Erina Nawa, a Grade 12 student in the IB Course, planned and organized a “German-style discussion event” focused on exploring Kyoto’s traditional culture and contemporary society.

The events were held on April 5 and May 10 at Be-Kyoto and Tentan Dormitory, where participants engaged in discussions on themes such as “life in Kyoto” and “social issues” within the setting of traditional machiya townhouses.

During the event, participants exchanged ideas on topics including:

Diverse participants shared their perspectives throughout the discussions.

Participants commented that “Kyoto should value the balance between tradition and modernity” and that “the cultural value of machiya should be communicated more widely.” The event became a valuable opportunity for people of different generations and backgrounds to exchange perspectives. Graduate students, entrepreneurs, media professionals, and staff members from volunteer organizations were among those who attended, leading to lively conversations about Kyoto’s future and the preservation of cultural heritage.

The event held on April 5 was also featured in The Yomiuri Shimbun, attracting attention from the local community. The project reflected Nawa’s experience with a “culture of dialogue” developed during her time living in Germany. In Germany, there is a strong tradition of discussing diverse social themes within local communities, and drawing on that experience, Nawa aimed to create a space where people from different backgrounds could exchange ideas while respecting one another’s viewpoints.

Nawa hopes to study architecture at an overseas university in the future and continues to deepen her learning through curiosity and a spirit of experimentation. This project also became an opportunity to reimagine machiya spaces not only as symbols of “tradition,” but also as “places for future dialogue,” making it a valuable experience connected to her future studies and career aspirations.

Making use of the international perspective and independent spirit of inquiry fostered through the IB program, Nawa continues to pursue the creation of new value, and we look forward to her future achievements.