CAN (Culture All Nippon)

Network (since 2020)
Tomoko Mukaiyama & Hiroko Tsuboi-Friedman 

Culture All Nippon (CAN) is a network organisation started by Tomoko and Hiroko Tsuboi-Friedman (UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions expert facility member) with the aim of connecting artists, cultural workers and arts and cultural organisations, and creating a better environment to support and foster arts and culture in Japan.

In May 2020, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) launched a global online debate movement to bring out the voices of artists and cultural workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to society. Resonating its objective, ResiliArt Japan “Culture and the Coronavirus: The Power of Art ” was organized by Hiroko Tsuboi-Friedman and the UNESCO, with Naomi Kawase as moderator and Tomoko Mukaiyama as one of the panelists. They continued discussions with various organisations, artists and cultural workers, cultural policy researchers and others on the condition and environment of arts and culture and cultural policy in Japan and other countries. Two major issues surrounding arts and culture in Japan are pointed out which need action:

1) The voices of artists and cultural workers are rarely reflected in policy for making, implementation and monitoring.
2) There is no platform to connect arts and culture professionals of all disciplines.

Protecting and nurturing arts and culture takes time. A long-term perspective is essential for cultural policy, but in Japan, there is no mechanism for the various stakeholders in arts and culture to think and discuss policy together. Arts and culture involve all stakeholders, including artists, cultural workers, consumers, cultural and creative industries, policymakers and administrators, and legal professionals. It is about us. Transparency in the planning, implementation and monitoring processes of policies related to arts and culture is essential.

Together with all stakeholders.

We need to create an environment where people’s voices are heard, and their voices and passion to improve society together are reflected in all policy processes.
A flat platform for dialogue and discussion is critical.
We need a network where everyone can organically connect and discuss issues and share ideas.

Inspired by activities such as Dutch Kunsten’92, the vision of Culture All Nippon (CAN) was formed. CAN has been taking initiative to discuss the state of arts and culture from various angles:

– Cultural policy monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
– Building and strengthening relationships among the public and private sectors and civil society organisations (CSOs)
– Sustainable development of the cultural sector
– Status of the artists and cultural workers
– Gender equality in the cultural sector
– Freedom of expression
– Fair cultural exchange
– Balanced cultural goods and services
– Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI), creative economy, digital environment
– COVID-19 Pandemics and climate change, conflict, disruption and culture

Round Table “Creation, Womanhood, Motherhood”
On 4th March 2023, Culture All Nippon (CAN) cordially invited Ms. Femke Halsema, Mayor of the City of Amsterdam, the Kingdom of Netherlands, and distinguished guests from various fields related to city development and arts & culture to participate in a round table.

CAN (Culture All Nippon)  X / Twitter
SUPER T-market Tokyo （2021）