Interview with Sakaue Hiroshi, Representative of Takahashi River Presentale
I interviewed Sakaue Hiroshi, the representative of General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Presentale, about the background of establishing the House of Sumiyoshi, Bunkyu, and the impact of the July 2018 heavy rain disaster.
The House of Sumiyoshi, Bunkyu was established as a proposal for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' telework promotion project
Can you tell us about the background of establishing the House of Sumiyoshi, Bunkyu?
Sakaue
Starting in 2016, as part of a project by Kurashiki City, study sessions on telework targeting municipalities in the Takahashi River basin began.
During the time we held several study sessions, I learned that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which was promoting telework, was recruiting telework bases.
This was to create places for urban workers to work in rural areas or for urban visitors to work during their free time while visiting rural areas.
So, the four parties, including General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Presentale, Kurashiki City, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, and General Incorporated Association Japan Telework Association, joined forces to propose a telework base using a traditional house characteristic of Kurashiki to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
As a result, our proposal was adopted, and the establishment of the telework base began to move forward.
Around that time, I was introduced to the current building of Bunkyu, the former Asano residence, by someone managing townhouses in Kurashiki.
The Asano residence was in good condition because a woman had lived alone there until about 2-3 years before the introduction.
After the woman passed away, her family lived elsewhere, so it became a vacant house.
Based on the location and the condition of the building, it was decided to use the Asano residence as a telework base.
Then, it opened in March 2018 as "The House of Sumiyoshi, Bunkyu".
By the way, the coworking space established with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' adoption was the first in the Chugoku region.
The most difficult part was cleaning the vacant house
Have there been any difficulties or struggles in operating Bunkyu?
Sakaue
The most memorable part was the cleaning work of the traditional house done before the establishment of Bunkyu.
We did all the cleaning ourselves.
After the woman who lived there passed away, necessary items were taken away, but all other unnecessary items were left behind.
We cleared out all the household goods and garbage, and I remember it was quite a struggle due to the large quantity.
Also, since it had been vacant for several years, there was a lot of dust.
During the work, I had a persistent cough.
Various users and usage methods of Bunkyu
What kind of people usually use Bunkyu?
Sakaue
Currently, people working in telework around Kurashiki are using it as a workspace.
Additionally, freelancers often use it for their work as well.
Salespeople sometimes work at Bunkyu during their free time while out on calls.
Apart from that, it is also frequently used as a rental meeting room.
Moreover, Bunkyu also hosts seminars.
Information about the seminars can be found on the Bunkyu Facebook page.
The July 2018 heavy rain disaster occurred just a few months after opening
Have there been any other struggles?
Sakaue
Just about four months after the opening in March 2018, the "July 2018 heavy rain disaster" occurred.
Fortunately, the building and staff of Bunkyu were safe.
However, due to the age of the building, there was severe leaking.
Additionally, after the disaster, the number of people using Bunkyu as a base or meeting place for volunteers and construction workers in affected areas like Mabi increased.
Many volunteers and construction workers came from afar and stayed in hotels around central Kurashiki.
Therefore, Bunkyu served as a base and meeting place.
The use of Bunkyu for the recovery of the affected areas was provided free of charge.
Bunkyu aims to be a facility where communication and new initiatives are born, not just a place to provide
Do you have any future prospects or things you would like to try?
Sakaue
Before operating Bunkyu, we worked with a "non-owning management" style.
However, by having a telework base facility called Bunkyu, we have shifted to "owning management".
I believe that owning can increase freedom.
By utilizing the facility of Bunkyu, I think we can help users realize what they want to do, thereby expanding their freedom.
I also hope that an environment will be created where people using Bunkyu can have various discussions and get excited, leading to new initiatives.
The work itself can be done at home or in cafes.
I believe that the reason people come to work at Bunkyu, rather than just working, is to seek an environment where connections with other users can be formed.
Bunkyu does not just provide a place.
Users grow, and communication among users occurs, leading to new initiatives and ideas being born. That is the kind of facility we want to aim for.
Conclusion
Currently, the government is promoting telework.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has designated the two weeks around July 14 as "Telework Days".
Therefore, Bunkyu has set July 17-31 as its Telework Days.
During Bunkyu's Telework Days, it will be available as a trial coworking space, and first-time users can use it for free.
- Freelancers
- People working in telework
- Those who want a focused study space
- Those who want to work or have meetings during outings
- Those who want to hold seminars
If you fit any of these categories, why not try using the House of Sumiyoshi, Bunkyu?
You might discover new possibilities.
Data of the House of Sumiyoshi, Bunkyu
| Name | House of Sumiyoshi, Bunkyu |
|---|---|
| Location | 2-13-3 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-527-6248 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Sunday, Public Holidays Open on holidays if there are reservations or events |
| Usage Fee (including tax) | Temporary use: 500 yen for morning/afternoon Full-day use: 1,000 yen per day |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Available Online reservations possible (Reservation Form) Reservations must be made by the day before the usage date Generally, reservations can be made from one month in advance (consultation possible even if less than one month for event use) |
| Wi-Fi | Available No additional charge |
| Power Supply | Available No additional charge |
| Available Equipment | Web conferencing system Projector 100-inch screen 65-inch 4K LCD monitor Rental PC Copy machine |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | Childcare services can be consulted during events (for a fee; please consult well in advance) |
| Barrier-Free | There are stairs and steps inside the building |
| Website | Bunkyu | A New Satellite Office & Coworking Space in Kurashiki |
