About Love letter to Kyoto
Greetings
Chairperson of the Love Letters to Kyoto Review Board (Head of the Love Letters Plaza)Shoichi Inoue
Chief of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies
Advisor to the Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism Research Institute
About the 6th Love Letter to Kyoto, commemorating the 25th anniversary of our founding
Over the past decade or so, the scenery of Shijo Street has been improved considerably. Many building signs have been removed. You could say that this is the result of administrative guidance. However, I have not seen any love letters to Kyoto that praise this. “It’s become prettier recently.” Since it is a love letter, they could have said that.
Well, maybe there are not many people who want urban beauty in Kyoto. Or perhaps the administration should have made more of an effort to publicize it. “I’ve become prettier, haven’t I?” “I’m looking good these days, aren’t I?”
In any case, your letters will give us hints to think about the future of Kyoto. Ah, so this is what people expect from this city. I guess they don’t pay much attention to this part. We will use them as material to verify such things.
Please apply.
Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism Research Institute
Chairperson: Yoshie Doi
25th Anniversary of the Foundation: Call for submissions for the 6th Love Letter to Kyoto
Greetings
In Eastern wisdom, places have “memories,” and it is believed that the culture and traditions rooted in the land are engraved deep in our human souls. Kyoto, in particular, is one of the places where the memory of the Japanese soul is most densely accumulated. I believe that “Love Letter to Kyoto” is a way to awaken those memories in the form of a “love letter.”
The first public call for submissions was held in 2008. For the 17 years since, it has not simply been a public call for submissions, but the applicants are also important people who are helping to create Kyoto culture together. It is our greatest joy to share the desire to restore Kyoto to its original Kyoto-ness.
“Love Letter to Kyoto” also includes the vision of “spreading Kyoto’s role in the world.” The wisdom contained in Kyoto culture – harmony with nature, the pursuit of beauty, the fusion of tradition and innovation, and life through the four seasons – will serve as a valuable guidepost.
Love letters for Kyoto to continue being Kyoto, to be a city that carries its soul even a hundred or a thousand years from now, to incorporate Kyoto’s wisdom into daily life, to be a city that resonates with nature and protects each other, love letters for not losing sight of Kyoto’s origins of living in harmony with nature even as times change, love letters for Kyoto to shine as an eternal spiritual city and an attractive city, and love letters for Kyoto to continue to shine as an eternal spiritual city and an attractive city. Also, when we welcomed visitors from overseas to Kyoto, we received many insights about the charm of Kyoto from people from different cultures, which was the trigger for the open love letter project.
Many people visit to awaken the genes of the Japanese heart and experience the atmosphere of Kyoto. We look forward to receiving your love letters to connect Kyoto, which has cherished the hearts of our ancestors to the next generation.
We would like to weave a story of recreating “Kyoto, a city where just being there enriches your heart and turns that into energy” together with you.
About the 6th Love Letter to Kyoto to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Our Founding
2026 will be the auspicious year for Kyo-Suzume, marking its 25th anniversary. This time, we would like to establish a special award for the 25th anniversary of Kyo-Suzume’s founding, and also take on the role of a proposal award for proposals to Kyoto. We would like to submit your proposals to the relevant administrative departments of Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture on the Kyosuzume website, etc.
Plaza of Love Letter to Kyoto “Koibumi Hiroba to Kyoto”
| Plaza Chief (Committee chairperson） | Shoichi Inoue | Chief of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies Advisor of Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism |
| Advisor | Koji Matsui | Mayor of Kyoto |
| Plaza Committee （Judging committee） |
Shoei Okuda | Chief priest : Joshoji Temple Advisor of Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism |
| Osamu Saito | Former President of Kyoto Shimbun （News paper） | |
| Keigo Tamura | Advisor of Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism Master of Kyo-Manshige Agency for Cultural Affairs Cultural Envoy Landlady of Hiirag |
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| Akemi Nishimura | Advisor of Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism | |
| Taisuke Hamada | Painter for Japanese painting | |
| Keiko Murakami | Former Kyoto City Deputy Mayor | |
| Yoshie Doi | President of Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism （Order of the Japanese syllabary） |
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| Prize・Auxiliary prize | Certificate from Kyo-Suzume, Offerings from supporting companies |
“Love letter to Kyoto” Reception site
Click here to apply for a love letter to Kyoto
https://form.run/@kyoto-koibumi
- Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism HP https://kyosuzume.or.jp/
- Hirakata Tsushin HP hira2.jp
How to use the “Love letters from Kyoto” This section is set up in the “Love letters to Kyoto”
・ Basically, in the same way as the love letter to Kyoto, we will gude people who live in Kyoto Prefecture or who used to live in Kyoto Prefecture.
You can also relive your parents, grandparents, etc.
・ Providing supplementary prizes from partners (sponsoring companies) and sponsors, and providing gifts to participants and votes.
・ Request Kyo-Suzume individual members, Kyo-Suzume corporate members, and Okudo-san (Traditional cooking stove) Summit members to post to “Love Letters from Kyoto”
・ Prepairing from partners (sponsoring companies) and sponsors to provide benefits to applicants for “Love Letters to Kyoto”
Applicants and voting will receive benefits by presenting their smartphone or Kyoto Suzume member card at their partner.
About “Plaza of Love Letter to Kyoto” opening
About the open call for love letters to Kyoto
| Theme | Plaza of Love Letter to Kyoto “Love Letter to Kyoto”“Love Letter from Kyoto” | |
| Name | Love Letter to Kyoto Love Letter from Kyoto | |
| Outline | To you who are interested in Kyoto For Kyoto to remain Kyoto Please tell us your thoughts |
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| Title of each award | Grand Prize for Love Letters to Kyoto | |
| Love Letter Grand Prize from Kyoto | People who have lived in Kyoto and citizens of Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Kyo-Suzume Shoichi Inoue Award | ||
| Kyo-Suzume 25th Anniversary Special Award | ||
| Kyoto smile Award | ||
| Love Letter to Kyoto Heartwarming Award | ||
| Love Letter Landscape Award for Kyoto | ||
| Awarded for the consideration of Kyoto | cared for | |
| Kyoto Hospitality Award | Hospitality that impresses | |
| Gourmet Award of Kyoto | Food that impresses | |
| Kyoto Building Award | Impressive old houses, historical buildings | |
| Kyoto Craftsmanship Award | Impressive craftsmanship | |
| Impressive Award in Kyoto | Words spoken or remembered | |
| Awarded for deciding my life in Kyoto | Place of proposal | |
| Proposal Award | (If there is one in Kyoto), if it’s possible, if it can be seen, if it can be experienced, etc. | |
| We will award prizes. At the time of application, it is possible to apply for one of the above awards, but please note that the submitted work may be awarded another award at the discretion of the committee. | ||
| Application period | 1st May .2025～ 31st October.2025 | |
| Format of work | Sentences are 400 words or less, Senryu, Waka Poems, Haiku, Pictures, Photographs, all postcard size（100×148㎜） | |
| Application method | Only Japanese and English. For other languages, please contact us. Please apply via the dedicated website of the Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism Research Institute and Hirakatatsuushin, or by e-mail. Applications by mail or fax, are not accepted. | |
| Qualification requirements | Anyone who is interested in Kyoto | |
| Application benefits | All applicants will receive special benefits from the sponsoring companies. | |
| Entry fee | Free | |
| Selection method | Select by totaling the examination points of the Plaza committee and general voting | |
| General voting | Voting on the Net Up to 3 works per person | |
| Result announcement date | March – April 2026 | |
| Awards ceremony | The first and second events were held, but the third was canceled due to COVID-19. The fourth and fifth event were held. The sixth event is planned to be held as part of the Kyosuzume 25th anniversary celebrations. | |
| Sponsorship | Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kyoto Chamber of Commerce, Kyoto Newspaper, Japan Foundation Kyoto office , Certified by the Kansai Regional Agricultural Administration Office as part of the Kansai Food Program | |
| Accreditation |
Kinki Regional Agricultural Administration Office Kansai Food “Wa” Program Certification Kyoto Gourmet Award | |
| Sponsorship | Sponsoring companies and sponsorship benefits are listed in the attached sheet. | |
| Cooperation | Kyoto Bank | |
| Handling of work Copy right About the contents of a work |
Submitted work can’t be returned. All rights reserved. All right reserved in Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism. Work of the following type can’t be accepted, also the Committee can cancel the award without any notification Materials offensive to public order and morals Materials that violet copyright or other right of third parties Materials that violate privacy or mental abuse of a third parties Materials that lead to criminal acts or violate the laws |
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| Handling of personal information |
Personal information that has been provided with the application will only be used for contact to the applicants, sending the winning prize, and announcing the winners It will not be used for any other purposes. |
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| Organizer | Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism | |
| Organizer overview | Founded NPO Yuyusha Kyo-Suzume in 2001, and moved to Kyo-Suzume Cultural Tourism Research Institute (commonly known as Kyo-Suzume) in 2017. Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism Research Institute will disseminate the culture of living for the future | |
| Address for submission | Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism https://form.run/@kyoto-koibumi 231 2F The 8th Hase bldg, 680-1 Omandokoro cho, Bukkojisagaru Karasumadori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600-8413 Japan https://kyosuzume.or.jp/ E-mail contact@kyosuzume.or.jp |
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| Contact | Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism 231 2F The 8th Hase bldg, 680-1 Omandokoro cho, Bukkojisagaru Karasumadori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600-8413 Japan Phone +81 70−6500−4164 E-mail contact@kyosuzume.or.jp HP https://kyosuzume.or.jp/ |
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Guidance of supporting members to Kyo-Suzume
With the hope that Kyoto will remain Kyoto forever, this is the 6th public offering of the “Love Letters to Kyoto” project, which aims to increase the ability to spread the appeal of Kyoto and its centripetal force. It will be held following the “1st to 5th love letter to Kyoto” from 2009 to 2023. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the companies that have cooperated with us, including the provision of products, and we would like to ask for your support and cooperation this time.
We will publish the company names and names of everyone who has supported us on the website of the Kyo-Suzume Culture and Tourism Research Institute, published booklets, etc.
- Kyo-Suzume Supporting Member
| Kyo-suzume supporting member | Annual fee amount | Privilege |
| Sponsorship fee (every year) |
The sponsorship fee is 10,000 yen per share, and we ask for the sponsorship fee for the number of shares that you can support. | You can participate in Kyo-Suzume events (love letter-related events, Okudo-san Summit, Kyo-Suzume events, etc.). Kyo-Suzume’s e-mail magazine for supporting members will be distributed. l We will post the contents and the names of the sponsoring companies on the Kyo-Suzume website and in the love letter square to Kyoto. |