#Japan #Kyoto #DANDELION PROJECT #Naked Garden

NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO 2025: A Summer of Art and Peace

The art project "NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO 2025" is scheduled to take place from July 19 to August 24, 2025, in collaboration with the historic sites Fushimi Inari Taisha, Nijo Castle, and Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu. This summer edition aims to celebrate peace and community engagement as we mark 80 years since the end of World War II.

A Community-Centric Project

"NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO" sees Kyoto transformed into a beautiful community garden, uniting various genres of art and local residents. Since its inception in 2022, the project has partnered with 52 locations, including temples, shopping streets, municipalities, businesses, and educational institutions. Each year, it has delivered dynamic nighttime events that foster collaboration among the people of Kyoto.

In 2025, as we reflect on the 80 years since WWII, the project emphasizes a vision for the future, igniting hope through art and collaborative efforts involving the youth. The centerpiece of this year’s theme is "Community Co-Creation x Commemorating Peace."

Launch Event and Workshops

To kick off the summer festivities, a workshop titled "NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2025 Summer Evening" will be held on July 5 near Nijo Castle at the Sanjo shopping district’s Tanabata Night Market. Here, children will engage in peace-themed coloring projects, and their artwork will be featured in lanterns throughout the Nijo Castle venue as symbols of hope and resilience. Participation in this workshop is free for everyone.

Fushimi Inari Taisha will introduce its first-ever art exhibition in conjunction with traditional Shinto rituals like the "Yoi-Miya Festival" and "Hon-Miya Festival." Schoolchildren from Inari Elementary School will present their artwork, created with aspirations for future peace, alongside the "DANDELION PROJECT," a series of displays contributing to the shrine's sacred atmosphere.

Yasaka Shrine has long been a center for Gion faith, focusing on warding off disease and ensuring peace and tranquility for its community. In this project, artworks created by scouts from Kyoto will intertwine with the glowing representations of DANDELION, joining in the universal prayer for peace.

The DANDELION Project

Initiated by artist Ryotaro Muramatsu in 2020, the DANDELION Project has made waves across the globe, from Gardens by the Bay in Singapore to iconic sites in Tokyo. This art initiative plants dandelion art structures worldwide, and participants share their digital expressions of peace, creating a network of hope that transcends borders. It has been featured in 51 locations around the world, with an estimated participation of over 1 million visitors.

Exploring Kyoto's Cultural Heritage

The inaugural edition of "NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO" spanned about three months starting on September 15, 2022, drawing approximately 300,000 participants and generating an impressive economic benefit of 5 billion yen for the region. With 21 participating sites including Nijo Castle and Nishi Honganji, the event successfully melded real and virtual tourism, offering a new dimension of cultural experiences.

In 2023, the project will take place from July to December, featuring 18 iconic locations including Kinkaku-ji and Kyoto Station as part of its mission to promote the uniqueness of traditional Japanese culture.

Project Overview

Project Name: NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO 2025
Participating Sites: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Nijo Castle, Yasaka Shrine
Event Dates: July 19 (Saturday) to August 24 (Sunday), 2025
Website: NAKED GARDEN Official Site
Instagram: NAKED GARDEN Instagram
Organizer: ONE KYOTO Executive Committee
Co-organizers: Kyoto City, Uji City, Otsu City
Support: Kyoto City Tourism Association
Special Partner: Kansai Innovation Center
Production: NAKED, INC.

About NAKED, INC.

Founded in 1997 by artist Ryotaro Muramatsu, NAKED, INC. is a creative company that embraces a philosophy of integration across all forms of creativity, be they digital or physical. The firm aims to elevate cultural experiences while blending various domains including art, entertainment, technology, and education. To date, its initiatives have left a profound impact on the global art landscape by intertwining traditional elements with contemporary innovation.

For more information on NAKED, INC., visit their website: NAKED, INC..