Internationally acclaimed anime director Hayao Miyazaki to build facility for children in Kumejima
An image of the facility, which anime director Hayao Miyazaki plans to build in Kumejima Town (illustrated by Katsuji Taba of Kume Creation).
June 25, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
Internationally acclaimed anime director Hayao Miyazaki is planning to build a community facility for children in Zenda Forest Park of Kumejima. Miyazaki will invest 300 million yen into construction of the facility as a donation to the town. Kumejima Town will provide about 10,000 square meters of land to be part of a park included in the facility. It will be designed in a way that utilizes rocks and trees in the natural environment to create a space where children can play freely in nature. The anime director aims at completing construction within two years.
Those involved with the project, including local designers, a representative of the town, and the project’s general director Tomihiro Horino, who is a friend of Miyazaki, held a community meeting on June 24 to explain to local residents about the plan.
The project is called, “The forest where the wind returns.” It aims to give children from Kumejima Island, and children visiting from elsewhere, a place where they can play and study together in the unspoiled island. The founders hope it will help them grow up strong and equipped to make the most of life.
The project organizers plan to construct a two-story building, which will be able to accommodate about 30 people. Visitors can stay in the building’s accommodation and use a library.
Its total floor area will be about 1,000 square meters.
At the end of last year, Horino, who came up with the plan, negotiated between Miyazaki and town government staff. Kumejima-based design company Kume Creation was in charge of planning and research for the construction. In the future, the town will set up a team to discuss and support a plan to improve the environment around the facility.
(English translation by T&CT)
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