Where do you go to spend time with people?

New projects all across Japan are shaping spaces that connect people with one another, and with their communities.

Some bring together people of different generations and backgrounds.

Others are commercial spaces to showcase residents' skills.

I'm going to experience a design that offers a new urban lifestyle.

Join us as we explore the potential of shared living, and shared spaces.

I'm in Aikawa in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo.

It's home to the 'Kasugadai Center Center.'

I see a lot of people inside.

Lovely.

There's a passage too.

Kasugadai croquettes.

Straight out of the fryer.

Washing machines?

Oh, it's a laundry.

A gathering place for locals, and a bite to eat while you wait.

- Hello.
- Hi there.

- You work at the laundry?
- That's right.

Are your customers locals?

Most folks at the laundry are, yes.

Those who come from further might eat a croquette while they wait.

I noticed that.

The building is open to everyone.

So folks use the laundry and stay for a while.

We get a lot of visitors.

I see.

People of all ages come to spend time at the center.

The building is made up of three sections.

At its heart is a care home.

There's also a laundry...

a croquette stand...

a children's tutoring school, and a number of other facilities.

Isn't it lovely?

Andy-san!

- Konno-san, how are you?
- I've been well!

Konno Chie designed the center.

As an architect, she thoroughly researches local areas

before building daycare and welfare centers that tackle local issues or needs.

Walking around, I realized the center is much bigger than I expected.

- I can imagine!
- Yet it feels so homey.

We do get a variety of visitors.

From the outside, it feels very woody.

Yes, I think that adds a nostalgic familiarity.

That's it, yes.

The center was built on the former site of a popular shopping center.

The supermarket here had a wavy roof. People would shelter under its eaves.

But it closed very suddenly and this area began to feel tired.

I wanted to revive that atmosphere.

I added benches and raised areas so people could enjoy the space.

There are a lot of places to relax.

The large roof is a nod to the curved eaves of the old shopping center.

- It's huge.
- And long!

It's great. How deep is it?

Around 2.7 meters.

How do you feel this roof affects us?

Feeling sheltered like this makes sitting here more relaxing.

It's a silent invitation to sit and take a load off.

True, it's welcoming!

You're protected.

There are kids sitting over there. It's a lovely day to sit out, right?

You see?

This part is interesting. It's a corridor that goes right through?

There's a street on the other side.

I thought an entrance there would make the center feel inviting.

Instead of a wall.

Exactly, it becomes a part of the neighborhood.

You're thinking about the design of the entire town, aren't you?

Yes, the center has really invigorated the neighborhood.

I hope it becomes a cornerstone.

So how is the rest of the building laid out?

This is a beautiful space.

A raised area with tatami mats.

The corridor continues along here.

I like the entrance hall.

Here we provide all kinds of care, mainly as a day service center.

Hello!

Technically the tatami room is part of the care center.

But the kids don't know that and they just enjoy the space.

They just climb on up!

Kids come to do homework or play games, and share candy.

No barriers to the open space.

If people want to connect I want to help as much as possible.

- There are doors.
- They close it off.

A single panel is translucent. Two makes it harder to see through.

Like this, you can sense people's presence but the space is separate.

Same on this side.

A traditional approach used in Japanese homes.

Yes.

The space owes much to traditional Japanese architecture, which divides rooms using pillars and sliding doors.

An open space connects this area to the upstairs rooms.

It's an approach that offers both privacy and human connection.

There's a small candy store in the hall for children to enjoy.

Though I did spot some adults too!

It's a chance for visiting kids to mingle with new people.

- 50 yen exactly.
- Thank you.

I like that candy.

You want one?

Are you sure?

Of course!

Thank you, I love these.

For me as well? Thank you.

Here goes. Oh, that's good!

So many memories.

Such lovely weather.

Glad the rain cleared up!

Do you enjoy sitting here?

Good for the health.

There are a few tables out here. A tea party?

This happens quite a lot.

This project is really changing our ideas about care homes.

I love the coin laundry, and the culture around that.

There's a need for local support that goes beyond the obvious.

Having the laundry helps folks who need it, but also regular busy families.

Right.

There's also a full laundry service. They wash, dry, fold, and deliver.

They also hire folks with disabilities.

So it helps employment.

Exactly.

The croquette stand also hires people with disabilities.

Nothing is what I expected!

I can't wait to try one.

Two croquettes?

The stand makes croquettes to the recipe of a local butcher that's since closed.

Protecting an old local flavor is another of its key roles.

- Oh, that's really good!
- Right?

- Hello!
- Hello.

This open, relaxed center has been running for two years.

It began as the brainchild of owner Baba Takuya.

Nothing about this feels like a care home.

It's a multi-generational space.

All mixed together.

It's unprecedented, I think. A grandma relaxing under the eaves.

A kid parks their bicycle and they meet and strike up a chat.

I saw a lot of that!

I don't think the kids have any awareness it's a care facility.

I agree, they don't.

Building shared spaces like this is going to be key.

For the future of care and of society.

I completely agree. This could change society.

It's a hub for new ideas. It's been an inspiring visit.

Next is a space that's centered on the commercial.

Kunitachi is a suburb of Tokyo, and many of its residents commute into the city for work.

This store is on a shopping arcade in a housing complex.

If you've ever dreamed of running your own store, you can test the waters here!

The shared space can be rented by the hour.

Customers are greeted by an open, airy space with another glass door at the far end.

Most of the space is taken up by a large counter and table.

This shared store was designed by architect Nousaku Junpei, who also runs it.

He's created many commercial premises including guest houses and cafés.

He opened this store because of a problem he saw with wasted resources.

It's a local issue. Most suburbs have lots of commuters and parents.

They have so many skills, yet they put off their dreams.

That expertise is a huge, untapped resource that doesn't get used.

Fujimidai Tunnel began as a way to draw out those skills.

Today, the space is hosting a collaboration of chai tea, and gluten-free sweets.

Iwai Yukina provides the chai, and is in the store most Mondays.

She's been part of the project for three years now.

Chai began as a hobby. It's something I can do while also working.

And it's a form of self-expression.

But running a whole store alone is a massive challenge.

This place was just what I needed and I got involved at once.

The gluten-free sweets are served by Uetake Fuka, who was invited by Iwai to try out the store.

I'd love to have my own place but managing the money is tricky.

I don't know enough about business, so this experience is encouraging.

The project includes various elements to help people who are just starting out in business.

A lot of folks are nervous when they start out.

The kitchen is set up like a stage to make the owner stand out.

That boxed frame really does give people an air of authority.

The lighting adds to the effect, turning the kitchen and its workers into the store's icons.

The stand-out feature is the counter and table, which serves a number of uses.

It keeps the kitchen and customers at the same height.

Fewer barriers make it easier to move between the two sides.

The flat table invites customers to feel that they could also run their own space,

appealing to their sense of adventure.

Because the space is undefined, it brings servers and customers closer together.

That leads to conversation and a cozy atmosphere.

They look so energetic, and it's easy to strike up conversation.

It's great fun. A genuinely relaxing place.

Nousaku has remained the manager so he can support new shopkeepers.

He's noticed new relationships form between the temporary owners and customers.

It's really fun to see new projects develop in ways I don't see.

Store owners opening up new, fixed branches around town.

There are more and more interesting stores around the neighborhood.

I'm not involved directly, but I can see how it's all evolving.

I love watching how things develop with time.

I'd love to run a restaurant serving my own special meat sauce.

And to see what new connections that might lead to!

Hi, I'm Shaula.

Today I'm here to meet a creative group that's experimenting with new and unconventional kind of lifestyles.

Let's find out more.

- Hello!
- Welcome.

- I'm Shaula.
- And I'm Shioura.

Architect Shioura Issui.

After studying at a London university, he returned to Japan and joined an architecture firm.

Today, he's the co-founder of a prominent collective that helps create unique stores and homes.

This is your design?

Yes, a mobile gallery.

We call it a Mobile Cell, along the lines of a mobile home.

Inside is a gallery space for a leather brand.

- May I look inside?
- Of course!

This is really chic!

Thank you.

So many fun touches. Carpeted walls.

The carpeted walls and ceiling makes it feel like a cocoon.

Everything was discussed with the owner.

We chose this material together and they helped us cut it.

Quite a DIY approach.

Shioura's group designs mobile rooms that can be transported on trucks.

Collaborating with owners is the core of their work.

Sharing ideas allows the space to reflect their identity.

They've worked on around 40 cells, from DJ booths to kitchens and homes.

May I introduce the owner?

- Hello!
- Hello.

- Totani Taichi.
- A pleasure, I'm Shaula.

Leather brand designer Totani Taichi.

What's inside?

I'm coming in... You sort of duck your head.

Oh, but it feels so spacious!

It feels completely different inside than it looks from out there.

- So different!
- Right?

- May I sit?
- Sure!

It's a chair, right? But made of cardboard?

That's right.

It's so comfy in here!

It is! Once I'm inside I don't want to leave.

So this is a store?

Yes, and I also use it as a travel home.

You wanted a sense of freedom?

Last week, I parked in front of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Amazing views. Slept in here. Enjoyed the stars through this window.

Really?

It's designed so you can see the stars while lying in bed.

Ouch!

Take care!

Oh, this is lovely! Comfy.

It is, yes.

That's the window?

Yes, for the stars.

What inspired the Mobile Cells?

Land in Tokyo is extremely expensive. So why not minimize living space?

Why stay in one spot? A truck gives us free rein over the space.

So I know there are RVs and trailers.

But how is something like this different?

Most of the ones we've made were homes, but there's no water.

Oh, right!

They dock to shared, stationary facilities we call House Core.

We're building those hubs now.

Hubs?

There's one in Sangenjaya. I live there myself.

Sangenjaya is a youthful neighborhood near Shibuya.

We're nearly there.

That house?

You can see a glimpse.

The residents update it as we go. A lot of DIY.

I see, so this is?

House Core.

And these are both Mobile Cells.

Both of them?

Both of them, from different trucks.

They arrived in August, and have no plans to leave.

Before that there were two different Mobile Cells.

So this is a base for people with cells.

They come and go?

Exactly. The cells are a room with no water or infrastructure.

The house and infrastructure are shared. We bring our own rooms.

The owners who connect to the House Core pay for the use of the kitchen and living room,

along with a monthly fee for parking their mobile cell.

They're free to use the hub as they like.

- Karina?
- Yes.

- Hello.
- Hi. Nice to meet you.

- I'm Shaula.
- Nice to meeting you. I'm Karina.

- Oh, so you live here?
- Yes, I live here.

- Almost a year.
- Almost a year.

So, I mean, what brought you to live this kind of lifestyle?

What started you with this mobile cell life?

Yeah. So for the last 10 years, I've been living in different countries connected to studies to work to travel,

some parts of that was backpacking, and so I'm kind of used to this nomad lifestyle.

And when I arrived to Japan, I found out about this type of living, I thought, that's perfect.

It's semi-permanent, semi-stable, so it's a perfect combination of traveling and staying in one place.

Wow, can I take a peek inside?

Sure. It's small but cozy.

Oh, wow. You have a lot of Japanese aesthetics in here as well, with the ceiling, with the walls...

Initially was inspired by Japanese tea house.

Wow. I love it. This is so cute.

I like that when I open the door,

it's become also almost integrated part of the street,

which is also connected to traditional Japanese architecture from the past.

So it's a very special experience but when I close it, it's very small and very personal and it's my little world.

Yeah, it's like you have your own little oasis in there, right?

Let's take a peek at the shared living space.

Hello! So this is the layout?

You use the space together?

That's right.

How do you find life here?

We can talk things over together and tackle new challenges.

Plenty of inspiration.

Right.

People with different skills and personalities can connect their homes here and enrich one another's lives.

This has shown me a very different lifestyle.

So much freedom in terms of location and time and activities.

It's so important that we get to do the things we want to.

That's the whole point of life!

As an architect, I want to provide people with lifestyles that suit them.

The owners can enjoy life, help out friends, maybe set up a market.

That's what this hub, House Core, is all about.

Nobody is an island - so why not have fun with your community!

Every encounter is unique. Enjoy each one!