Kannaigai OPEN! Connects Creators, Towns, and Citizens, Developing Year-Round Projects Across Yokohama

Kannaigai OPEN!17 exhibition held last year. Photo: Hajime Kato

Kannaigai OPEN! began as an annual creative and experimental event by creators based in the Yokohama/Kannai area. In its 18th year, the project expands its scope from Kannai to various locations across Yokohama, themed "Changing Perspectives of Our Familiar Towns," and will unfold through four lenses: "Discovery," "Co-creation," "Exchange," and "Fermentation."

We aim to create opportunities for new exchanges and collaborations in Yokohama by rediscovering the charm of towns, enhancing the appeal of regions and activities through the power of creativity, fostering interaction among creators and with citizens, and bringing together and nurturing ideas that are difficult to realize alone.

https://acy.yafjp.org/projects/2026/135534/

1. Bikkuri! YOKOHAMA (Discovery)

This project features creators sharing "Surprising Yokohama" on Instagram. It introduces familiar townscapes, often overlooked places, objects, and events from a creator's unique perspective, leading to the discovery of new Yokohama attractions. This year, in addition to ongoing posts, we will produce a tourist MAP for citizens (scheduled for release in November 2026) and special feature posts (planned for two occasions in autumn and winter).

Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/bikkuri_yokohama/

2. Connecting Redesign (Co-creation)

Designed cookie packaging, etc. Photo: Hajime Kato

Creators collaborate with partners who wish to enhance the appeal of their regions or activities, working together through dialogue and prototyping to redesign them into better forms.

The completed results are scheduled for release in October 2026. We will widely disseminate them in the region, leading to new exchanges and the creation of relationships.

Collaborating Partners: Employment Support B-type Ten, Yokohama City Disabled Persons Joint Order Center Wa-cle (Operated by: Yokohama Council of Social Welfare)

3. MEET KANNAIGAI (Exchange)

Kannaigai OPEN!16 event. Photo: Kota Nakagawa

An event to "see and learn about" creators and bases in the Kannai area. It includes "Studio Tours" visiting offices and production sites, and an exchange program where people involved with Kannaigai OPEN! gather. Details will be released in early October 2026.

Date: November 3, 2026 (Tue, Holiday)

Venue: Around Kannai Sakura Dori

4. Idea Compost (Fermentation)

Scene from last year's event.

A talk event where ideas that cannot be realized alone are brought together and fermented like compost. Four people present their ideas at each session, and participants, including the audience, collectively nurture them into better forms. We aim to foster a town where "idea exchange is active." Details for each session will be released sequentially.

Dates: July 15, 2026 (Wed), late October, early December

Venue: On-design Ikkai (1F Taisei Bldg., 3-60 Aioi-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama)

Reporting Session

A reporting session will be held to review this year's activities and share the results and processes of each project. Details will be released in mid-January 2027.

Date: February 27, 2027 (Sat)

Venue: Online

About the Organizers:

● Kannaigai Creators

Kannaigai Creators is a community of creators active in the Yokohama/Kannaigai area. Since 2009, they have continuously held "Kannaigai OPEN!," an event connecting creators, towns, and citizens, fostering new exchanges and activities.

https://kannaigai.com/kannaigai17/

● Arts Commission Yokohama

A program of the Yokohama Arts Foundation, a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, that "serves as an intermediary to connect arts and culture with society across disciplines."

https://acy.yafjp.org/

Organizers: Kannaigai OPEN!18 Executive Committee (Kannaigai Creators, Arts Commission Yokohama (Yokohama Arts Foundation, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation))

Co-organizer: Yokohama City Bureau of Promotion of Nigiwai, Sports and Culture

FY2024 (Reiwa 8) Agency for Cultural Affairs: Program for the Formation of Cultural Art Hubs

*Please note that some content may be subject to change due to circumstances.