August | Summer's Dialogue

This summer, SHIBAURA HOUSE held activities connected to the waterfront, sound, and everyday life. Together with children, families, neighbors, and friends from around the world, we shared moments of learning and exchange. Each gathering from walking along the canal to listening to natural sounds, offered a new way to feel the connection between the city and its people.

TOUR |Boat trip 

Date: 8/5
Location: SHIBAURA waterfront

Organized together with : Minato City Office
We took 20 children on a day travel boat tour on the Shibaura Canal. By walking around the area and riding the boat, the children learned about the history of Shibaura area,from reclaimed land turned to as an important port with short-but local history. During the trip, the children delivered tea to restaurant neighbors along the canal and received paper boat origami in return. After returning to SHIBAURA HOUSE, they drew pictures and shared what they saw and felt. This experience helped reconnect the children with the waterfront, the city, and the people through action, exchange, and creativity.

Moon kitchen |Summer holiday

Date:8/11–15
Theme: Making Music with the Sounds of Stones

Organized by :Ms. Ekotumi
How did you spend your summer this year?In the middle of summer, we took a short holiday break. After the break, the lights of Moon Kitchen were turned on again. We invited our neighbor and cultural artist Ekotumi-san  to lead a workshop for children and families called 'Making Music with the Sounds of Stones'.

Ekotumi-san collected many stones in different colors and shapes, as unique as the children’s smiles. Everyone lined up the stones together, and each child chose two favorite stones to listen carefully to the sounds they made when they touched.Through repeated listening and play, small melodies slowly appeared. With these natural sounds, the children began to sing and dance, sharing a warm and joyful evening filled with rhythm and laughter.

Study Research |University of Tennessee

Date:8/26〜
Location: SHIBAURA HOUSE@5F
This year marked the third year of collaboration between SHIBAURA HOUSE and the University of Tennessee. We held a warm welcome gathering. Instead of last year’s barbecue, we prepared Japanese rice balls and miso soup.

This year, 18 students and 3 professors will spend three months at our space for study and research. We look forward to new ideas, research, and conversations during this time. As the last week of summer came to an end, the season began to change, and we hope these students from around the world will start a new chapter of learning and exploration in Tokyo this summer.

Upcoming Event 

Theme:  Waterfront Music

Time: October~ next March 

From this October to March next year, the Waterfront Music Group will return to SHIBAURA HOUSE. This group creates music using recycled materials. After leaving a unique sound landscape at our space last year, they will bring new ideas and development this time.

Participants will make their own “instruments” from plastic bottles, empty cans, wooden pieces, and other materials. With monthly practice sessions, they will slowly build sound and teamwork, leading to a public performance next year. The group is led by jazz and improvisation musician Yasuhiro Yoshigaki（芳垣安洋）, together with members of his music group, inviting participants to experience rhythm and improvisation through movement and sound.

As summer comes to an end, children’s laughter, the sounds of stones, and moments shared by people from different places at SHIBAURA HOUSE quietly become part of everyday life.