The rapid progress of printing technology since the 1990s is remarkable and electronics and digitization in particular now set the direction of the printing industry. Printed information (content) accumulated in computers is digitally processed and modified to be written to various recording media, including printing on paper. Furthermore, with the advent of high-speed communication networks such as the Internet, information and data can now be transmitted and viewed instantaneously. The impact of such technological innovations is altering the traditional business framework. In particular, much research and technological mobilization has been undertaken for the purpose of accumulating and storing information on Kyoto’s historical heritage in the form of digital data. These efforts have attracted worldwide attention, underlining the importance of support for such fields.

Modern day Kyoto is a treasury of various antique objects and records of printing-related equipment, materials, and techniques from the past times. This living evidence can be used to gain insights into what culture and science of the future should look like. These objects and records do not easily decay or get lost, yet they should be permanently and systematically preserved and exhibited to make them useful for future generations. We recognize that facilitating such preservation and exhibitions is the social responsibility and mission of enterprises and individuals who, as citizens, count on Kyoto for their livelihood.

Change is rapid these days. We believe that such an environment provides opportunities to look at the relationship between society and printing by studying the history of printing technologies. This, in turn, can generate new ideas and creativity in Kyoto while also encouraging a spirit of venture and promoting start-ups. Furthermore, Kyoto’s children will be responsible for the city’s future development; so, educating them about printing technology is also essential for the long-term development of the local economy. It is therefore important to provide both material and moral support to children and their education.

Smooth facilitation of such projects is difficult for one company or individuals; rather, they should be carried out under the auspices of national law and the supervision of competent government agencies, and therefore we believe that a general incorporated foundation is required.

For this reason, we have established NISSHA FOUNDATION, a general incorporated foundation, in Kyoto, the center of traditional and advanced technology in Japan, that aims to contribute to the improvement and development of printing culture and technology in Kyoto and consequently the development of the industry and economy of Kyoto. To this end, the Foundation collects, preserves and publishes materials related to printing culture and technology, holds workshops and lectures about printing culture and technology and supports and subsidizes related study and research.

NISSHA FOUNDATION