MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTER
July 3–5, 2026 

Kanato Kichibei

吉米可菜人

Kanato Kichibei is a Japanese writer. Living a self-sufficient lifestyle led him to question the direction of contemporary society.
Motivated by a conviction that change was necessary, he wrote the poem Let Us Build a Village.
Seeking to bring the vision expressed in the poem into reality, he launched the “Tane-Tsumugi Mura” initiative, which has since continued to grow and attract wider participation.

 点の向こうへの旅 

 Journey Beyond the Point 

Artist’s Statement

The problems of this world cannot be resolved through the values of this world alone.
They can only begin to be resolved when we encounter the values of “the Other Shore”— truth, love, and the spiritual power of words (kotodama).

The Point is the place where such an encounter occurs. As our awareness of the Point deepens, things naturally begin to find their resolution.
The act of looking into the inner realm of the Point is what I call “Changing the World with a Chon.”
The word Chonrefers to a simple dot or mark, yet it also symbolizes a gateway to a deeper reality.
I know practical ways to engage in this process. Anyone can do it, anytime and anywhere.
If you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me.
Let us change the world together—with a Chon‼️.

Japan-Europe Palace Art Association Commentary

Kanato Kichibei’s work transcends the conventional boundaries of calligraphy, poetry, and painting, unfolding as a singular form of expression that poses profound questions about the human spirit itself. In his art, words cease to function merely as language; they become form, form becomes thought, and thought returns once again to poetry in a continuous cycle. Underlying his creative practice are insights shaped by a self-sufficient way of life and a persistent gaze directed toward the essential nature of human existence.

In Journey Beyond the Point, the prominently depicted eye serves not only as a symbol of observation directed toward the outside world, but also as a window into inner awareness. The words that surround it are not explanatory statements but traces of contemplation, transforming the entire composition into both a poem and a philosophical landscape. The contrast between the tear-filled eye and the powerful calligraphic forms speaks simultaneously of concern for the condition of contemporary society and of a profound faith in humanity.

A defining aspect of Kichibei’s work is its emphasis on the act of questioning rather than the pursuit of definitive answers. His calligraphy exists not merely to be read, but to invite reflection, feeling, and moments of pause. Through the integration of language, imagery, philosophy, and prayer, he presents art not simply as an object of appreciation, but as an active engagement with the way one lives.