Sato Issai Learning Plaza

The Sato Issai Learning Square is a facility that commemorates Sato Issai, a great man who represented the Iwamura Domain in Mino Province during the late Edo period, now Iwamura Town in Ena City.
As head of the Shoheizaka Gakuin (the predecessor of the University of Tokyo), Sato Issai produced many disciples, and his teachings (the words he left behind) not only influenced many Meiji Restoration patriots at the end of the Edo period, but are still passed down to the hearts of many people today.
This facility is comprised of a video introducing the life of Sato Issai, an introduction to the many words he left behind, content that speaks to visitors in an interactive format with words that resonate with them, and quiz-style content for children.

The museum was requested to be developed as a facility that could communicate Ena City's "Citizens' Three Learning Movements*," a lifelong learning urban development initiative, not only to local residents but also to the entire city and visitors, by introducing the words from Sato Issai's book "Genshi Shiroku." While the words in "Genshi Shiroku" are widely known, there are almost no items related to Sato Issai himself remaining, so how to develop the museum as displays facility was a challenge.

*Based on the "Spirit of the Three Learnings" advocated by Issai Sato, "Everyone from children to the elderly should learn and be happy," Ena City's efforts to realize a "Town of the Three Learnings" that promotes the development of a town of lifelong learning are based on the three pillars of "Learning from Calligraphy," "Learning by Seeking," and "Learning and Applying."

First, we created a video that succinctly portrays Sato Issai's life, and used it as an introduction to displays to convey his character to those who are not familiar with him. After that, displays representative words with explanations, and by using interchangeable panels, visitors can be exposed to different words when they return. In addition, we have devised a slideshow-style monitor that allows visitors to read many of the words that could not be fully introduced in displays.
Although many of the words are still relevant today, we have developed content that allows visitors to answer a few questions and then selects the appropriate words to speak to them, so that they can find the words that best suit them.We have also created a corner that can be enjoyed by parents and children, in order to cater to a wide range of age groups.

In addition, the design incorporates the use of local resources, such as using fire-resistant materials produced in Ena City for interiors materials.

Wood is used throughout the facility, giving it the warmth and scent of wood.
The facility is not just for displays materials, but also combines technology such as theater videos and interactive content, making it versatile for use.