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    • Oct 8, 2012
    • 2 min read

Kyoto hosts TEDxKyoto 2012 “The Power of Ideas”

The city of Kyoto has hosted the first TEDxKyoto, focusing on “The Power of Ideas.”

TEDxEvents is designed to give communities, organisations and individuals the opportunity to encourage conversation at a local level.  And the aim of the Kyoto event, which took place on September 16, 2012, at Kihada Hall on Kyoto University’s Uji campus, was aimed at bringing new ideas to the city from businesses, individuals and students.

The event provided an open platform for people to express their ideas and visions for the future, and was aimed at helping organisations and business to welcome a greater international presence and youthful energy to create a better and stronger future for Kyoto.

The event was attended by about 300 people who heard from 22 high profile guest speakers, with videos and talks on the environment, science and mathematics alongside traditional Japanese dance and music performances set against the beautiful backdrop of Kyoto.

The speakers included:

•    Hiroshi Matsumoto, president of Kyoto University. Kyoto University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. Dr. Matsumoto, whose research and special interests include Space Radio Science, Space Plasma Physics and Space Solar Power Transmission, has published 297 scientific papers in English in international journals and 133 scientific papers in Japanese, and has authored and contributed to several books. •    Shinya Yamanaka, director of Center for iPS Cell Research and Application and a professor at the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences at Kyoto University. He changed the stem cell research world when he introduced the concept of iPS and is considered the world’s leading researcher in this field. •    Garr Reynolds, Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University where he teaches Marketing, Global Marketing and Multimedia Presentation Design. Garr is the former Manager of Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple Computer, Inc.

Jay Klaphake, founder and executive producer of TEDxKyoto, says: “My motivation for founding TEDxKyoto was based upon a belief in public service. I’ve always wanted to contribute to making a better society. The ‘Power of Ideas’ is our main event and our hope is that TEDxKyoto as an organisation will become a hub for people who have ideas and want to work in collaborative ways, regardless of where they come from, what they do, or who they are. We hope to create a space where diverse people come together in a way that will lead to a more innovative and creative community.”

James Kent, Kyoto Convention Bureau’s international marketing manager, comments: “The concept of TEDxKyoto is very exciting and we’re eager to see what influence the ideas generated will have on Kyoto in the future. The programme offers excellent opportunities for businesses and individuals as they are able to mix and share ideas, but it also allows international visitors to join in and learn more about Kyoto and what it offers as an international business destination.”

For more information about TedxKyoto visit http://www.tedxkyoto.com or www.facebook.com/TEDxKyoto?ref=ts

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