A unique community that connects Kyoto and the world through Japan’s authentic living culture

The driving force for sustaining Japanese culture in the global community.

The “Inspired by Kyoto” project explores the meaning of Kyoto for the future. Each time we are exposed to the thoughts of practitioners in various fields who are creating Kyoto’s future without being bound by precedent, and we transmit them to the world in the form of narratives.

I had the opportunity to speak with Stuart Galbraith IV, the founder of Kominka Japan, who resides in the Hanase area of Kyoto City. Kominka Japan is a global Facebook community dedicated to Japan’s authentic living culture, and it is expanding its activities throughout Japan, with Hanase at its core. In this conversation, we would like to delve deeper into this enthusiastic community that originated in Hanase and its unique ecosystem.

Stuart Galbraith IV, the founder of “Kominka Japan”

Hanase in Kyoto City is a region located north of Kurama, encompassing four districts along the Wakasa-kaido over Hanase Pass. These districts are Bessho, Oofuse, Yamasu, and Harachi Shinden. Since the Heian period, this area has been designated as the Emperor’s imperial domain (known as “Somayama”), and timber from here was sent to the Imperial Palace. It is also renowned as a summer retreat for scholars and literati.

In the midst of the lush natural beauty of Hanase, which is a bit removed from downtown Kyoto, you can find individuals who are connecting Japan and the world. One of these remarkable figures is Stuart. He is the founder of Kominka Japan, who has now built a passionate global community. During the first Minka Summit held in 2022, over 300 people visited Hanase. Despite being from the United States, Stuart chose Hanase, a place he had no prior connection to, as the hub for his activities. Let’s uncover the story of how Stuart and Hanase came together and the reasons behind his choice.

Growing Up Watching Japanese Films and Getting Involved in the Japanese Film Industry

Apart from Kominka Japan, Stuart has another profession. He works as an editor at a translation company in Tokyo. The American-born Stuart’s connection with Japan began during his childhood.

“When I was a child, I had a great passion for watching monster movies. As I grew up, I started watching films by directors like Kurosawa, Ozu, and Mizoguchi. I’ve been a film enthusiast since my childhood, and Japanese cinema held a special place in my heart. Eager to learn more about Japanese films, I would go to theaters to watch them, rent videos, and watch everything I could get my hands on. Later on, I pursued my education in the film and television department at the University of Southern California and began writing books about Japanese cinema. This path eventually led me to my current profession.”

The renovated film collection room, housed in a renovated Japanese traditional warehouse, “Kura”, resembles a rental video shop.

“About 30 years ago, I began writing books about films, and most of those books were about Japanese cinema. I also worked on DVD and Blu-ray content, including titles like the ‘Tora-san’ series and Kenji Fukasaku’s ‘Jinginaki Tatakai’.”

The books he has previously written and the film content he has supervised are also available in the United States and the United Kingdom.

“Since 1994, I began coming to Japan to conduct interviews with actors, directors, and screenwriters. It was around that time that I also met my wife. She’s originally from Amami Oshima. Thanks to her, I had the chance to explore regions in Japan beyond Tokyo. The first time I visited Kyoto, I fell in love with this city.”

A 1000 square meter piece of land with a historic traditional old house costs the price of a single BMW

Initially, when they got married, they were living in Los Angeles. However, in 2003, they moved to Kyoto. The reason for beginning to live in a traditional Japanese farmhouse was quite trivial.

“At first, we didn’t come straight to Hanase; we were living in the city of Kyoto. In the midst of city life, we started looking for a rural farmhouse with the intention of having it as a weekend home or a retreat. That’s when we happened to find the old farmhouse in Hanase.”

“My wife had been living in Kyoto since she was in junior high school, but she wasn’t very familiar with Hanase. Naturally, I had never been there either. When we first went to Hanase as a family to see the old farmhouse, I was profoundly shocked. I vividly remember that when we were driving past the Kurama Onsen, it suddenly felt like we had entered a completely different world. It was as if, to make a comparison, in the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ when the black-and-white world turns into color upon reaching Oz. I was driving and thinking, ‘Oh, this is truly beautiful.’”

“The old traditional folk house we currently live in is 213 years old as of 2023. When we first inspected it, it had been vacant for 50 years, so it was in pretty bad shape. Still, I saw it as a beautiful home. I expected that with such a well-constructed house and 1000 square meters of land, the price would be quite high. However, when I asked about the price, I was shocked. I could buy everything for the price of a single BMW. It was an unbelievably low price. I made the decision to purchase it on the same day.”

The experience of relocating to Hanase served as the inspiration for the Kominka Japan concept

Kominka Japan is a non-profit community operated by Stuart and like-minded individuals who share the same passion. It has now grown to encompass approximately 3,700 members from around the world. I asked about the background behind the establishment of Kominka Japan.

“After purchasing the farmhouse, it took four months of extensive renovations to make it livable, essentially restoring it to its original condition. During this challenging process, I realized that there was a lack of information available about Japanese traditional farmhouses. It was not only a personal concern but also the realization that there were probably other foreigners throughout Japan facing similar challenges as me.”

“The first people I met were a foreign couple who had purchased a traditional folk house on the Noto Peninsula. They visited us here, and during our conversation, we said, ‘There must be many foreigners like us.’ We thought it would be great if we could communicate with each other and share information about Japanese traditional houses. So, she suggested, ‘Why not create a Facebook page?’ That’s how we launched the Facebook page called ‘Kominka Japan.’ In the initial three to four years, we had only nine members. But suddenly, in 2021, the member count surged. It went from nine to 300, 1,000, 3,000 members. It was absolutely crazy.”

The everyday life in Hanase is something truly unique to the world. This enthusiasm injects energy into the local community

Kominka Japan goes beyond just an online community; it annually hosts a large in-person event called the Minka Summit. Despite being located in a remote and transportation-challenged countryside, people from all over the world gather for this event. Furthermore, the positive impact of this event extends to the local economy.

“As our membership grew, we realized that this was a community of people who hadn’t met each other in person for the most part. So, we started thinking about having small gatherings to allow everyone to meet. Initially, I thought it would be nice if we could get about 50 people together. But as we discussed it, the event gradually grew in scale, and eventually, it became the ‘2022 Minka Summit’ in Hanase.”

The atmosphere at the 2022 Minka Summit

“In the end, 328 people attended the event. There were various activities, including a marketplace with small shops and government agencies setting up booths related to traditional farmhouses, professional speakers in the field, and tours of local farmhouses in the Hanase region. People came not only from all over Japan but also from places like London and Poland, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was a major success in 2022, and it was clear that it needed to continue. Since the event spanned three days, attendees needed accommodation, which benefitted local lodgings and restaurants. This was important in supporting the local economy. In April 2023, they held an event in Shinshiro City, Aichi, which saw 412 attendees. They are currently preparing for the 2024 event to be held in Hanase.”

The impact of these events goes beyond the local economy and contributes to the development of local civic pride.

“Many local people in this area have lived here for generations spanning over a century. So, for them, Hanase is not a particularly special place. However, when the Minka Summit was held, some of the local residents came to see the event. When they arrived in the parking lot, they saw license plates from all over Japan, including Niigata, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, and more. They were shocked by this.”

Through the event, participants and local residents naturally interact with the surroundings and each other.

“So, that’s what I want to emphasize. I think many people don’t even realize the unique charm that this place holds. When you go to tourist destinations and return, you’ve basically seen what’s prepared for you. But when you spend time here, you’ll realize that there’s a different, unique way of life. And it’s not for everyone. Some people love Tokyo, and others prefer the hustle and bustle, the convenience of everything being close by. But for those who appreciate nature, clean water, clear skies, and all that, it’s a highly appealing place.”

Behind the main house, they raise and live with goats.

Stuart and his wife are open and enthusiastic in supporting people interested in relocating to the area, even if they are complete strangers. This is because when they themselves moved to Hanase, they received support from the experienced expatriates living in Hanase. It has become a part of the culture in this region. In fact, even Stuart’s neighbor is a foreign resident. Despite being a historic, mountainous region, it has embraced the introduction of new elements and ideas.

Inspired by Kyoto

From Hanase, Kominka Japan broadcasts the essence of traditional Japanese architecture and the charm of a simple countryside life. It’s not a one-way street; there is active two-way communication with Kominka Japan members from around the world.

Local and global. Real and virtual. Old and new. Public and private. Moving back and forth between these contrasting concepts, the circle of enthusiastic activity continues to expand, reflecting the relationship between tradition and innovation that Kyoto has upheld.

When these seemingly incompatible ideas come together, it is in the center of this healthy friction that the wellspring of creativity is born. Even in the seemingly quiet life of Hanase, you can feel the true essence of Kyoto.

Text by Yasuhito Sasaki

Kominka Japan

Kominka Japan is non-profit organization (application-pending) whose aim is to raise awareness and appreciation for traditional Japanese architecture throughout Japan and around the world.

Our goal is to provide access to resources and the sharing of essential information, to connect people to encourage mutual education and understanding, and to enable passionate individuals to acquire, renovate, maintain, and preserve traditional Japanese buildings.

https://kominkajapan.org/

Request for Donations to Kyoto City

Kyoto Revitalization is dedicated to preserving Kyoto’s aesthetics and culture for the future through donations from around the world, fostering new inspiration.

With your support, we aim to provide powerful inspiration from Kyoto’s charm to people worldwide and contribute to making the world a better place. We are deeply grateful for your cooperation.

https://www.furusato-tax.jp/donationtojapan/en/form/input/26100