[Event Report] Fujimura Women's Junior & Senior High School Holds 'Thank You & Goodbye Ceremony' & Special Exhibition 'Why Am I Being Destroyed?' with Approximately 600 Attendees Carving Their Thoughts onto the School Building on March 7th

In anticipation of the start of renovation and demolition work for the school building, preceding the name change to 'Kichijoji Yusui Junior & Senior High School' and the transition to co-education in the 2027 academic year, the Inokashira Gakuen Fujimura Women's Junior & Senior High School (Location: Musashino City, Tokyo) held the immersive art event 'Thank You & Goodbye Ceremony,' opening the entire school building as one giant canvas, and the special exhibition 'Why Am I Being Destroyed?'.

On the day, approximately 600 people attended, including alumni, current students, parents, and local residents. Participants inscribed their 'gratitude' and 'thoughts for the future' directly with paint and pens on the rooftop and walls of the West Building, which has watched over the growth of approximately 10,000 students since its founding, making it a day of intergenerational co-creation.

■ Event Details

1. Part 1: Ceremony of Gratitude (First Gymnasium)

A general ceremony was held in the First Gymnasium. Starting with a greeting from a student representative, greetings were also given by Mr. Yasuhiro Omino, Mayor of Musashino City, and the Vice Chairman of the Kichijoji Taisho Dori Shopping Association. This was followed by addresses from the Alumni Association President, PTA President, and the Principal. Through the screening of the school song MV and singing of the school song, the shared feelings of gratitude for the school building, which has stood for over 50 years, were conveyed. Many alumni and local residents visited the venue, making it a ceremony that reaffirmed the bond between the school and the community.

2. Special Exhibition 'Why Am I Being Destroyed?' (Bara-kan Building)

In the immersive exhibition 'Why Am I Being Destroyed?', which 'personified' the school building, visitors experienced the 'silent voices' emanating from a disappearing place throughout the Bara-kan Building. Attendees from a wide range of generations, from alumni to current students and local residents, paused to consider the questions: 'What is the value of a place called a school?' and 'What are the memories of Kichijoji?'

3. Co-creation Art: 'Response Painting' on Rooftop and Walls (West Building)

The highlight of the event was the 'Response Painting' on the rooftop and walls of the West Building, which served as a canvas. Visitors directly 'responded' to the questions posed by the school building with paint and pens. Messages such as 'Thank you,' 'We loved it,' and 'See you again' were inscribed one after another on the previously white walls, filling the building with the color of 'gratitude'.

4. Bond with Kichijoji: Community Collaboration Marche (Tennis Court & Bara-kan Building)

Shops from Kichijoji, including 'Liberté Pâtisserie Boulangerie,' Futaba Gakuen, and Kichijoji Excel Hotel Tokyu, set up stalls in classrooms and on the tennis court. Food trucks were also present. After the ceremony, students and visitors freely explored the school grounds, enjoying their final moments with the building in a festive atmosphere.

5. Distribution and Sale of Commemorative Items

Commemorative calendars and limited-edition magnets, featuring art decorating the school building that has watched over students for 50 years, were distributed and sold. These became irreplaceable memories for alumni, and many attendees took them home.

■ Event Digest Video

A digest video summarizing the day's events has been released. You can view the atmosphere of the event, including the ceremony, rooftop painting, special exhibition, and marche.

■ Future Developments

Our school is proceeding with the following initiatives towards the name change to 'Kichijoji Yusui Junior & Senior High School' and co-education in the 2027 academic year:

• Commencement of renovation and demolition work for the current school building (2026 academic year)
• Establishment of the temporary campus 'FINDER BASE' in Mitaka (April 2026)
• Name change to 'Kichijoji Yusui Junior & Senior High School' and commencement of co-education (2027 academic year)
• Promotion of a new educational vision towards the 100th anniversary of the school's founding (2032)

■ Kichijoji Yusui Junior & Senior High School HP

http://kichijoji-yusui.ac.jp

■ Contact for Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Inokashira Gakuen Fujimura Women's Junior & Senior High School

2-16-3 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino City, Tokyo 180-8505

TEL: 0422-22-1266

HP: https://fujimura.ed.jp/

Inquiry Form: https://share.hsforms.org/1chSeVGcaQI6SsOerrS2riwqvtpy