THE CHRONICLES OF KYOTO

JR brought Chronicles to Kyoto as the seventh mural of its kind for the opening of KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival. The Chronicles of Kyoto offered a unique opportunity to discover the city through the eyes of its people. 

With the support of KYOTOGRAPHIE in September 2024, JR set up mobile studios in eight locations across the city, including Kyoto Station, the plaza at Kyoto City Hall, on the Kamogawa Delta, and in the countryside of Ohara. Welcoming anyone passing by to participate, JR captured the spirit of the city through 505 portraits, including Buddhist monks, tea masters, drag queens, artisans, baseball players, locals and the mayor. After photographing each participant, JR welcomed them to record their story, always asking the question: “How do you want to be remembered?” 

Debuting as JR’s first Chronicles in Asia, the monumental mural measuring 22.55 by 5 meters now spans an exterior wall of the Kyoto Station, seen daily by thousands of people entering the city. It will remain on view for six months during Expo Osaka. 

The Chronicles of Kyoto is a celebration of the city, showcasing the diverse creativity that spans Kyoto. Through JR’s unique process of portraiture and audio recordings, he both visually captures the place and embeds a unique array of human stories directly into the murals themselves. At the occasion of the mural, JR simultaneously exhibited Printing the Chronicles of Kyoto in The Kyoto Shimbun Building, where the city’s newspaper used to be printed.

Explore the mural and listen to the participant's stories.