Join the Summer School on Building Engaging Community Spaces

Creating Spaces that Connect: Summer School in Tokyo

Overview of the Summer School

Starting on July 23, 2026, the Japanese company ShigotoHito will host a groundbreaking summer school titled "How to Build Engaging Community Spaces" in Tokyo's Kiyosumi-Shirakawa district, with online participation available as well. Applications will close on June 29. This series of practical seminars, known as "Shigoto Seminar", focuses on community building and the philosophy behind creating spaces that encourage people to come together.

What is the Shigoto Seminar?

The Shigoto Seminar format includes insights from various professionals across different fields, allowing participants to learn through hands-on experiences and real-world applications. Previous seminars have covered diverse topics, such as "Living through Words Seminar" and "Creating Joyful Communities".

Guest Speakers

The summer school boasts distinguished guest speakers, each a leader in unique aspects of community formation.
- Mio Aono (G.U. Style) emphasizes the interconnectedness of real estate, architecture, and community engagement. She operates a community-centric sweets store and is working on a new dining space set to launch in 2025.
- Hideki Toyoshima (gm projects) has a background in design and community building, focusing on creating spaces that foster outdoor lifestyles and local engagement through projects like 'Yama to Michi HLC'.
- Kazuki Kawabuchi and Jinjitsu Yamamoto represent the City Personnel Planning Office, focusing on connecting essential roles and education within the community through sustainable practices.
- Yugo Shirasaki from Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, with a background in team building and leadership, champions social initiatives through sports.

Why Now?

In today's world, where social media and diverse lifestyles allow easy connections, there is a renewed appreciation for face-to-face relationships and the energy of active communities. However, many community initiatives struggle with participation and sustainability. This seminar addresses these challenges and explores how to nurture self-sustaining spaces.

Learning Approach

The seminar comprises eight sessions that weave together theoretical knowledge and practical activities, providing a comprehensive understanding of community building.
- Lectures will feature experts who have successfully created vibrant communities, sharing concepts and operational strategies.
- Workshops will analyze two case study locations: "Little Tokyo" in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa and "IKEGAMI Minamiguchi" to brainstorm practical ideas for engaging community activities.
- Interactive learning will encourage diverse participants to exchange feedback, enriching their understanding of community dynamics.

Event Details

- Date: July 23, 2026, to September 10, 2026 (9 sessions total)
- Location: In-person at Little Tokyo, Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, and online via Google Meets
- Capacity: 30 participants for both in-person and online sessions
- Fees:

- A: Early bird in-person course 49,500 yen (44,000 yen until June 22)
- B: Student in-person course 22,000 yen
- C: Online course 27,500 yen
- D: Student online course 11,000 yen

- Application Deadline: June 29, 2026
- For more details and to apply: Shigoto 100

With the guidance of experienced facilitators from ShigotoHito, this summer school offers a rare opportunity to delve into the essence of community building and learn practical skills that can be applied in real-world scenarios.

About ShigotoHito

Operating the job media platform Shigoto 100, which promotes work-life relationships, ShigotoHito also runs various community functions in Tokyo's Little Tokyo, fostering interactions through events such as "Shigoto Bar". Visit their site for more information: Shigoto 100.