ABOUT JPTCA
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ABOUT JPTCA
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Japan Traffic Culture Association is contributing to the progress of the world by developing the art and cultural activities.
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Japan Traffic Culture Association
Director General
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Japan Traffic Culture Association, Director General
The Japan Traffic Culture Association (JPTCA) was established in September 1948 by my father, TAKI Fujitaro, with the aim of promoting transport culture, particularly railways.
Among the various projects, The Traffic Culture Exhibition is one of the oldest projects of JPTCA, which started in 1954. At that time, Fujitaro was also established The Transport Culture Award, which is still awarded annually to people who have made a great ontribution to transport projects by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The TakiFuji Foundation, a scholarship scheme for children of people working in the transport industry was established in 1968 by my father and has provided benefits and loans to a total of 2,000 students so far.
I took over the Association in 1976 following my father’s unexpected car accident, and in 1980 I established the International TAKIFUJI Art Award, a scholarship scheme for art universities students in Japan and in abroad, which does not require repayment. Today, the awards for art universities students are common, but at the time there were none in Japan, providing great encouragement to young artists. Many internationally known artists have grown up from the early recipients.
The Public Art Promotion and Dissemination Project was launched in 1972, when I proposed to my father to install the first stained-glass artwork, ‘The Creation of Heaven and Earth’, in Tokyo Station. I wanted to use public art not only to enhance the aesthetics of the station, but also to make public spaces more welcoming, and thereby create an affluent society that is more familiar with culture and art. In the more than 50 years since then, JPTCA have installed 558 works of public art in stations, airports, parks and public facilities across the country as of July 2024.
The Association has also organized study groups and symposia on how to utilize culture and art in nation-building and has made recommendations to the government: in 2000, the study group composed of artists, entrepreneurs and intellectuals compiled the ‘Proposal on the Promotion of Public Art’ in which calls for ‘1% for Art’ legislation. This proposal was handed over to the minister of transportation, to the head of the Agency of Cultural Affairs of government and to the executives of various fields.
This system of allocating 1% of public construction or public works expenditure to culture and the arts has been adopted in Europe, the USA and parts of Asia (South Korea and Taiwan), and we believe that this legislation will be a major driving force in the promotion of culture and the arts in Japan. In November 2022, the Association held a symposium entitled “Public Art and ‘1% for Art’ – Towards the Creation of Japan through Culture”, and a lively discussion took place on the need to create new values based on culture and art in Japan.
In the age of globalism, culture and the arts have become the common language of the world. Culture and the arts also encourage us to value diversity, listen to minority voices and promote mutual understanding. In sum, culture and the arts are the best security.
Based on the above ideas, the Association will continue to engage in cultural and artistic activities. We ask for your understanding, support and cooperation.
Profile
| Organization Name | JAPAN TRAFFIC CULTURE ASSOCIATION |
|---|---|
| Established | September 30, 1948 |
| Location | Tokyo Takarazuka Bldg., 1-3, Yurakucho 1-chome,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0006 TEL: +81-3-3504-2221 FAX: +81-3-3504-2224 |
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Board
| Board | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| Director General | TAKI Hisao | Chairman & Founder, NKB Inc. Chairman of the board & Founder, Gurunavi, Inc. |
| Administrators | AIHARA Kazuyuki | IRCN Executive Director, International Research Center for Neurointelligence, The University of Tokyo, Institutes for Advanced Study |
| HIBINO Katsuhiko | President, Tokyo University of the Arts | |
| KUMA Kengo | Special Professor, The University of Tokyo | |
| MUROFUSHI Kimiko | Professor Emeritus, Ochanomizu University President, Beauty & Wellness College |
|
| UMEZAKI Hisashi | Advisor Emeritus, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. | |
| Executive Director | NISHIKAWA Megumi | Contributing Editor, Mainichi Shimbun |
| Inspectors | ISHIADA Yoshio | Advisor, JR‐East Personnel Service Co., Ltd. | OSUGA Yorihiko | Advisor, Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. |
| Chairman | MATSUURA Koichiro | The eighth Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) |
| Trustees | Bernard DELMAS | Senior Advisor, Michelin Group Outside Director, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. |
| KATO Akiko | Executive Director, Japan Future Leaders School President, AFS Intercultural Programs |
|
| HARADA Kazuyuki | Chairman of the Board & Representative Director, Keikyu Corporation | |
| NOMOTO Hirofumi | Chairman of the Board & Representative Director, Tokyu Corporation | TSUZUKI Yutaka | President & Representative Director, Tobu Railway Co., LTD. |
| YAMAKI Toshimitsu | Advisor, Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. | |
| TAKI Hiroko | President & Representative Director, Pandanet Inc. | |
| TOYA Takayuki | President & Representative Director, NKB Inc. | |
| Advisors | MIYATA Ryohei | Metal Craft Artist Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of the Arts |
| NOYORI Ryoji | Honorary Director, Center for Research and Development Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency |
(as of July 1, 2024)
