Amid the parties and schmoozing, socially conscious art is still Kyotographie's main draw

CULTURE / Art

Amid the parties and schmoozing, socially conscious art is still Kyotographie’s main draw

Yuriko Takagi’s documentary project “Threads of Beauty” features photos of people in 12 different countries wearing traditional clothing. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

By Lance Henderstein
Contributing writer

Apr 28, 2023

Kyoto – This year’s Kyotographie photo festival is the first to be held since Japan relaxed restrictions on inbound travelers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re in Kyoto, this fact is undeniable — tourism is back. It makes this year’s chosen theme, “Border,” all the more salient.

Last year’s domestic introspection has been swapped for a cosmopolitan vibe at what has become Japan’s premiere international photography festival. Adding to the revelry is the launch of a new music festival, Kyotophonie, which will be held each spring alongside Kyotographie and then again in fall in nearby .