Osaka's newest art scene

The Manila Times

Osaka's newest art scene  Kitakagaya is a district in the southwest of Osaka, Japan’s second largest metropolis. Once famous for ship-building, Kitakagaya has recently become known for its art. Young artists and other creators were attracted to the area to live and work in the town’s many empty buildings. A local real estate company realized that this could revitalize the area, and began supporting this influx of artists. Today, visitors flock to Kitakagaya for the pop art murals decorating its streets and the exciting events featuring giant installations in its old warehouses.  VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe    Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes #Japan #mural #art

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:09 Japan's second city, Osaka.

00:14 It's located 500 kilometers southwest of Tokyo on Osaka Bay.

00:20 Japan's tallest office building towers above Osaka's ultra-modern business district.

00:29 This city is also known for its shopping and, most famously, for its food.

00:35 Western Japan's biggest metropolis offers so many reasons to visit.

00:42 Just south of the city center is a dockside area called Kitakagaya.

00:51 Streets enlivened by giant pop art murals tell you you're in a town favored by young artists.

00:59 People come here just to be photographed against these striking backdrops.

01:05 The streets of Kitakagaya currently host over 20 major outdoor artworks, some by artists from overseas.

01:18 Kitakagaya's many giant indoor spaces make it the perfect home for art events too grand in scale for most locations.

01:26 This riverside district is now the hottest place in Osaka's art scene.

01:35 In the old days, Kitakagaya was a major shipbuilding center.

01:43 In 1979, however, the dockyards closed, leaving behind empty storehouses and unused workers' apartments.

01:51 A local real estate company decided something needed to be done.

01:57 They realized that finding new uses for Kitakagaya's empty buildings was the way to revitalize the area.

02:06 We weren't the ones who first spotted the potential of the town's empty buildings.

02:11 That was the young artists and other creative types who had started moving into Kitakagaya and adapting these buildings for their needs.

02:20 We realized that if our company provided the right support for artists wanting to work here, we could help rebuild and revive our town.

02:28 Built over 60 years ago, this was originally housing for shipyard workers.

02:36 It was renovated by these young architects who had moved their office to Kitakagaya.

02:42 Left empty for years, the building's condition had greatly deteriorated.

02:50 It was decided to use as much of the original structure as possible, reinforcing the old beams and pillars.

02:58 Walls were removed to create a spacious cafe area.

03:05 Irregular-shaped rooms became inviting art galleries.

03:09 We made sure to use what still had value.

03:13 If something had to be replaced, the people using that space decided what to put there.

03:17 We want to keep strong links to the original structure whenever we can.

03:22 Retaining the rambling organic layout of the old structure resulted in a multi-use building with a uniquely appealing character.

03:32 These old workers' apartments are now a hive of creative activity.

03:36 Many different kinds of young artists have found a new home in Kitakagaya.

03:42 A big part of the appeal for me was the opportunity to work right next to artists doing all kinds of different things.

03:50 When art connects people with a place, it has the power to inspire them and transform a town.

03:56 I never realized that before I moved here to live and work in Kitakagaya.

04:00 It's been incredibly stimulating.

04:02 Renewing old buildings instead of demolishing them has revitalized this dockside town.

04:08 It took a giant leap of the imagination, but Kitakagaya has been reborn and is now one of Osaka's must-see spots.

04:17 [Music]

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