A Book Born from Students' Desire to Share: 'Kakosho Guidebook' Published, Researched and Walked by Students for 80 Years Post-War
Bunkyo Gakuin University's 'Kakosho Project' students have produced and published a guidebook about the 'Kakosho' war ruins in Fujimino City. Commemorating 80 years since the end of the war, its aim is to convey history to younger generations and local residents.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 15:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 15:51 (19 min after Collected)
Bunkyo Gakuin University (President: Tsutomu Fukui) is pleased to announce the completion of the 'Kakosho Guidebook' through the 'Kakosho Project,' a student initiative of the Fujimino Community Development Research Center, where students were responsible for planning, research, and production.
This guidebook was created with the aim of clearly conveying information about the 'Kakosho' war ruins remaining in Fujimino City to younger generations and local residents. Students conducted research from April 2025 to March 2026, leading to its completion.
■ Background of Production
This initiative began after students conducted a 'Kakosho Town Walk' event in winter 2024. Considering that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, a proposal from students to 'create a product to convey the history of Kakosho to young people in Fujimino City, new parenting generations moving into the area, and university students' led to the project's formation. The students re-evaluated the war ruins remaining in Fujimino City as local resources and considered ways to record and pass on history from a student perspective.
The current guidebook is the result of accumulated research by students, linked with exhibitions and 'Kakosho Town Walks' conducted so far, and completed with the cooperation of the Fujimino City Board of Education and the 'Kakosho' Storytelling Association. All photographs were taken by the students themselves, and materials were compiled with permission from relevant organizations. It serves as an accessible introductory resource for 'learning' and 'conveying' information about war ruins.
■ Guidebook Overview
Publisher: Fujimino Community Development Research Center
Project Lead Instructor: Tsutomu Iwadate, Assistant Professor, Dean of Community Development Research Center / Human Data Science Faculty
Cooperating Organizations: Fujimino City Board of Education, 'Kakosho' Storytelling Association
Production Period: April 2025 - March 2026
Print Run: 300 copies
■ Response and Future Utilization
There has been significant response from various quarters, with multiple inquiries already received by the university requesting 'to obtain the guidebook,' and it is also attracting attention from citizens and researchers interested in war ruins and local history.
The printed guidebook is planned to be utilized in related events for the opening of the Fujimino City Museum scheduled for September 2026. Going forward, there are plans to collaborate with neighborhood associations of the 'Kakosho' site, elementary and junior high schools, Fujimino High School, etc., to develop town walks, public research meetings, and museum exhibits. If members of the public wish to obtain a copy, a single copy will be considered for presentation upon inquiry. Please contact the inquiry address below.
[Inquiries for obtaining copies and content (email only)]
Contact: yiwadate@bgu.ac.jp (Contact Person: Yutaka Iwadate)
This guidebook was created with the aim of clearly conveying information about the 'Kakosho' war ruins remaining in Fujimino City to younger generations and local residents. Students conducted research from April 2025 to March 2026, leading to its completion.
■ Background of Production
This initiative began after students conducted a 'Kakosho Town Walk' event in winter 2024. Considering that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, a proposal from students to 'create a product to convey the history of Kakosho to young people in Fujimino City, new parenting generations moving into the area, and university students' led to the project's formation. The students re-evaluated the war ruins remaining in Fujimino City as local resources and considered ways to record and pass on history from a student perspective.
The current guidebook is the result of accumulated research by students, linked with exhibitions and 'Kakosho Town Walks' conducted so far, and completed with the cooperation of the Fujimino City Board of Education and the 'Kakosho' Storytelling Association. All photographs were taken by the students themselves, and materials were compiled with permission from relevant organizations. It serves as an accessible introductory resource for 'learning' and 'conveying' information about war ruins.
■ Guidebook Overview
Publisher: Fujimino Community Development Research Center
Project Lead Instructor: Tsutomu Iwadate, Assistant Professor, Dean of Community Development Research Center / Human Data Science Faculty
Cooperating Organizations: Fujimino City Board of Education, 'Kakosho' Storytelling Association
Production Period: April 2025 - March 2026
Print Run: 300 copies
■ Response and Future Utilization
There has been significant response from various quarters, with multiple inquiries already received by the university requesting 'to obtain the guidebook,' and it is also attracting attention from citizens and researchers interested in war ruins and local history.
The printed guidebook is planned to be utilized in related events for the opening of the Fujimino City Museum scheduled for September 2026. Going forward, there are plans to collaborate with neighborhood associations of the 'Kakosho' site, elementary and junior high schools, Fujimino High School, etc., to develop town walks, public research meetings, and museum exhibits. If members of the public wish to obtain a copy, a single copy will be considered for presentation upon inquiry. Please contact the inquiry address below.
[Inquiries for obtaining copies and content (email only)]
Contact: yiwadate@bgu.ac.jp (Contact Person: Yutaka Iwadate)