Our Commitment to the Ancient Capital, Kyoto

Greetings from a hot and humid Kyoto, where the city is once again alive with the sights and sounds of Gion Matsuri, its most iconic festival. As I write this, ten hoko floats—some weighing up to ten tons—are being pulled past our Center by teams of dedicated locals. These processions have been a central part of Kyoto life for over 1100 years, surviving wars, fires, and most recently, a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their glorious return in recent years is a vivid reminder of why Kyoto—and its rich cultural traditions—deserves our care and stewardship.

At CIEE Kyoto, our staff and students have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to that mission. I’m pleased to share a few highlights from the past year, which mark the beginning of our renewed commitment to this extraordinary city.

Kyoto Through the Ages: Celebrating 1230 Years in the Ancient Capital

On October 22, 794, Emperor Kanmu (737–806) is said to have stood atop the eastern mountains and declared the basin below to be his new capital: Heian-kyō, the Capital of Peace and Tranquility. Today we know this city as Kyoto—its name not a toponym, but simply meaning “Capital City.”

To commemorate 1230 years since that founding decree, CIEE Kyoto hosted a special anniversary event on October 22, 2024. Over 120 members of Kyoto’s academic community, along with many of our students, joined us for an evening of short talks exploring Kyoto’s religious traditions, performing arts, and enduring role as Japan’s most beloved destination.

History Meets Drama: FX’s Shogun

As part of our ongoing engagement with Japan’s academic and international communities, we welcomed Professor Frederik Cryns—historical advisor to FX’s acclaimed series Shogun—on February 11, 2025. He was joined by two scholars from the International Research Center for Japanese Studies for a panel exploring the historical roots and global popularity of the series, adapted from James Clavell’s classic novel.

More than 150 guests, including students, academics, and local residents, attended the event. As with our Kyoto Through the Ages celebration, the evening underscored a growing global fascination with Japan—and Kyoto—as a place to study, explore, and understand.

Preserve Kyoto Project

This spring, we proudly partnered with Preserve Kyoto, a municipal initiative dedicated to protecting the city's traditional townscape. As part of the collaboration, our students developed marketing proposals and social media campaigns, presenting their ideas directly to the Preserve Kyoto team. Many of their suggestions will be incorporated into the project’s future digital strategy.

It’s deeply rewarding to know that our students are playing a role—however small—in safeguarding Kyoto’s unique beauty and traditions for generations to come.

These are just a few of the ways CIEE Kyoto is working to give back to the community we are so fortunate to be part of. Our commitment to preservation, education, and cultural exchange is only just beginning, and we look forward to deepening it in the months and years ahead.

Thank you to the thousands of students who have studied with us in the Ancient Capital, and to the hundreds of faculty and staff who help make these transformative programs possible. And to those considering CIEE Kyoto as their study abroad destination—we can’t wait to welcome you to the most beautiful city on earth.

Conor Aherne

Center Director, CIEE Kyoto