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This spring, we’re gathering in Komoro—a small town tucked into the mountains of Nagano—to create, build, and connect. We’re opening the doors of our community homes to about 20-30 dreamers, builders, and artists who are curious about akiyas, alternative living, and decentralized makerspaces.

For those curious about akiyas, this is also an invitation to see what’s possible. To meet the locals, support small businesses, and experience what living and creating in a place like this might feel like. We also have on-the-ground support to make it easier for you to adopt an akiya here as your forever home.

**👉  If you’re interested, please fill out this form here 👈

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What to expect:

• Building Together: Craft a teahouse from locally sourced wood, design a light and soundscape installation for the garden, and experiment with creating bioyarn from algae.
• Accessible Makerspace: Whether you’re an artist, maker, or budding tinkerer, this is a place to bring your ideas to life—collaboratively or on your own.
• Conversations That Matter: Dive into discussions on rural revitalization, sustainable living, and what it means to build a community that thrives.
• Shared Experiences: Join workshops, explore live performances, and connect with international and local talent through music, art, and storytelling.
• Time to Breathe: Soak in the onsen, wander through the town, or simply take a moment to pause and recharge in Komoro’s natural beauty.

Mikan, our community outdoors (+ indoors) cat

*P.S. If you’d like to stay in one of our community houses, we’re prioritizing people who want to lead a project, host a workshop, or contribute in some way. Please fill out this form if you’re interested!

P.P.S Dates below are still being finalized, but programming will occur in the month of April.*

INDEX

Workshops / Events

[OPEN RESIDENCY] Speculative Worlds: Dreams of Rural Revitalization

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What are ways that "revitalization" could unfold in rural communities in an age of profound change? During this spring's gathering, we're inviting artists and researchers to critically explore alternative futures for rural life through speculative design and design fiction. This approach combines art, research, and design to craft "artifacts from the future" that spark meaningful dialogue about the present and challenge our assumptions about progress, vitality, and community.

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• Time: April 21-28
• Place: Akiya Collective
• Lead: Chris

Working alongside other Re:Komoro participants and local community members, residents will collaboratively develop works that bring possible futures to life through objects, experiences, and stories. We'll explore questions like:

• What different forms might "vitality" take beyond conventional economic development?
• How do we navigate tensions between preservation and transformation?
• What happens when revitalization efforts succeed — or fail — in unexpected ways?
• What paradises might be created or lost in different futures?
• How might traditional ways of life evolve or resist change?

A unique aspect of this residency is its experimental approach to the creative process itself. Through principles of ontological design, we’ll experiment with redesigning the conditions, environments, and interactions that shape how we imagine and create - from morning contemplative practices to structured research activities to collaborative making sessions.

The program will culminate in an exhibition where speculative artifacts and artworks will provoke critical discussions about rural futures. Drawing from speculative design methods, works will blend artistic experimentation with research-driven design fiction to produce artifacts that challenge our assumptions and inspire new images of what could be possible.