{"id":135436,"date":"2020-04-12T18:10:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-12T16:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/?p=135436"},"modified":"2023-09-24T10:38:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T08:38:24","slug":"river-inspired-public-library-kikuchi-hot-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/river-inspired-public-library-kikuchi-hot-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"River-inspired Japanese library becomes a favorite meeting point for kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>Kazunobu Nakamura\u2019s brilliant library design changed the lives of the Kikuchi residents \u2013 it sparked a love for reading, a love for libraries, but most importantly \u2013 a love for the city. <\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked what the symbol of Kikuchi is, the locals unanimously answered: the Kikuchi river. Indeed, this small Japanese city located on the Kyushu island prides itself on an abundance of water and picturesque canyons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-background has-system-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-color:#dedede;border-width:1px;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-top:1em;padding-right:1.5em;padding-bottom:1em;padding-left:1.5em\"><ul class=\"has-dates has-small-font-size wp-block-rss\"><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/top-free-ebooks-christmas-2023\/'>Free ebooks for Christmas 2023: here are the top 20 downloads<\/a><\/div><time datetime=\"2023-12-15T14:05:39+01:00\" class=\"wp-block-rss__item-publish-date\">Dec 15, 2023<\/time> <\/li><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/best-personalized-library-gifts\/'>12 best personalized gifts for librarians and library supporters<\/a><\/div><time datetime=\"2023-11-18T11:11:37+01:00\" class=\"wp-block-rss__item-publish-date\">Nov 18, 2023<\/time> <\/li><\/ul><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p>With this in mind, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nomurakougei.co.jp\/english\/\">Nomura Co. designer Kazunobu Nakamura<\/a> came up with the idea to create a unique, river-inspired library for the residents \u2013 one that would not only connect the people to reading but also serve as a meeting space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chief intention behind the project, however, was to evoke a feeling of attachment to the Kikuchi city \u2013 especially amongst the younger generation, who have been leaving to bigger cities in droves. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kikuchi faced an increase in depopulation by the youth<br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past decades, Japan\u2019s youth has been massively migrating to larger cities \u2013 between 1950 and 2014, the urban population has jumped from 53 to 93%, while in the last decade around 200 Japanese communities vanished. Nakamura saw the importance of evoking a positive image of the Kikuchi city among the youth, contemplating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\ud83d\udcac The reason why the children do not think that they want to come back to Kikuchi city someday may be because there is no place [in the city] for children to gather.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He adds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\ud83d\udcac So I thought that like a plaza in Europe, I would like to create a vibrant place where citizens can gather.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The library\u2019s design is, without doubt, unconventional and unique. The over 100m long bookshelves have a curved shape, resembling the flowing motion of a river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They divide the library into various spaces, leading book lovers through areas with different atmospheres \u2013 the children\u2019s room, with low shelves; the reading area, in which the shelves rise and encircle the visitors with books; and collaboration spaces, that enable students to work together. Also, there are occasional nooks and hollows in the shelves that serve as places to sit or pass through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nakamura&#8217;s brilliant design proved to be a huge success \u2013 with the library being visited in numbers equal to 80% of the city\u2019s population within only the first two months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is more, according to the latest July 2018 census, the Kumamoto prefecture faced the greatest residential increase in Japan \u2013 a whopping 16.7%. The library even hosts wedding ceremonies at the desires of citizens!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kikuchi City Central Library in pictures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/River-inspired-meeting-place-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=840%2C473&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"River-inspired meeting place in Kikuchi City Central Library\" class=\"wp-image-135444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/River-inspired-meeting-place-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?w=840&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/River-inspired-meeting-place-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=220%2C124&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/River-inspired-meeting-place-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/River-inspired-meeting-place-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=540%2C304&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/River-inspired-meeting-place-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=160%2C90&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A river-inspired meeting place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"356\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Reading-room-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=840%2C356&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Reading room in Kikuchi City Central Library\" class=\"wp-image-135443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Reading-room-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?w=840&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Reading-room-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=220%2C93&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Reading-room-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=768%2C325&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Reading-room-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=540%2C229&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Reading-room-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=160%2C68&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Reading room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"1260\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Bookshelf-capsule-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=840%2C1260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Bookshelf capsule in Kikuchi City Central Library\" class=\"wp-image-135441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Bookshelf-capsule-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?w=840&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Bookshelf-capsule-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=220%2C330&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Bookshelf-capsule-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Bookshelf-capsule-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=540%2C810&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Bookshelf-capsule-in-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=107%2C160&amp;ssl=1 107w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of bookshelf capsules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/The-design-of-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=840%2C457&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The design of Kikuchi City Central Library\" class=\"wp-image-135445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/The-design-of-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?w=840&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/The-design-of-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=220%2C120&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/The-design-of-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=768%2C418&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/The-design-of-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=540%2C294&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/The-design-of-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=160%2C87&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A design of Kikuchi City Central Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"466\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/A-children-books-section-of-the-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=840%2C466&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A children's books section of the Kikuchi City Central Library\" class=\"wp-image-135440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/A-children-books-section-of-the-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?w=840&amp;ssl=1 840w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/A-children-books-section-of-the-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=220%2C122&amp;ssl=1 220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/A-children-books-section-of-the-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=768%2C426&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/A-children-books-section-of-the-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=540%2C300&amp;ssl=1 540w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/A-children-books-section-of-the-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?resize=160%2C89&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A children&#8217;s books section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Via <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.frameweb.com\/news\/hot-spot-kids-japanese-city-library\">Frame<\/a>. Photos by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ipsinc.jp\/\">Atsushi Ishida<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading. Here are other lists and tips to explore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-system-sans-serif-font-family has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><ul class=\"is-grid columns-2 has-excerpts wp-block-rss\"><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/top-free-ebooks-christmas-2023\/'>Free ebooks for Christmas 2023: here are the top 20 downloads<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-rss__item-excerpt\">Just like a year ago, we are presenting the list of ebooks that were most downloaded from Project Gutenberg in [&hellip;]<\/div><\/li><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/best-personalized-library-gifts\/'>12 best personalized gifts for librarians and library supporters<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-rss__item-excerpt\">These library-themed gifts are extremely easy to personalize. All you have to do is add your own text!<\/div><\/li><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/book-style-iphone-covers\/'>Here are the 12 best iPhone case covers for book lovers<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-rss__item-excerpt\">In this updated overview, you\u2019ll see gorgeous iPhone covers that will remind you of the joy of reading books anywhere, [&hellip;]<\/div><\/li><li class='wp-block-rss__item'><div class='wp-block-rss__item-title'><a href='https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/best-metal-accessories-home-decor-book-lovers\/'>12 best metal accessories and home decor for book lovers<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-rss__item-excerpt\">Explore some of the best home decor items for book lovers that are handmade from metal: steel, brass, copper, bolts, [&hellip;]<\/div><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>If you don&#8217;t want to miss future updates, make sure to enable email notifications in the comment box below. We are also waiting for you on <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.com\/read\/feeds\/15826925\">WordPress Reader<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@ebookfriendly\">Mastodon<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.tumblr.com\/\">Tumblr<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ebookfriendly\">Facebook<\/a>. You can also add us to your <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBggKMJPUNTCfzwU\/\">Google News<\/a> channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>If you buy an item via this post, we may get a small affiliate fee (<a href=\"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/about\/#affiliate-links\">details<\/a>).<\/em> <em>We only use the cookies that are necessary to run this site properly (<a href=\"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/about\/#cookies\">details<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kazunobu Nakamura\u2019s brilliant library design changed the lives of the Kikuchi residents \u2013 it sparked a love for reading, a love for libraries, but most importantly \u2013 a love for the city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":135440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[11510],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/A-children-books-section-of-the-Kikuchi-City-Central-Library.jpg?fit=840%2C466&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pdOQhx-zes","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135436"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135436"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158075,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135436\/revisions\/158075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebookfriendly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}