“Learning from history, telling the town’s history”
A non-profit booklet format social practice art project “MACHI no HANASHI – Town Stories” started since 2014 got in touch with the summer homework “Our town paper” and “Our future town paper” of Utsushigaoka Junior high school 1st and 2nd grade. The idea is based on the “Lat/Long project” that I have stated since 2011.
The town Utsukushigaoka and Tamaplaza area located in Yokohama have been developed since 1965 by Tokyu rail train company. At the beginning of the 70’s, a lot of families moved to this “New-Town” at once. Now, 50 years have passed, three generations are living in this former “New-Town” and became a “Hometown” for young generations.
I started with the question “what place in town do you like” and chose the subject find the latitude and longitude of “the place you like” to report about this place where personal memories collect. The subjects of the report were kindergarten kids to 80-year-old seniors representing all generations residing in Utsushigaoka town in Yokohama Aoba Ward. The history of the town became clear by knowing the personal history of the people living there.
Since 2017, “MACHI no HANASHI” committee was established and the project is growing a history book project of the town with oral history. To know how was the present community and environment developed by inhabitants, we can learn that to keep the good environment is not so easy. Passing the spirit of the town to the young generation is important for leading to a sustainable environment for the future. We are aiming to create opportunities to think about the blueprint of this town.
This is an ongoing 10-years yearly project and will be continued till 2024. 

Published Vol.1~6.

You can support this project to buying the booklets or donations. Thank you!

Planning: Kyoco Taniyama

Essay: Kyoco Taniyama
editing / Photo : Kyoco Taniyama, Motoko Fujii
Proofreading : Motoko Fujii, Machiko Henmi, Kenko Ito, Schiko Tani

Logo & book design : Daigo Nagamatsu
Printer : Fujiwara Printing co.,ltd.

Issuer : Machino-Hanashi executive committee

All of  supporters since 2014 : AOBA+ART, Ishi Planning & Design Co., Utsukushigaoka Junior high school, Kanagawa News Paper, Kobayashi-Ryouiku-Gijyutu-Kenkyujo, Sankaku BASE, 3chome cafe, Jisedaikougai-Machizukuri, Showa ethical pharmacy, Sunazuka coffee shop, Central-sangyo Co.,Ltd., TAMAPLAZA Terrace, Utsukushigaoka-chubujichikai, Tokyu-dentetsu Araie center, Tokyu-dentetsu Tokuraku, Kaede Kindergarten affiliated with Toyo Eiwa University, Blue Door Coffee, Machinaka biz Aoba, Yokohama board of education, ROLLINS, WISE Living Lab, Town Stores supporters & MACHI no HANASHI executive committee