We will introduce the efforts of the Reiwa 6th year school town collaboration project.
The “Gakumachi Collaboration Project” is a “learning town collaboration project” in which universities and students and the local community collaborate to recruit and support projects and projects that work on urban development and regional revitalization in Kyoto.
We would like to inform you of the efforts of this year’s selected organizations!
【Activities】Kyoto Women’s University, Kyoto University, Ryukoku University “Student Group K-Bond”
On Friday, August 16th, the “Keihoku Bon Odori Festa 2024“, a traditional summer event involving the student group K-Bond, was held, and we visited it!
This is the third year of the student organization K-Bond.
It is an organization consisting of students from Kyoto Women’s University, Ryukoku University, and Kyoto University.
Focusing on the situation where the number of Bon Odori performers is decreasing and is in danger of disappearing due to the rapidly declining birthrate and aging population in the Keihoku region, we are working with local residents to revitalize the area, preserve Bon Odori, and disseminate the appeal of Keihoku Bon Odori from a young perspective targeting young people. The “Keihoku Bon Odori Festa” that we visited this time is held every year on August 16 to inherit Bon Odori, which is one of the cultures of Keihoku. Starting with Tamba Ondo, which is said to be “Joruri Kuzushi”, we will dance in Ondo, where the scenery and characteristics of each region such as Yamakuni, Yuge, Shuzan, and Utsu no Sato-Ondo are sung.
This year, about 12~13 students and working adults participated in the “Keihoku Bon Odori Festa” at the invitation of K-Bond, as well as members of other selected organizations who met at the exchange meeting of the Gakumachi Collaboration.
The gymnasium of the former Keihoku Daiichi Elementary School, the venue, was attended by many people, regardless of age or gender, and it was the first summer festival scene in a long time!
When I asked Mr. Nakano, a member of the student group K-Bond, about “interaction with local people,” he said,
“I regularly visit the Keihoku area, actively participate in Bon Odori practice, community gatherings and events, and enjoy my activities with the cooperation of many local people.
When the Bon Odori season is over, you will be introduced to the Bon Odori of Keihoku from a digital perspective, such as distributing it on YouTube and archiving the Bon Odori, as well as practicing Bon Odori and singing.
Please continue to work hard with the local people to convey the charm of Bon Odori in Keihoku!!
【Activities】Ritsumeikan University “Camo Cinema 19 Executive Committee”
On Saturday, August 24th, “Camo Cinema 19” was held at Aoi Park in Kamogawa, and I visited it!
The “Camo Cinema Executive Committee” is an organization that conducts cleanup activities and outdoor movie screenings on the riverbed of the Kamo River.
With the aim of instilling a long-term awareness of the beautification and conservation of the Kamo River among local residents, Kyoto residents, and young people, we have continued our activities to convey the charm of the Kamo River and create opportunities to protect it, and this year marks the 19th year.
It was established by volunteers from the Ritsumeikan University Advertising Research Group, and currently has about 40 members.
Speaking of “Camo Cinema”, last year it rained heavily before the movie screening, and the year before that, it rained heavily before the event, and this year as well, the clouds became suspicious from the evening, and it was about to rain, and lightning and thunder sounded, but somehow it ended safely without rain.
The following two events will be held before the outdoor film screening.
(1) Event for small children “Kamogawa de Play”
We asked clubs from other universities to exhibit various booths, such as a booth where children can enjoy and a booth where they can learn about the Kamo River, and about 50 people participated.
(2) Kamo River cleanup activity “Clean Hike”
This year, we focused on university students, and about 30 students (including several university staff and graduate students) participated in the cleanup activity together with volunteer groups in Kamogawa.
19:10 ~ “Outdoor movie screening” will be held.
This year, “River, Don’t Flow” produced by the theater company Europe was screened.
The film was decided on this film because it is set in Kifune in winter, it is set in Kyoto, it is very popular with the members of Camo Cinema, and it has a connection with the director and screenwriter of “River, Don’t Flow” last year.
In addition, there was also a strong desire from the leader Karibe to make the mood cool in the heat.
Audience members came one after another before the screening, and the seats that were prepared were filled up in no time! There were also families with small children and elderly couples. (There were about 300 visitors!) ）
The Kifune in the middle of winter projected on the screen made me feel even cooler.
Through this interview, I was very impressed by the way all the members of Kamo Cinema worked together to promote the operation, and I learned that there is a lot of support behind the scenes, including volunteer groups in Kamogawa, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, and local restaurants. It was also impressive to see everyone watching over us warmly.
Please continue to do your best in the conservation activities of the Kamo River and activities to convey its charm!
【Activities】 Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto Seika University, Ryukoku University
『BORDER! Executive Committee”
11/24 (Sun), BORDER!The event held by the executive committee “BORDER!Art Festival 2024“!
「BORDER!The Executive Committee is made up of art students from the Kansai region, mainly Kyoto City University of Arts, and is responsible for planning, operating, and implementing art festivals.
The venue is “Demachi Masugata Shopping Street” in Kamigyo Ward. On the day of the event, it was a cold day with light rain falling and stopping, but there was an arcade in the shopping street and a roof, so I was able to enjoy the event without feeling cold! In the past, many events were held outdoors and there were concerns about the weather, but this year they decided on the “Demachi Masugata Shopping Street” because it is a place with a roof and there are art-related shops such as records and used books. (Leader: Mr. Tsukahara)
Nearby, there is a shop famous for bean daifuku and a famous mackerel sushi shop in the shopping street, and it is a shopping street with a lot of traffic, but on this day, many people, regardless of age or gender, locals and tourists, were enjoying the event with art works that are not often seen.The theme of this year’s event is “Madoma”. The “in-between” of art peeking through the “window”. As the main event, a stamp rally will be held only on the day of the “Demachi Masugata Shopping Street ✕ BORDER! Art Festival”. Handmade stamps with the motif of shops in the shopping street were placed in front of the store, and if you collected all of them, you could win gift certificates and event goods that could be used in the shopping street. The handmade event goods were of high quality and all of them were cute goods that children would love!
Through the interview, BORDER!It was clear that the executive committee was working together with the people of the shopping district to hold the event. On the day of the event, the people of the shopping street were also working energetically together with the students, and I think that they contributed greatly to the revitalization of the shopping street.
In recent years, the decline of shopping streets has become a problem, but if there are more and more initiatives that lead to the revitalization of shopping streets and regional revitalization through collaboration between shopping streets and students… I think.
The event has ended, but the website of the event is wonderful every year, so please take a look!
