Minka Preservation Society: They Built It, We Preserve It

High-resolution images for press use are available below.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2025

 

MinkaCon 2025: An International Gathering to Celebrate and Preserve Japan’s Historic Homes

People from across Japan and around the world working together to preserve Japan’s historic homes, pass on traditional building arts, and revitalize rural communities.

Shinshiro, Aichi — The Minka Preservation Society (MINKA) is proud to present MinkaCon 2025, a three-day international celebration of Japan’s traditional wooden farmhouses and rural revitalization efforts, to be held November 7–9, 2025 at Aichi Prefectural Citizens’ Forest Park in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture.

This flagship event will bring together over 300 participants from Japan and overseas, including architects, writers, craftspeople, preservationists, students, and community members. The program will feature keynote lectures, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, artisan demonstrations, cultural performances, and guided tours of minka in the Shinshiro area. A central focus will be the passing on of traditional carpentry, plastering, roof thatching, and other building arts to future generations.

All sessions will be conducted in both English and Japanese to encourage cross-cultural exchange and collaboration.

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Keynote Speakers

MINKA is honored to welcome Chris Ohrstrom, former Chair of the World Monuments Fund, and Miyoko Demay, Executive Representative of World Monuments Fund Japan, as keynote speakers.

 

Featured Speakers and Guests

• Azby Brown, author of The Genius of Japanese Carpentry and Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan

• Yoshihiro Takishita, Japan’s most celebrated minka architect and preservationist, and author of Japanese Country Style: Putting New Life into Old Houses

• Roland Nozomu Kelts, Tokyo- and New York–based writer, editor, and cultural commentator, widely recognized for his work on Japanese pop culture and cross-cultural creativity, including his acclaimed book Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.

• Haruo Nishio, master thatcher and preservation leader in Miyama, Kyoto Prefecture, working to preserve thatched-roof kominka and pass on traditional thatching skills to future generatioYoshinobu Toda, long-active leader in kominka preservation, known for saving historic minka slated for demolition by carefully disassembling and relocating them for new life elsewhere

• Jon Stollenmeyer and Kohei Yamamoto (Somakosha), renowned master carpenters and architects, and founders of the Somakosha School

• Shigetaka Mochizuki, internationally award-winning temple designer and builder

Other skilled craftspeople and artisans will also lead workshops and demonstrations throughout the event.

 

Minka Marketplace & Workshops

The Minka Marketplace will feature booths from vendors, authors, grassroots NPOs, and artisans. Visitors will experience live demonstrations of traditional woodworking, plastering, roof thatching, and more. Food trucks and multicultural vendors will also participate, creating a vibrant, festival-like atmosphere celebrating craftsmanship and community.

 

Quotes

“MinkaCon 2025 is more than a conference — it is a living celebration of Japan’s built cultural heritage,” said Lauren Scharf, Communications Director, Minka Preservation Society. “We are creating a space where Japanese and international participants come together to learn from one another, honor the wisdom of traditional craftspeople, and imagine new futures for historic homes and rural communities.”

“Our vision is to highlight how kominka preservation is not only about protecting structures, but also about fostering communities and passing on irreplaceable knowledge,” said Andrea Carlson, Programs & Initiatives Director, Minka Preservation Society. “MinkaCon 2025 will bring together voices from around the world, all dedicated to ensuring these homes — and the arts that sustain them — continue to thrive.”

 

Event Details

• Venue: Aichi Prefectural Citizens’ Forest Park (Nenoue), Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture

• Dates: Friday, November 7 – Sunday, November 9, 2025

• Tickets: Available via minkacon2025.peatix.com

• More Information: www.minkasociety.com/eventsandworkshops

• Instagram: @minkasociety

 

Media Contacts

Lauren Scharf
Communications Director, Minka Preservation Society
📧 info@minkasociety.com

Andrea Carlson
Programs & Initiatives Director, Minka Preservation Society
📧 info@minkasociety.com

 

About the Minka Preservation Society

The Minka Preservation Society (MINKA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Japan’s built cultural heritage, passing on traditional building arts, and supporting the revitalization of rural communities. Through events, workshops, and international collaborations, MINKA works with craftspeople, writers, scholars, and communities to ensure that traditional knowledge and historic homes continue to thrive for future generations.

🌐 www.minkasociety.com
📧 info@minkasociety.com
📷 Instagram: @minkasociety