home > Business Activities > Regional Revitalization Activities
The Chishima Real Estate Group undertakes activities such as the followings, in order to improve the value of the company’s real estate properties and realize symbiosis with society.
- Kitakagaya Creative Village Project
- Preservation and utilization of the “Shibakawa Building,” a historical building
- Rubber Duck Project
Kitakagaya Creative Village Project
Located near Osaka Bay, the Kizu River Basin once sustained Japan’s modernization as a concentration point for heavy industry. Our company owns 230,000m² of land in the Kitakagaya area located alongside the Kizu River. From the Taisho Period through the postwar period, we leased this land to shipyard and related factories. However, since the land is now being returned to us as shipyard has relocated due to changes in industrial structure and for various other reasons, we have been, in recent years, implementing the Kitakagaya Creative Village (KCV) Project, which aims to change Kitakagaya into a creative area where arts and culture are concentrated, by providing the land and buildings with artists and others involved with art.
*The company received the Grand Mécénat Award at the MECENAT Awards 2011, by Association for Corporate Support of the Arts.
01
Utilization of the site of the Old Namura Shipyard (Osaka Factory)
(Creative Center OSAKA)01
Utilization of the site of the Old Namura Shipyard (Osaka Factory)
(Creative Center OSAKA)-
The site of the Old Namura Shipyard (Osaka Factory) was returned to us in 1988, and we had been searching for new ways to use the approximately 42,000m² site and the buildings. However, following the holding of the first “NAMURA ART MEETING ‘04-’34”
here in autumn 2004, the site became the base for this art project, which has continued for 30 years, and the site has come to be used as a space for artistic and cultural activities.
In 2005, a creative space called “BLACK CHAMBER” was installed in the former office building, and the Creative Center Osaka (CCO)—which includes “STUDIO PARTITA” and other facilities on the site—was opened at the same time. Utilizing the potential of industrial heritage, various creative activities are carried out at the site.
02
Reutilization of vacant houses by artists and creators
02
Reutilization of vacant houses by artists and creators
-
Factory and residential buildings remaining on Chishima Real Estate-managed properties after a site has been returned to us is leased at relatively low rates to artists and other people undertaking creative activities. Tenants are free to renovate the property as they wish and are not required to return it to us in its original condition, and so thus far, approximately 40 properties have been renovated as their tenants pleased, being reborn as art studios, galleries, offices, shops, bars, and other spots where the tenants’ creativity is expressed.
03
Kitakagaya Minna Nouen (Community Farm)
03
Kitakagaya Minna Nouen (Community Farm)
-
Stemming from the idea of utilizing vacant land as a means of activate the local community, we launched the “Kitakagaya Creative Farm Project” in 2011, opening the “Kitakagaya Minna - Nouen”
in 2012 as a facility emphasizing communication amongst participants.
Currently, the facility is operated by good luck whose activities are based in Kitakagaya. Combining art and agriculture in a manner unique to Kitakagaya, this urban-style garden farm is attracting attention from around Japan.
04
04
APartMENT
-
This project renovates former company residences apartments, transforming them into regular rental housing. Thus far, eight teams of artists and creators bringing together skills that transcend the framework of “architecture”— contemporary art, products, lighting, technology, interior, and garden landscaping—have renovated eight rooms, which have been reborn as “housing complexes that embrace art.” This fusion of art and renovation combined with the invocation of residents’ creativity has drawn widespread praise, with the project being honored with the “Osaka City Housing Design Special Prize” at the “30th Osaka City Housing Design Awards” in February 2017.
APartMENT
05
-
The old bunka-jutaku built when a shipbuilding industry was booming has been renovated into diner, bar, old material store, atrium (space for event) through the concept of “inheritance”.
We aim for this building to become a creative space where new values are transmitted, jobs are created and resources are reused and recycled, all whilst preserving its uniqueness.
(Photograph by Yoshiro Masuda) Chidori Bunka
06
Establishment and support of the Chishima Foundation for Creative Osaka
-
The Chishima Foundation for Creative Osaka was established in 2011 as a project to commemorate the 100th anniversary since our company’s establishment. The Foundation is involved in the operation etc. of MASK (MEGA ART STORAGE KITAKAGAYA), a public grant program for art and culture activities that is implemented in Osaka, and which utilizes former factory sites in Kitakagaya. Our company provides constant support for the Foundation’s activities.
(Photograph courtesy of Yuki Moriya.)
Creative Osaka
07
-
Yasumasa Morimura, a contemporary artist from Osaka opened his first self-produced private museum, which he renovated from an old furniture store in 2018. We aim for Kitakagaya to become a new artistic and cultural transmitter based on the concepts of this museum, “For various types of people”, “To discover the unknown” and, “A place where people would visit repeatedly”. We are giving special support to the M@M by ways such as providing him with a place to exhibit his art.
（Photograph by Kazuo Fukunaga）
08
Oto-Building
-
Since music activities in residential areas are becoming difficult, we revitalized an old office building located in an industrial area as a base for music activities. Now, the Oto-Building consists of music studio and shared studio, with various events being held irregularly.
09
09
Super Studio Kitakagaya
-
Super Studio Kitakagaya (“SSK”) revitalized from a former shipyard was opened as a complex including shared studios for contemporary artists.
Unlike normal ateliers, SSK is open for the public and provides a wide range of unique opportunities for visitors not only through works of art, but also creative activities performed by the artists.
(Photograph by Yoshiro Masuda)
01
Utilization of the site of the Old Namura Shipyard(OsakaFactory)
(Creative Center OSAKA)-
The site of the Old Namura Shipyard (Osaka Factory) was returned to us in 1988, and we had been searching for new ways to use the approximately 42,000m² site and the buildings. However, following the holding of the first “NAMURA ART MEETING ‘04-’34”
here in autumn 2004, the site became the base for this art project, which has continued for 30 years, and the site has come to be used as a space for artistic and cultural activities.
In 2005, a creative space called “BLACK CHAMBER” was installed in the former office building, and the Creative Center Osaka (CCO)—which includes “STUDIO PARTITA” and other facilities on the site—was opened at the same time. Utilizing the potential of industrial heritage, various creative activities are carried out at the site.
02
Reutilization of vacant houses by artists and creators
-
Factory and residential buildings remaining on Chishima Real Estate-managed properties after a site has been returned to us is leased at relatively low rates to artists and other people undertaking creative activities. Tenants are free to renovate the property as they wish and are not required to return it to us in its original condition, and so thus far, approximately 40 properties have been renovated as their tenants pleased, being reborn as art studios, galleries, offices, shops, bars, and other spots where the tenants’ creativity is expressed.
03
Kitakagaya Minna Nouen (Community Farm)
-
Stemming from the idea of utilizing vacant land as a means of activate the local community, we launched the “Kitakagaya Creative Farm Project” in 2011, opening the “Kitakagaya Minna - Nouen”
in 2012 as a facility emphasizing communication amongst participants. Currently, the facility is operated by Co.to.hana, an NPO whose activities are based in Kitakagaya. Combining art and agriculture in a manner unique to Kitakagaya, this urban-style garden farm is attracting attention from around Japan.
04
-
This project renovates former company residences apartments, transforming them into regular rental housing. Thus far, eight teams of artists and creators bringing together skills that transcend the framework of “architecture”— contemporary art, products, lighting, technology, interior, and garden landscaping—have renovated eight rooms, which have been reborn as “housing complexes that embrace art.” This fusion of art and renovation combined with the invocation of residents’ creativity has drawn widespread praise, with the project being honored with the “Osaka City Housing Design Special Prize” at the “30th Osaka City Housing Design Awards” in February 2017.
APartMENT
05
-
The old bunka-jutaku built when a shipbuilding industry was booming has been renovated into diner, bar, old material store, atrium (space for event) through the concept of “inheritance”.
We aim for this building to become a creative space where new values are transmitted, jobs are created and resources are reused and recycled, all whilst preserving its uniqueness.
(Photograph by Yoshiro Masuda) Chidori Bunka
06
Establishment and support of the Chishima Foundation for Creative Osaka
-
The Chishima Foundation for Creative Osaka was established in 2011 as a project to commemorate the 100th anniversary since our company’s establishment. The Foundation is involved in the operation etc. of MASK (MEGA ART STORAGE KITAKAGAYA), a public grant program for art and culture activities that is implemented in Osaka, and which utilizes former factory sites in Kitakagaya. Our company provides constant support for the Foundation’s activities.
(Photograph courtesy of Yuki Moriya.)
Creative Osaka
07
-
Yasumasa Morimura, a contemporary artist from Osaka opened his first self-produced private museum, which he renovated from an old furniture store in 2018. We aim for Kitakagaya to become a new artistic and cultural transmitter based on the concepts of this museum, “For various types of people”, “To discover the unknown” and, “A place where people would visit repeatedly”. We are giving special support to the M@M by ways such as providing him with a place to exhibit his art.
（Photograph by Kazuo Fukunaga）
08
Oto-Building
-
Since music activities in residential areas are becoming difficult, we revitalized an old office building located in an industrial area as a base for music activities. Now, the Oto-Building consists of music studio and shared studio, with various events being held irregularly.
09
Super Studio Kitakagaya
-
Super Studio Kitakagaya (“SSK”) revitalized from a former shipyard was opened as a complex including shared studios for contemporary artists.
Unlike normal ateliers, SSK is open for the public and provides a wide range of unique opportunities for visitors not only through works of art, but also creative activities performed by the artists.
(Photograph by Yoshiro Masuda)
-
Real Estate Business
-
Alternative Investment
Business
