The Mizushima Industrial Complex, lined with manufacturing plants for petroleum refining, steel, and automobiles, has contributed to Japan's industrialization and rapid economic growth.
As the Mizushima Industrial Complex developed, people gathered, and the streets of Mizushima became lively, but in recent years, aging and population decline have progressed, revealing sad scenes of dilapidated buildings and shuttered shopping streets.
Rintetsu Garden is a market event launched to revitalize Mizushima, which is losing its former vibrancy.
Restaurants and businesses active in Mizushima and Okayama Prefecture have been holding market events under the elevated tracks of the Mizushima Rinkai Railway to create new attractions for Mizushima.
Mr. Tsuchiya Ryosuke (土屋遼介), the chairperson of the Rintetsu Garden executive committee, is working on revitalizing Mizushima while managing multiple businesses.
We asked Mr. Tsuchiya questions about Rintetsu Garden, such as "Why under the elevated tracks?" and "Why are you working on urban development?"
Through this interview, we will introduce the charm of Rintetsu Garden.
What is Rintetsu Garden?
Overview of Rintetsu Garden
Rintetsu Garden is a market event held under the elevated tracks of the Mizushima Rinkai Railway near Sakae Station.
The first Rintetsu Garden was held in September 2017, and by March 2022, 18 events had taken place.
It is a night market event held in the evening from before sunset to night.
At the venue, which includes the area under the elevated tracks of Mizushima Rinkai Railway and Sakae-cho Daiichi Park, booths from restaurants and businesses active in Mizushima and Okayama Prefecture are lined up.
Since 2022, it has been decided to make the roads around Sakae Station a pedestrian paradise, making it easier to move between the venue under the elevated tracks and the park venue.
For detailed information about the event times and venues, check the Rintetsu Garden 2022 website.
Concept of Rintetsu Garden
In response to the decline in vitality due to aging and population decrease in the Mizushima area, people active in Mizushima started Rintetsu Garden to create opportunities for people to gather in the town.
It also serves a social experimental role, exploring the possibilities of Mizushima through various trial and error initiatives.
It is a market event aimed at conveying the new attractions of Mizushima with the message that "such stylish things can be done in Mizushima."
Rintetsu Garden Executive Committee Chairperson Mr. Tsuchiya Ryosuke
Mr. Tsuchiya Ryosuke, the chairperson of the Rintetsu Garden executive committee, not only oversees Rintetsu Garden but also engages in web design and craft cola sales business.
After graduating from a university in Kurashiki City, he has been working as a freelance web designer while also engaging in regional revitalization in Mizushima.
Since 2021, he has started manufacturing and selling craft cola under the concept of "A cola created by a man who dislikes cola with a reverse idea."
Through multiple jobs, he contributes to urban development in Okayama City and Kurashiki City.
Interview with Mr. Tsuchiya Ryosuke
The Beginning of Rintetsu Garden
Why under the elevated tracks?
Tsuchiya (no honorific)
The population of Mizushima is decreasing, and the aging population is progressing, leading to concerns about the survival of the community.
From the desire to do something about the town that has lost its vibrancy, the initial idea was to utilize parks.
It is easy to understand when looking at a map, but there are parks all over Mizushima, creating a unique layout.
By utilizing parks as places for people in the town to gather, I thought it would bring life back to the town, which led to the idea of a market event.
However, when I communicated my desire to use the parks to the authorities, I was told it was difficult to use for an unprecedented event.
While searching for ways to hold a market event, I received support from the Mizushima Rinkai Railway.
I consulted with them about utilizing the space under the elevated tracks to make use of the town's vacant spaces.
In September 2017, the first Rintetsu Garden was held under the elevated bridge near Sakae Station.
What other initiatives were there?
Tsuchiya
Other initiatives I worked on for the revitalization of Mizushima included utilizing vacant houses.
I visited vacant houses in Mizushima and discussed ways to utilize the properties.
Additionally, I established the "Mizushima Salvage Conference" and invited urban development experts active nationwide to discuss ways to invigorate Mizushima.
However, it was challenging to find Mizushima-like content that could stand alongside other areas of Kurashiki City.
If there are no attractive contents, we concluded that we need to create them ourselves, which led to the market event.
Please tell us about the situation when Rintetsu Garden started.
Tsuchiya
The first Rintetsu Garden had 3 vendors and 50 visitors.
Even so, I continued to work to gather vendors, determined to keep it going.
I reached out to everyone I had met and conveyed my enthusiasm, saying, "It's a small market for now, but I will definitely grow it big."
As the events continued, both the number of vendors and visitors increased.
The third event had about 100 visitors, and the fourth had about 500, which made me confident that we could invigorate Mizushima through Rintetsu Garden as the numbers steadily increased.
Why at night?
Tsuchiya
Before starting Rintetsu Garden, when I walked around Mizushima, I noticed many izakayas and bars operating at night.
This is likely due to the background of the town growing alongside the development of the industrial complex.
I had heard that to invigorate the town, it is important to encourage people to walk around, so I decided on the concept of Rintetsu Garden as a market that can be used for pre-events.
I aimed for an event that would encourage people to visit Mizushima and then head out into the night streets of Mizushima.
However, it became unexpectedly popular, and people started to be satisfied and go home after enjoying Rintetsu Garden.
A pleasant surprise, but it still required more strategy.
Rintetsu Garden in 2022
Why was the pedestrian paradise implemented?
Tsuchiya
Originally, it started as a small market, but as the events continued, the venue under the elevated tracks became overcrowded with people.
After we started using the park near Sakae Station as a venue, the number of people crossing the road increased.
Since it was a road with a considerable amount of vehicle traffic, I wanted to make it a pedestrian paradise for the safety of visitors.
After several years of holding market events, we gained the trust of the authorities, and in 2022, we realized the pedestrian paradise.
What are the goals for Rintetsu Garden in 2022?
Tsuchiya
I believe there are three main challenges ahead.
The first challenge is the utilization of the pedestrian paradise.
At the Rintetsu Garden in March 2022, we set up chairs and tables in the pedestrian paradise to create a space where people could enjoy food and music.
The methods of presentation are still in the trial and error stage, but as we continue, I believe we will see what a comfortable space looks like.
Throughout 2022, I want to clarify the presentations that make Mizushima feel more attractive.
The second challenge is the utilization of the park.
While the main venue was under the elevated tracks, people have started to gather at the park venue as well.
We are also implementing events that utilize the park, such as workshops for children to run around and exercise.
On the other hand, for the night market event, there were many dark areas, and the atmosphere was lonely without music, which made it difficult for us to manage the park's presentation.
Our goal is to present the park as a space for relaxation.
The third challenge is gathering companions to operate together.
Rintetsu Garden started in 2017 from a zero state and has grown into a large market event.
To further enhance the presentation of Rintetsu Garden, I feel that we need companions who share our passion and want to help us grow.
Moreover, I want to generously share the know-how we have cultivated at Rintetsu Garden with those who join us.
I hope to work with not only those who have a connection to Mizushima but also those who want to apply the knowledge gained from Rintetsu Garden to other regions.
Thoughts of the Representative of Rintei Garden
What prompted your involvement with Mizushima?
Tsuchiya
Since I was attending a university in Kurashiki City, I have been working as a freelance web designer, primarily focusing on Kurashiki City.
I wanted to learn more about Kurashiki, and by chance, I was invited to participate in a study group on regional revitalization in Mizushima.
During the study group, I learned about issues such as the aging population and the decline of shopping streets in the Mizushima area, but when I visited Mizushima, I also noticed charming shops like stylish bars and delicious izakayas.
I wanted to convey the hidden charm of Mizushima, where people are actually thriving despite the town losing its vibrancy.
Why do you continue this work?
Tsuchiya
Although I admired people who were active in community building, I thought they were far removed from me, like entities from another world.
It was because those people were amazing that they could undertake projects that attracted attention, and I unconsciously felt a sense of resignation towards myself.
However, during the first study group I attended, I learned that it is okay to engage in community revitalization work alongside my main job.
When I heard about examples from other prefectures and overseas, I found that few people make community revitalization their main job; rather, public servants and individuals running shops are active for the sake of the town.
I changed my mindset to think that it’s fine to start small without sacrificing my main job.
I believe that starting small and building up has allowed us to grow into events that attract many visitors.
What do you feel through multiple jobs?
Tsuchiya
It’s okay to have multiple dreams, and I believe there’s no need to limit yourself to just one job.
There’s no need to fit into a mold like, “Since I entered this department, I have to do this,” or “Because I have this profession, I must do that.” You can pursue what you love and want to do simultaneously.
If I had focused on just one of my roles—web designer, representative of Rintei Garden, or the Tsuchiya Cola business—it wouldn’t have worked out well.
Because I’m doing them simultaneously, I believe it has allowed me to start small and grow big.
I realized that it’s important to not crush small possibilities and to challenge myself freely without fitting into a mold.
Hearing the Reasons for Challenging Community Building
In a town that can be boring if you remain passive, you may start to see the wonderful aspects of the town when you actively engage with it.
Mr. Tsuchiya discovered the hidden charms of Mizushima.
And because he nurtured them carefully, the charm began to shine, attracting many people.
The story of the market event that started under the elevated tracks gradually growing larger feels like an embodiment of Mr. Tsuchiya’s words, “Start small and grow big.”
Hearing the history of Rintei Garden made me feel as if I was being taught how to nurture a town.
Data on Rintei Garden
| Name | Rintei Garden |
|---|---|
| Dates | May 27, 2022 (Friday) from 4 PM to 8 PM July 22, 2022 (Friday) from 4 PM to 9 PM September 16, 2022 (Friday) from 4 PM to 9 PM November 4, 2022 (Friday) from 4 PM to 8 PM |
| Location | 12 Toei-cho, Mizushima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Rintei Garden |
