Kiyoshi Kishida, chairman of Creative ASUWA, has been selected for this year’s Fukui Shimbun Culture Award.
Mr. Kishida joined the Asakura Clan Ruins Preservation Association in 1974 and served as its director and vice chairman before leading the association as chairman for 16 years from 2008. Over many years he has championed the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins as a tourist destination, helping it become known across Japan. In 2019 he received an award from the Japan Travel and Tourism Association for his contributions to tourism promotion.
He still works as a tour guide, sharing the story of the Asakura clan and the value of the ruins in his own distinctive style. Annual visitors to the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins grew from 380,000 in 2005 to 880,000 in 2025, a 2.3-fold increase over 20 years.
Today he leads Creative ASUWA as chairman, working toward the inscription of the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Award Ceremony
The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. at Kaze no Mori Hall, Fukui Shimbun.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported Mr. Kishida over the years, and we thank you for your continued support of Creative ASUWA.