Community
Revitalization
For MiXtopia, community is broadly conceptualized to include both local and global communities who understand the importance of working together to create a just world for everyone involved. By linking with international communities, the center facilitates a two-way learning and teaching model that brings people together across national borders while simultaneously creating a pathway for Okinawans to travel across the world.
At the center, we also participate and collaborate locally with stakeholders representing various sectors of society in rebuilding the Koza Crossroads community, which has been severely impacted by a long period of economic downturn. At the end of this year, the Arcade which once stood as a symbol of Teruya's economic miracle will be torn down - representing a final curtain being drawn and the changing of the times. As we look toward a bright future alongside uncertainties of Covid19, we continue to push forward.
Activities at Glance
2019 to Present
Community Program
YuntakuView
Mapping
Okinawan Buyo Performance
Uchinaguchi Zine Project - TBC
Rika-chan Doll
Map Pamphlet (New)
Ginten-gai Arcade
Working Towards a Brighter Future
On Saturday, October 24, 2020, a piece of history came to a close with the demolishing of the Ginten-Gai Arcade, a symbol of economic prosperity in Teruya. However, the dismantling of the arcade is not the end of the story, but rather the beginning of a new era in which we hope Teruya can undergo a new economic and cultural renaissance.
The arcade, which was built in 1978 was a symbol of economic prosperity for 40 years. The Arcade saw the end of the Black District era and the merging of two unions (Honmachi Dori and Koza Ichiba) which formed Ginten-gai Union Association. The newly transformed shopping district, which included a market district, prospered throughout the ’80s and 90s. Things changed in the late ’90s as the corporate model of big supermarkets took over the mom-and-pop shops and new modes of transportation favored cars over busses. The economy slowly began to spiral down in the 2000s during which multiple attempts were made to recover the falling economy but these projects failed. In 2020, Ginten-gai Plaza, a new organization contracted by the city opened its office where the arcade once stood to provide on-the-ground and structural assistance and support to the community in planning for a new era of prosperity and longevity. Koza X MiXtopia Research Center works with this and other organizations, business owners, residents and community at-large to plan and execute projects based on the needs and interests of the community. Due to the pandemic, however, some of the plans could not be executed, except for the Ginten-Gai Night Market which is being planned for December 2020. The Night Market is an outdoor market place for businesses to set up stalls for take-out food, non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., coffee) as well as a flea market to sell merchandise. The market place with tents and stalls will be set up in an open area in front of the buildings facing the main road near the Koza Crossroad located at the site where the arcade once stood as a symbol of economic and cultural celebration.