In 2023, we experimentally launched a public space utilization event called "Gotanda de Shitanda!!."
This initiative led to the idea of “platform creation,” which connects diverse players with different backgrounds across the community. In 2024, we launched a community creation platform in collaboration with Gotanda Valley, a startup group of like-minded individuals we met at this event. This marked the beginning of our commitment to sustainable community creation that leverages the potential of Gotanda.
In launching this new community co-creation platform, we decided that “people” and “places” would be the keywords. Gotanda already has amazing players and places that could be opened to the community. We wanted to uncover these people and places. The public space utilization event "Gotanda de Shitanda!!" is one example of such practice. We wanted to create a new community co-creation platform that would uncover and connect the people and places of Gotanda, and preserve them as assets for the community.
As a result, the community co-creation platform “Gotanda Valley University” was born.
It aims to become a platform where various players can connect through learning, envisioning "the entire town as a campus." It aims to be a platform where diverse players connect through learning, envisioning “the entire town as a campus.” Anyone can become a teacher, and anywhere can become a classroom. Learning and experimentation take place throughout the town. We aspire to create such an exciting community.
The platform aims to involve residents, businesses, universities, and administrative bodies, all of which will play a leading role and be the main players. This is because we believe that members from different social backgrounds should get involved in the community on their own initiative, not as bystanders or consumers, which will lead to the greater enrichment of the community. Kume Sekkei hopes to deepen its relationship with the community as a company that creates blueprints for the community’s tangiblel and intangible aspects.
The sphere of our activities is gradually expanding.
We have utilized roads, public open spaces, corporate entrance halls, and conference rooms as "classrooms." We are also considering ways to utilize restaurants and universities. In addition to university professors, people from companies and students are also starting to teach classes as "teachers." We intend to continue expanding this sphere of activities and act as key players in the community to discover new ways of utilizing "places." We believe the key to creating a new community is utilizing existing cities and architecture to foster innovation.
