A workplace with a view of the sea. Isn't it appealing?
What if it were a wooden school building with a nostalgic atmosphere, and your friends were in nearby classrooms? (There are goats grazing too)
Oshima Higashi Elementary School in Kasaoka City, which closed in March 2018.
That place of learning became the "Share Atelier Umi no Kosha" (hereafter, Umi no Kosha) in the summer of 2021, where creators gather.
As of April 2022, there are 10 groups of creators residing here.
In the classrooms where elementary school students once sat at their desks, how are they engaging in their creative work?
The information provided is from an article published in October 2021. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Former Oshima Higashi Elementary School
In Oshima, a town facing the Seto Inland Sea in the southeast of Kasaoka City, there is the "Oshima Binohama Fishing Cooperative," where fresh seafood is lined up early in the morning.
Prefectural Route 47, which runs along the coast, is a scenic road bustling with cyclists and riders on holidays.
A little up the hill from that road is the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School.
It consists of four buildings, including the kindergarten building.
| Building | Floors | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden Building 1 | 2 stories | Completed in 1956 (Showa 31) |
| Wooden Building 2 | 2 stories | Relocated in 1962 (Showa 37) |
| Kindergarten Building | 1 story | Completed in 1964 (Showa 39) |
| RC Building 3 | 3 stories | Completed in 1980 (Showa 55) |
Four buildings of different ages on a spacious site. It is said that at its peak, 355 students attended.
At the time of the closing ceremony in March 2018, there were 11 students.
Umi no Kosha
Umi no Kosha is a shared atelier for creators that utilizes the four buildings of the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School.
The main residents are people engaged in manufacturing and artists.
Residents pay a monthly fee set for each room.
Since it is a school classroom, it features a spacious area compared to typical shared offices.
Creators often need space to place machinery for manufacturing and to stock materials.
Various services are also available.
- Wi-Fi
- Power supply
- Water supply
- Free parking
- Corporate registration
- Address display
- Large conference room
- Projector
- Shared refrigerator
- Available 24 hours (during early morning and night, within a range that does not disturb neighbors)
Even without residing here, it can be used as a short-term rental space for galleries, study sessions, workshops, and more.
Umi no Kosha's Operational Structure
Umi no Kosha is operated by the "NPO Umi no Kosha Oshima Higashi Elementary School," which consists of resident volunteers and local residents (members of the Oshima Town Development Council).
The school building is rented from Kasaoka City. The NPO Umi no Kosha Oshima Higashi Elementary School manages the facilities and equipment, cleaning, creating regulations regarding residency, and disseminating information, among other operational tasks.
While being in a nostalgic and open space of a seaside school, creators can engage in their work with a rich mindset.
For the community, it is a happy point that the school building, which holds memories, is maintained and becomes a place where people can come and go again.
The operational policy is aimed at creating vibrancy in the community, rather than making a profit.
Residents of Umi no Kosha
As of September 17, 2021, there are 7 groups of residents.
There are also people planning to move in or considering moving in, so the number of residents is likely to increase steadily.
When creators are in each classroom, it is possible to visit and purchase products, but they may not always be present, so please inquire in advance before visiting.
Southern Tree
Southern Tree, which engages in furniture production, repair, and renovation.
They finish furniture using traditional joinery techniques without using screws or metal fittings.
In addition to custom-made tables and shelves, they also create toys and decorative items like wall clocks.
They are located in the playroom and nursery of the kindergarten building.
In the classroom with a view of the sea, there are large machines lined up!
These are machines for cutting, polishing, and drilling holes in wood.
The representative of Southern Tree, Minami Tomoyuki, is also the representative director of the NPO Umi no Kosha Oshima Higashi Elementary School.
Before moving to Umi no Kosha, they had a workshop in another location in Kasaoka City.
All the machines were reportedly moved by themselves using cranes and trucks!
SIRUHA
Bags, notebooks, wallets, and other fabric and leather products made by SIRUHA.
They pursue usability that allows concentration on what they want to do right in front of them and the lightness to step towards what catches their interest.
The mini wallet (left in the photo) is compact yet has excellent storage capacity, and I am currently using it. There are also collaborations with other creators, adding to the fun of choosing.
They utilize the health room on the first floor of Wooden Building 2 as a manufacturing space and part of the changing room as an exhibition space.
In the health room, sewing and cutting fabric were being done even during the interview, creating a lively atmosphere.
The representative of SIRUHA, Fujimoto Shinji, has been a partner in advancing the project for the utilization of the former Oshima Higashi Elementary School along with Minami from Southern Tree.
Before moving to Umi no Kosha, they rented a single-story house in Kasaoka City for their workshop.
Although it was a house, the living space had partitions, and the workspace was reportedly smaller than it is now.
By moving, they were able to expand their workspace and create a space that makes it easier for customers to come and see their products.
I really like the nostalgic atmosphere of the wooden school building, which makes any product look good in photos!
Taira Design
Taira Design engages in graphic design, website design, and interior design.
Have you seen their product packaging or flyers?
They are located in the Nakayoshi Room on the second floor of Wooden Building 2.
There is a desk for computer work by the classroom window, and a space to display the packages they have worked on.
The representative of Taira Design, Sugimoto Kazutoshi, has offices and residences in Tokyo and Kasaoka, operating from two locations.
They had an office in a building in Kasaoka City but raised their hand to say, "I definitely want to move in and be involved in the operation!" after hearing about the concept of Umi no Kosha.
They had participated in a project in another prefecture during their student days that focused on the utilization of closed schools, which sparked their interest.
Their wife, Furukawa Maki, who operates "Gururi Architecture Office," a first-class architectural firm, also resides in the same classroom.
My home office in Tokyo and Umi no Kosha are spacious, quiet, and have a view of the sea, which completely changes my mood.
It's also pleasant to have other creators in the same space at a comfortable distance!
Ishida Hat Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1897 (Meiji 30), Ishida Hat Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a hat manufacturer.
They focus on creating simple and beautiful hats, primarily straw hats.
The rope made from straw, known as "Bakkan Sanada," has established itself as a side business for farmers, primarily in the southwestern part of Okayama. It was actively produced from the late Meiji period to the early Showa period and was exported to Europe and the United States.
This is a historic hat manufacturer that has been involved in the production of straw hats for agricultural work for many years.
The headquarters factory is located in Kodaira, Kasaoka City.
The space occupied at Share Atelier Umi no Kosha is the art room on the first floor of the wooden building No. 2.
Hats were stylishly displayed.
There is also a sewing machine for hats.
When the hat craftsman Ando Yuya operated the sewing machine, a round hat was completed from the rope state.
There are also hats that are shaped using wooden molds.
While most of these wooden molds are purchased, Ando challenged himself to create original wooden molds with the help of furniture craftsman Minami, taking advantage of his residency at Share Atelier Umi no Kosha.
I feel that being stimulated by other creators and being able to grow as a craftsman is a major attraction of residing in the Share Atelier!
In addition, "Pairdata LLC.," which conducts data analysis and marketing, and "Itomonokarafuru," which creates works using threads and fabrics, are also residents.
Including the three-story RC building that is currently unoccupied, there are still many vacant classrooms, and I am looking forward to seeing what kind of creators will move in the future.
What kind of background led to the establishment of Share Atelier Umi no Kosha, and what are the thoughts behind its operation?
Minami Tomoyuki, the representative director of NPO Umi no Kosha Oshima Higashi Elementary School, shared his insights.
Share Atelier Umi no Kosha Information
| Name | Share Atelier Umi no Kosha |
|---|---|
| Location | 2553 Oshima Naka, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Parking | Available |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Reservation | Required Reservations are necessary for the desired visit date |
| Wi-Fi | Available |
| Power Supply | Available |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking allowed only in designated areas) |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Official Site of Share Atelier Umi no Kosha |
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The eastern half of the nursery room is planned to be opened as a space for DIY for the general public in the future. We also want to hold workshops!