meaning.

The Asterisk in Residence presentation reinforced that cities are ultimately remembered through the people who inhabit them, something I have been learning throughout my internship. If we hope to preserve Kyoto for future generations, we must preserve not only its architecture and traditions, but also the opportunities for people to meet, belong, and build communities together. 

I left the evening feeling more inspired than ever to continue asking questions, listening carefully, and helping others discover the Kyoto that exists beyond its landmarks–the Kyoto found in its people.

＊＊＊ in Residence Kyoto
https://asterisk-kyoto.info/

kokoka Kyoto International Community House
https://www.kcif.or.jp/web/en/building/kokoka/