Ambassador Petra Sigmund of the Federal Republic of Germany Visits Kyoto

From July 13 to 15, Petra Sigmund, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Japan, accompanied by Peter Röschhardt, Minister and Head of the Economic and Science Department, conducted an inspection tour across the Kansai region. During this visit, they were joined by Melanie Zuckschwerdt, Consul General of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Osaka-Kobe, in visiting the Kiyomune Netsuke Museum in Kyoto (Director and President, Munakata Kinoshita).

In order to deepen understanding of Kansai's strengths in economy and academia, as well as its collaboration potential with Europe and Germany, a comprehensive inspection program was arranged. The Ambassador personally expressed her desire to visit the Kiyomune Netsuke Museum from the perspective of cultural and historical exchange, making this visit a meaningful reality.

The Kiyomune Netsuke Museum collects and exhibits netsuke, a traditional Japanese art form, and actively promotes information dissemination to ensure the preservation and advancement of netsuke culture. The museum welcomes numerous visitors annually from both within Japan and abroad, serving as a cultural bridge for sharing Japanese heritage globally.

About the Kiyomune Netsuke Museum

The Kiyomune Netsuke Museum is Japan’s only museum dedicated exclusively to netsuke. Founded in Kyoto—the cultural capital of Japan—by Munakata Kinoshita, who serves as President and Director of the foundation and Honorary Chairman of Sakawa Printing Co., Ltd., the museum was established with the vision of preserving and transmitting Japan’s exceptional traditional culture domestically while promoting it worldwide with its inherent value. Guided by the principles of "new challenges" and "bonds" (Mune), the museum aims to inherit, create, and develop netsuke and its surrounding culture. Its mission is to be an open museum for the community, centered on the pillars of "to inspire," "to nurture," and "to connect."

Opened in September 2007 with support from Sakawa Printing’s philanthropic initiatives, the museum is housed in the former Kōzengumi Residence—a rare surviving example of a samurai-merchant hybrid residence in Kyoto, designated as a tangible cultural property by Kyoto City. It displays approximately 400 contemporary netsuke artworks.