Summer Greetings! Please find our project update since April 2008 below:

- First Residents moved into Kobunaki
- Construction of Kobunaki Houses
- Activities of Kobunaki Promotion Council

[First Residents moved into Kobunaki]

It has been three months since land formation of the 1st residential area has completed, and construction of houses started. This month, new residents finally started to move into Kobunaki Ecovillage. Four families have moved in this month, and 10 families are planning to move in until the end of August.

We propose a lifestyle at Kobunaki that each house plot has a gardening space more than 30 square meters, where families enjoy cultivating, harvesting fresh and delicious vegetable from home garden. Some of the new residents are still hesitant but trying to grow vegetable for their first time. We plan to hold gardening workshops twice a month from this August, to help those beginners learn how to start vegetable garden. We imagine Kobunaki Ecovillage features a green landscape someday; communication between couples, parent-child, and neighbors grow over time by working together and exchanging ideas for vegetable gardening.

As well as gardening events, we plan to organize several community events to promote interaction between residents and to learn about ecological lifestyle, which we expect to steer self-motivated and voluntary activities of the community.

Yumi Nishiyama

[Construction of Kobunaki Houses]

Now construction of houses is under way at Kobunaki Ecovillage, and we can find various efforts among them.

One of the houses is proved to have less air circulation and high thermal insulation, which is enough to meet the energy-saving standard for houses in Japan.

Heat storage system called “Therma Slab” has been installed to one of the houses. This system is to spread electric heating panels under ground and warm up a house by radiant heat from the floor.

Another couple chose to build a house with timber from Kochi Prefecture, where is their hometown. Isn’t it nice to live their new life at Kobunaki with timber grown in their very connected place?

Various types of houses are under construction, and we are looking forward to the completion of those houses with difference!

Chisato Takashina


[Activities of Kobunaki Promotion Council ]

In June, the general meeting of the Kobunaki Promotional Council was held. This council was established in 2003 and aims to be the platform to consulate with local and national government as well as other local stakeholders to realize Kobunaki, and to promote understanding about Kobunaki among local community. This fiscal year, the council invited two more community-based organizations for its members, which specialized in nature conservation of local lake and wetland, and in promotion of organic vegetable gardening respectively.

As the life in Kobunaki started little by little, many of the council members agreed to start up a new project in collaboration with existing local action groups. This year’s focus is “local production, local consumption” of food, energy, and wooden material, and plan for workshops and a symposium is ongoing.

Satomi Hirobe

Editor's note

Speaking of Japanese summer, my favorite is big fireworks display. In June and July, we can find many summer community festivals here and there, where people enjoy carrying mikoshi (portable shrine), dancing bon-odori (traditional Japanese dance-style), and watching fireworks. I wish, in near future, summer festival for Kobunaki Ecovillage will be organized by Kobunaki residents!

Tomomi Takada