History

For over 1,000 years since the year 794, Kyoto was the capital city of Japan, during which time the dynastic court scene developed and refined a myriad of traditions and arts, such as fabric dyeing, textiles, crafts, architecture, landscape gardening, cuisine, food production, paintings and performance arts, and these have been passed down through the generations until today. In particular, Kyoto is home to a great number of long-established companies which continue to work with and pass on these traditions, including many companies which also work to convert those traditional techniques and apply them to the modern age.

In Kyoto Prefecture, since 1968, companies which have over 100 years of history, uphold family business values, continue traditional techniques and business methods, and are role models for other companies are recognised as “Kyo-no-Shinise” (a Long-Established Company of Kyoto). There are now over 1,900 companies with this status, of which there are several which were established over 300 or even 400 years ago.

The Kyoto Company Century Club was established on 21st March 2012 with the aim of gathering together these Long-Established Companies of Kyoto, and together with universities and the government, work to research and share their collective wisdom and knowledge in order to pass it on to future generations.

Organisation structure

1. Companies
   Over 1,900 companies recognised as Long-Established Companies of Kyoto
2. University researchers, etc.
   Researchers at Kyoto University, Kyoto University of Arts and Crafts, Doshisha University, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto Sangyo University, Ryukoku University, etc.
3. Governments
   Kyoto Prefecture

Main members

Representative: Governor of Kyoto Prefecture