Works#Regional revitalization

This is a concept shop of "Okomeburan" by Shinmei Group, one of the largest long-established rice wholesalers in Japan. Okomeburan is a rice bran specialty store brand with the vision of "organizing your daily life." This store aims to be a new urban store consisting of three spaces: "FACTORY SHOP," "EAT IN CAFÉ," and "KITCHEN LAB." All of Okomeburan's products are made with the utmost care from the manufacturing process to the transportation process. In order to maximize the appeal of the products, we devised a "FACTORY SHOP" that adds displays function to the conventional sales and cafe functions. We added an displays function that clearly conveys the manufacturing process, and a function that allows you to touch and learn about brown rice, rice husks, white rice, rice bran, and the scenery of the production area for each brand. In addition, we have concept design a "KITCHEN LAB" that visualizes the kitchen and office, and will hold workshops, as well as a space that will convey the product development process that you cannot usually see. Our company has been involved in Okome Buran since its first store (Lucua Osaka), which opened in February 2021, and in addition to designing and construction the stores, we have been providing general support, including rebranding to set the brand name and vision, and supervising logo and packaging concept design, as well as product and cafe menu development.

This is a new tourist information center built in the public passageway of JR Kokura Station, the gateway to Kitakyushu City. In order to improve the satisfaction of tourists, including foreign tourists, who will continue to increase in number, and to promote sightseeing around the city, the existing information center, which was built about 15 years ago, was closed and moved to a new location within the same station premises and expanded. [Social issues / Customer issues / Requests] The requests included creating a space that is easy for travelers to use and comfortable, preparing the hardware and software of a digital signage system with updateable content so that travelers themselves can search for tourist information, setting up a facility that takes into consideration the installation of foreign currency exchange machines and other equipment for foreign travelers, and creating an information center that meets the highest standard of "Category 3" *2 certified by JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization) *1. [Solution] In addition to meeting the above requests, we proposed a plan with the goal of creating an information center that can be used even in the with-COVID era. Based on the concept of "Kyushu's gateway where you can experience Japan," we proposed a design that expresses the advanced spirit of Kitakyushu, a mecca for manufacturing, while also incorporating the traditional concept design of the castle town of Kokura, and carefully selected interiors materials to maintain a safe and clean concept design. The proposed functions include a non-contact face-to-face system using monitors, a system that allows travelers to upload and publish travel information using SNS, and an arrangement in which the entire glass surface of the exterior wall becomes a signage that promotes the attractions of Kitakyushu at night, and these were all adopted. The innovative concept design is unified with Kitakyushu's signature design and a clean white color, and the entire glass wall creates a bright, open, and welcoming atmosphere. While the concept design blends in with the modern station premises with a gray base, it also asserts itself as an information center by incorporating concept design inspired by Kokura weaving and elements of bustle. At JR Kokura Station, the gateway to Kitakyushu, the concept design is symbolic of the city, conveying the charm of Kitakyushu to customers both in and out of Japan and raising expectations for the trip. [Customer feedback] concept design reflected the space that the city wanted to create as a tourist information center, based on the services to be provided, and they created a tourist information center worthy of being the "gateway to Kitakyushu City." Despite the constraints of being located inside a station, they were able to solve many issues with their rich imagination and high technical skills. We hope that this facility will be used by more tourists visiting the city than ever before. *1. About the JNTO-certified foreign tourist information center certification system: JNTO has been operating a foreign tourist information center certification system since fiscal 2012, based on the "Guidelines for the establishment and operation of foreign tourist information centers (established in January 2012, revised in April 2018)" established by the Japan Tourism Agency. This certification system certifies information centers into three categories and partner facilities based on location, functions, etc. The certification is renewed every three years, and by providing support services such as interpretation services and training sessions by JNTO, we aim to enhance the functions and quality of JNTO-certified foreign tourist information centers nationwide. *2. The highest standard, "Category 3," means: English support is available at all times. Additionally, there is a system in place that allows guidance to be provided in two or more languages other than English at all times. National-level tourist information is provided. Open all year round in principle. Wi-Fi is available. Located in a gateway or location with many foreign visitors. <From the Japan National Tourism Organization website> <Our project members> [Development] Soeda Satoru [Sales and project management] Soeda Satoru [Planning, design, layout] Nishimura Chieri [Production and construction] Hijikuro Kazuya

As a hotel that introduces "Kyoto Toji Temple" in an easy-to-understand manner that cannot be fully enjoyed in a one-time sightseeing trip, the little-known Buddha statue mandala is illustrated, and you can walk around the city freely opening and closing while comparing the old and the modern. In the lobby, we installed a map, a large table where you can copy sutras with sand, and a wall artwork of Buddha smiling with a motion sensor. In addition, the full-size pillar with a motif of a five-storied pagoda was used as a bookshelf to impart wisdom because the actual central pillar itself is a mandala.

Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei, the first Hotel Okura brand in Japan in about 20 years, opened on January 20, 2022. Our spatial concept design team "RENS" provided the overall direction of the interior and was responsible for the interiors construction and FF&E construction. Kyoto is home to many world-renowned traditional crafts created by artisans using techniques that have been passed down since ancient times. We have created a hotel that connects these traditional crafts to the future and allows you to feel their further potential. In collaboration with "GO ON," a project unit consisting of six successors of Kyoto's traditional crafts, we have created a small, luxurious space filled with new crafts. This hotel is reminiscent of an adult hideaway and offers a tranquil moment, allowing you to enjoy a soothing stay in the beauty of modern Kyoto.

Atsuta Shrine is a shrine that enshrines Kusanagi-no-mitsurugi, one of the three sacred treasures, and swords have been donated to the shrine throughout the ages. Kusanagikan, a treasure trove of swords, is a sword exhibition hall unique to Atsuta Shrine, housing approximately 450 swords that have been dedicated to the gods with prayer since ancient times, including swords designated as national treasures and important cultural properties. In addition to swords, you can also view paintings and historical documents related to swords. There is also displays corner where you can feel the weight of two large swords, the Shumei Sueno Aoe (Taro Tachi) and Chiyozuru Kuniyasu (Jiro Tachi), made to the actual length and weight. We were in charge of the graphics in the hall, explanations for the sword displays, and video production. The video was based on the theme of "Kusanagi-no-mitsurugi - the myth of its transmission," which is also the origin of the name Kusanagikan. The myth of the birth of Kusanagi Sword and the origin myth of the shrine it enshrines are presented in a graceful picture scroll style. The background music was also carefully considered, beginning with the melody of an ancient Japanese gagaku instrument and adding the sounds of an orchestra to convey the magnificent moment of the birth of the shrine. The explanatory monitor for the sword displays follows the theory of sword displays appreciation, but by using larger letters and more furigana, it is easier to read for a wider range of ages. <Our project members> [Sales] Yamamoto Izumiichiro, Watanabe Kyoko [Planning, graphic direction, video direction] Shimokuni Yuki [Fixture concept design] Miyake Dairo

An experience-based food park for green tea, agriculture, and tourism. It is one of the largest markets in the prefecture, consisting of a market, restaurant, cafe, kids park, and tenant stores. The aim was to increase the income of local farmers and create a place that would become a hub for local tourism, and it was carried out as a four-party collaboration project involving the Oigawa Agricultural Cooperative, Shimada City, Oigawa Railway, and Central Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. Our company was involved in everything from the basic and implementation plans to design, layout, construction, and tenant leasing. This project was produced by the Tokonatsu Infantry Corps, and we established a design JV with our company as the lead company, and played a central role in promoting the project up to its opening. [Social issues/customer issues/requests] The keywords are [agricultural promotion] and [regional promotion]. This region is one of the leading green tea producing areas in Japan, and tea farmers are absolutely confident in the quality of their tea, but as people are increasingly turning away from green tea, they had the challenge of not knowing how to promote its value or sell it. In addition, despite the Oigawa Railway's steam locomotives and the abundant tourist resources of the Oigawa River Basin, there was an issue of not being able to attract as many tourists as desired, so the goal was to create a base that would become a tourism hub for the region. We tackled the issues of creating a place where local farmers could sell their specialty products with confidence by promoting them in an attractive way, and creating a place where local people could recognize the charm of their local area and be proud of it. [Solution] 1. To be loved by the locals. 2. To make use of local resources. 3. To communicate in an easy-to-understand way We communicated the idea that what is "natural" to the region and farmers is valuable and attractive to people in other regions. By adding entertainment and concept design to it and creating a unique experience, we added value and made it into an attractive product and service. A new Oigawa Railway station was also opened, and it became a hot topic as a complex commercial facility that had never been seen in the region before, and it is bustling with many customers every day. <Our project members> [Sales] Aya Nishimoto, Keisuke Iwasa [Planning] Ryusuke Nomura [design, layout] Noriaki Tamura, Kan Fujimura, Midori Arai [Production and construction] Yoshiyuki Nakamura, Yuuki Saiki, Akihiro Yoshida, Sora Udagawa, Junhiro Kawatani [Leasing] Aya Nishimoto

The former Suzuki residence, a large mansion consisting of a main house and three storehouses in the Toi district of Nishiizu, has been loved as a central presence in the area since the Edo period. With the "value of spending time with ancient beauty" in mind, we renovated each building and exterior structure to create an auberge with two accommodation rooms. The main house's closed-in layout was revised to expand the space up, down, left and right to ensure modern comfort. We wanted to preserve the atmosphere of the past by taking advantage of the spatial individuality of each of the three storehouses and adding minimal concept design, so we renovated two of them into accommodation buildings with luxurious outdoor open-air baths, and one of them functions as a lounge and spa. By combining it with the surrounding accommodation facilities, we have realized an auberge that blends into the local community and is loved by everyone. [Social issues / Customer issues / Requests] Toi has long been popular as a hot spring inn town, but there is a small variety of restaurants, and there are no cafes that serve as tourist bases or tourist content that makes use of Nishiizu's food resources, so the lack of tourist spending by tourists has been a long-standing issue. The company's request was that the development of this facility should not be prioritized for profitability, but rather for it to be beneficial to the region, and that it should be accepted and loved by tourists and local residents alike. [Solution] We felt that we needed to respect the time that the buildings had accumulated on this land, find the unique character of each building, and create concept design that could transform it into an attractive feature. We reviewed the layout while taking into consideration the structural burden of the existing unsuitable buildings, and respected the unique character of each building, such as the deep trusswork of the main building, the roughly painted plastered walls of the first storehouse, which served as a lounge, the dynamic one-room space of the second storehouse, and the vertical expanse of the second storehouse with its clay walls hidden behind the wooden walls. By respecting the unique character of each building, it became the very charm of each facility. [Customer's comments] As a result of the extremely high-quality concept design and construction techniques used to renovate the former Suzuki residence, which represents the history of Toi, in a short delivery period, not only tourists who come to "LOQUAT Nishiizu" but also local residents visit the facility almost every day, and it has become a place of relaxation that provides a little richness in their daily lives. Not only the accommodation building, but also the restaurant, bakery and gelateria are busy and full to capacity every day. <Our project members> [Sales/Project Management] Shinya Hiratsuka, Nobuyuki Yagi [Planning] Saki Ninomiya [design, layout] Norio Koito, Hiroshi Inoue, Tadahiro Nakajima, Ryotaro Tezuka [Production/ construction] Jun Endo, Takayuki Inoue, Nohara Kikuchi

The Shitara Town Oku-Mikawa Folk Museum, which was nurtured by the rich nature of the mountainous region of Aichi Prefecture, inherits the message of the old museum, "Conveying the life and spirit of our hometown." It is attached to the newly built Shitara Roadside Station and has been completely renovated as a core facility for town development. displays space is filled with local treasures and numerous valuable materials that have been collected since the Taisho period. The displays space is modularized with cypress latticework from Shitara Town, which is easy to update and can be used as a spatial infrastructure unique to the region in the future. Visitors can learn about the diversity of living things, archaeology and history from the rich forest scenery, and the wisdom of living that is still passed down today, surrounded by a rich collection of folklore. We aimed to raise awareness of sustainable lifestyles by creating and expressing the relationship between actions and changes in consciousness from the relationship between makers and users. [Social issues / Customer issues / Requests] 1) Creation of facilities by expanding the use of materials produced in Shitara Town, in line with the town's comprehensive plan and forest creation plan. 2) Exhibit tens of thousands of displays inherited from the old local museum, and create a rich displays environment. 3) Located at the southern gateway, guide to the northern part and local resources, and regenerate as a field museum. 4) Reuse of handmade displays from the old local museum, visualization of the inherited spirit of "Yui". 5) Video archive of local resources, including "Tamine Dengaku", a nationally designated important intangible folk cultural property. [Solution] displays room of the Oku-Mikawa Local Museum, which follows Shitara Town's guidelines, is made of cypress wood produced in Shitara Town, which is processed into a lattice structure and installed on-site. The folk materials on displays are a collection of handcrafted folk tools made from wood from the Edo to Taisho and Showa periods, which are preserved and passed down. It is concept design as a space unique to the region that conveys a message, considering the awareness and value of the rich forests of people who are connected over 100 years. displays begins with a diorama recreating a rich forest scene, and then goes on to learn about the region's natural history, archaeology, and history, including the diversity of creatures and geology, while recreating scenes of life in the past in folklore. It expresses the spirit of "yui" and makes the folk tool collection feel lively. displays allow visitors to experience the "life and spirit of the hometown" and convey the wisdom and ingenuity of our ancestors who survived in the harsh mountainous areas. [Customer feedback] Your company's extensive experience and technology have enabled us to meet a wide range of challenges, including the continuation of the old building's "communicating the life and spirit of the hometown," the easy-to-understand displays theme structure, the ability to update displays, and the use of materials produced in Shitara Town. <Our project members> [Sales and project management] Tetsuya Kurita, Teruko Takai [concept design direction] Shunsuke Shimizu [Planning, design, layout] Koichi Ido, Yoichi Miyakoshi, Nobuyuki Endo [Production and construction] Koichiro Takahashi, Takeshi Suezaki

A new normal illumination that fuses the real and the remote, sending a message of gratitude and encouragement from Tokyo to medical professionals, essential workers, and all those who are moving toward the new normal.

At the Kyushu Aso Factory, which is Koikeya's first production base in Kyushu, as part of an effort to bring smiles to the people of Kumamoto and Kyushu, the company has established the "Koikeya GOGO! Factory," where customers can experience the company's history and commitment since its founding while touring the factory and making their own original potato chips. This facility is designed to promote the appeal of Koikeya to local residents through factory tours at the Kyushu Aso Factory. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] As the company is located in Mashiki Town, an area that was damaged by the Kumamoto earthquake, the company wanted to create jobs by operating the new factory and to produce high-value-added products as well as standard products, which would contribute to the recovery and revitalization of the region. As part of this effort to bring smiles to the people of Kyushu, including Kumamoto, the company planned to set up a facility where customers can experience the company's history and commitment since its founding while touring the factory and making their own original potato chips. [Solution] In order to convey the image of the "New Koikeya" as a "long-established potato chip store" that was rebranded in 2016, we used a noren curtain at the entrance and placed a huge graphic called "Koikeya Cultural Philosophy Map" that shows the history. In addition, when visitors enter the facility, they are greeted by a bright and white space, expressing the fact that Koikeya is creating "even more delicious" with the spirit of "Go! Go! Go!". The original potato chip making experience was also done in a "chef's style" using a square-shaped counter, and we placed emphasis on communication with visitors. [Customer feedback] They created a high-quality facility within a very short delivery period. They had a very good understanding of our commitment and the corporate image we were aiming for, and they were able to express it in the product. We hope that we can make great use of this as a place to communicate with the local community in the future. <Our project members> [Sales/Project Management] Hitomi Ariga [Planning] Tomoko Yanagihara, Mina Mochizuki [concept design] Noriaki Tamura, Akika Yamada [Graphics] Daishin Teruyoshi [Production] Tomoaki Morita

"Illumination Island Odaiba" is an event that has been held every year in which commercial facilities, accommodation facilities, transportation facilities, etc. in the waterfront sub-center area all light up at the same time. In 2020, a first attempt was planned to create a production not only at individual facilities but also in the public areas between the facilities, and our proposal was selected as a result of a proposal competition. In addition to concept design the illumination production, construction, and security patrols during the event, we were responsible for a one-package project that also included effectiveness verification, analyzing the impact on social media and the attributes of event attendees.

This project involved converting the old Kiyomizu Elementary School building, which has a history of about 90 years and remains in Kiyomizu, Kyoto, into a hotel. It has been reborn as a hotel that combines modern comfort while retaining its distinctive design. We were in charge of architectural design supervision, interiors design, layout, and FF&E concept design and construction. Kiyomizu Elementary School is one of the schools that has been evaluated as a unique building with unique features in its location, exterior decoration, and interiors concept design. Based on the hotel's concept of "engraving memories and connecting them to the future," we paid the utmost respect to the historical Western architecture and its interior space, and concept design to revive memories while preserving and inheriting them. In addition, we fused the architecture and interior space as new functions to express nostalgia and newness. [Client's Issues/Requests] It was necessary to design it so that it would function as a hotel while making use of the architecture of the existing historic elementary school. We also had to have repeated discussions about what kind of hotel would be acceptable to the Kyoto area. [Solution] We worked with creators on every detail, including architecture, landscape, interior, FF&E, artwork, graphics, and uniforms, to create a completely new and unique space. While the corridors and staircases where elementary school children once ran around have been preserved, when you open the doors to the classrooms where the children once studied, you will enter a completely different contemporary world. In order to maximize the value of the existing details that are valuable in the history of the architecture and interior space, we stuck to materials that do not overshadow but highlight them. The reflection of the materials reflected in the semi-gloss finish enhances the existing architectural design. We aimed to create a spatial composition with a "seeming" that can only be experienced here, by coordinating the total design of concept design, graphics, uniforms, etc., and harmonizing the interiors and FF&E concept design in a well-balanced way. <Our project members> [Sales/Project management] Toru Moenuki [design, layout / design supervision] A.N.D.: Ryu Kosaka, Shohei Urata, Hiroki Yasuda / Hiroyuki Nishikawa [FF&E concept design] A.N.D.: Kaori Sano

This is an art-based urban development project based in the waterfront subcenter area. The aim is to connect the five areas and the vast city of over 440 hectares through art and increase its appeal. For the first project, architect Motosuke Bandai was invited to design a pavilion called ARTBAYHOUSE. The pavilion was created with the concept of "architecture that embraces the 'nature' that is unique to this place." The architecture itself is an experiential work of art, and at the same time, it is a space that serves as a base for various art and urban development projects, as it changes while being enveloped in the ever-changing nature of light, wind, rain, and plants. There is also a cafe inside, and pets are allowed inside. The space where people, plants, animals, insects, and other various "nature" can each spend their time comfortably is a place where you can experience unprecedented newness that questions the future of cities and spaces. [Social issues / Customer issues / Requests] The waterfront subcenter area has all the basic urban functions, but the scale of each building and road is large, and there was a lack of places where people could spend their time comfortably, especially outdoors. Furthermore, although there are many natural attractions not found in urban areas, such as ocean views and wide skies, these were not being fully utilized. [Solution] 1. Create a human-scale space that serves as a starting point for urban development, where people can gather and feel comfortable. 2. Create content that has the power to attract and spread information, making people want to visit. 3. Implement experimental programs that are unique to the waterfront new city center area. With these three pillars as the planning axis, we aimed to realize an art project unique to this area that would present new value while responding to the issues facing the town. <Our project members> [Sales/Project Management] Ito Etsuro, Ibe Reiko [Research/Planning] Sugimoto Taku, Yokota Tomoko, Mochizuki Mina

"Tokyo Gift Palette" is a new specialty shopping mall developed near the Yaesu North Exit of Tokyo Station, with a total of 33 brands. The pillars and ceilings of this facility, the gateway to Tokyo, are made of recycled aluminum from the body of the 700 Series Shinkansen, which was retired from the Tokaido Shinkansen in March 2020. The building is decorated with images of cherry blossom petals and noren curtains, befitting a terminal station, and is a sustainable space with high added value that connects people's thoughts by taking advantage of the high quality and fine feel unique to the 700 Series Shinkansen. We participated in this project by Tokyo Station Development Co., Ltd., and were involved from the development stage of the building materials, and were in charge of production, construction production, and project management for the environmental area interiors work. This is the first time that recycled aluminum that does not contain any additives has been used to decorate a commercial space since the start of Shinkansen operation in 1964, and this project won the Development Award from the Japan Aluminum Association.

This project is one of the projects to help the residents of the areas that will be submerged due to the construction of the Yamba Dam to rebuild their lives and find meaning in life. For about six years, we were in charge of the basic plan, schematic design, working drawings, interior administration, and consulting work to support local management companies for the "regional development facilities" in the "Kawarayu District" and "Yokobe District" of the relevant areas. For the Yokobe Regional Development Facility, we not only planned the construction, but also supported the launch of the management body established in the district, and planned and produced the facility, including the attraction of companies to enter the market, consulting on restaurants run by residents, menu development, and management supervision of opening equipment. The facility concept design was based on the concept of "inheriting and developing the town's memories," and reproduced the former Naganohara Town Hall*, which had fulfilled its role after about 90 years of construction and was scheduled for demolition, as a symbol of the district. We designed the facility to create an opportunity for the children who will be the future leaders of the district and the tourists who visit, to see the town's history, and to help the new businesses that will be run here lead to the regeneration, reconstruction, and development of the district. *The old government building, built in 1929 (Showa 4), was a two-story wooden building with a hipped roof and a Japanese-Western style exterior with a porch and a gabled roof on top. It was also said to be the only wooden government building in Gunma Prefecture. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] [Business] With the construction of the Yamba Dam, it was requested to establish a new business that had never been done before in this area, as a facility for the residents of the area to be submerged and rebuild their lives and find meaning in life. In addition, it was requested that the facility be differentiated from facilities planned in other areas and similar facilities, and that it have the ability to attract customers and be unique. [concept design] It was requested that the old government building, which is filled with people's memories, be utilized in some way, that it be visible from the busy national highway from the perspective of attracting customers, and that it be planned to attract passersby. It was also requested that the plan take advantage of the view that allows the Yamba Dam to be seen in the distance and the lake to be seen in the distance. [Solution] [Business] In order to realize the request, we focused on the following three points: first, to make suggestions to make the business ideas of the local residents possible; second, to differentiate the local regional development facilities between "Yokobe District" and "Kawarayu District"; and third, to strongly support the launch of a local parent company. In this project, we aimed to "open a restaurant," which none of the local people had experience in, and promoted it in a way that was close to the characteristics of the area and the characteristics of the business. In particular, we had many conversations about "looking for the Yokobe District's uniqueness" and "utilizing local recipes," and developed menus together, and promoted a plan that was closely tied to the area. For the prototype and tasting session, we invited professional chefs to support the local people in raising their awareness, revitalizing the area by improving their cooking skills, and strengthening their self-sufficiency. [concept design] When converting the function of the town hall to Lake Station, we surveyed the existing building and decided to recreate it in a modern update while taking into consideration the nostalgia of the former town hall building. The retro and distinctive design of the old government building has been reproduced to create a visual appeal. In addition, by creating an open opening facing Yamba Dam, the location has one of the best views of any facility around the dam lake. Furthermore, in order to maintain the style of the old government building while conforming to current regulations, careful consideration was given to the structural design. <Our project members> [Sales/Project Management] Arai Satoshi, Yamamoto Hitomi [Planning/Consulting] Sakazume Kenichi, Shimokuni Yuki [design, layout] NAU: Kirioka Sakae, Osano Nana