Tokyo Garage
東京ガレージ

OVERVIEW

TIME
2017 −

VENUE
Higashi-Nippon, Arakawa Ward, Tokyo
東京都荒川区東日暮里

ROLE
Artist, Project Co-Founding Member
プロジェクト共同創立メンバー

CO-FOUNDING MEMBER
YOSHIOKA Yuumi, TACHIBANA Ayaka, KIYOTA Asako, ICHIJO Karin, HAYASHI Takatsune
吉岡ゆうみ, 橘采花, 清岡麻子, 一条かりん, 林敬庸

KEYWORD
Neighborhood Development, Street Culture, ストリート文化, Play, 遊び, Teen, 10代, Psychology, 心理, alternative education, オルタナティブ教育, the 3rd place, 第3の居場所, 下町・路地裏文化, Treehouse, ツリーハウス

WEBSITE
https://tokyogarage3309.wordpress.com/what/

STORY

Tokyo Garage is a volunteer-run initiative that aims to reclaim Tokyo's nostalgic backstreet/alley culture by repurposing a private garage space. At the inaugural workshop commemorating its opening in 2017, we welcomed over 100 participants, spanning from the young to the seasoned, who collectively constructed a large treehouse. This treehouse has since become a symbol of our project and a beloved community hub for local children. We strive to create a "place to generate something from nothing" by providing an environment that stimulates the growth instincts of children and young people from infancy to adolescence, drawing from the perspectives of education, psychology, and art.

The connotation of a "garage" implies a hidden and playful experimental space. Especially for children, it is an ideal environment where imagination and curiosity are stimulated, and the unexpected can occur. While involuntarily drawing out the sensibilities and abilities of children, we cherish opportunities to foster self-esteem, the ability to connect with others, and the resilience necessary for independence through enjoyable and emotionally engaging experiences.
Yoru no Gakko
Since 2019, we have been regularly hosting "Yoru no Gakkou" (Night School), with programs designed around the theme of "Yoru" (夜=night, 寄る=to come by, 因る=to relate) to meet the needs for older teens.
It is a platform and community space for teenagers to meet diverse adults who don’t fit in a mold of a confined career path. Through deep conversations and new experiences, it expands perspectives and choices, helping individuals discover their own potential and authentic ways of living.
Treehouse!
The symbol of this project endeavor is a treehouse built through a one-day workshop with Japanese carpenter Hayashi Takatsune, one of the Tokyo Garage’s founding members, as part of the launch of Tokyo Garage in 2017, in collaboration with 100 participants. It is the only one of its kind in Tokyo, where anyone can freely experience it.
The treehouse has been embraced by local kids who drop by after school. We also do annual maintenance as a workshop with kids to gain knowledge and experience about sustainability, a Japanese tradition. natural materials and traditional construction.

東京ガレージは、東京都荒川区日暮里にある個人宅のガレージを開放し、かつて東京の街中にあった路地裏文化の原風景を取り戻しながら、「何もない場所から何かを生み出す場」を目指すための活動拠点です。

教育・心理、アートの専門的な視点から、幼児から青年までの成長本能に働きかける環境を考案し、子どもたちの持つ感性や能力を最大限に引き出しながら、楽しく心が揺さぶられる体験の中で自尊心や人とつながる力、自立に必要なレジリエンスを育む機会を大切にします。

2017年の活動開始を記念して実施したワークショップは、参加者総勢100名で作り上げたツリーハウスが、この東京ガレージのシンボルとなっています。

「ガレージ（Garage）」というと、隠れ家的な存在であり、汚してもいい、いわば遊び心を刺激する実験的な空間だという認識があります。特に子どもにとっては、非日常の空間だからこそ、想像力や好奇心が引き出され、思いがけない何かが生まれる魅力ある環境になり得るのです。
2019年より、「よる（夜、寄る、因る）」をテーマに、10代に向けた活動「よるのがっこう」を定期的に開催しています。