Background

Background

Yunotsu Town

Yunotsu Town is situated in the southwestern part of Oda City (Ōdashi), centrally positioned in Shimane Prefecture along the Sea of Japan. Accessible via the JR Sanin Main Line and National Route 9, the town features a coastline dotted with natural harbours, including the historically prosperous Yunotsu Port. During the Edo period, the port flourished as a shipping hub for the nearby Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and later served as a port on the San'in sea route, exporting timber, bamboo, and Iwami pottery during the Meiji period.

Today, Yunotsu remains an active fishing port and a shipping centre for locally produced silica sand. The region is predominantly mountainous, with approximately 80% covered in forests. Agriculture and forestry are the primary industries, complemented by coastal fishing activities such as single-line fishing.

Hōjusan Anrakuji Temple in Yunotsu is both the birthplace and monumental site of Asahara Saichi (Myokōjin), a religious poet and philosopher acclaimed by Suzuki Daisetsu. The town’s architectural landscape spans the Edo, Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, characterised by distinctive red Iwami ceramic tiles. Yunotsu is the only hot spring town in Japan classified as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

  • Shimane Prefecture, known as the land of Japan's origins and myths, holds rich narratives unique to this region. Sheltered from wartime bombing raids, many buildings and mountain forests from pre-war times still exist, preserving the charm of ancient Japan. 

  • Shimane has a rich tradition of performing arts and traditional crafts rooted in local resources. The Iwami Kagura, for instance, is unparalleled in that there are as many as 150 kagura groups in the region, formed, managed and announced by local residents on their own initiative, with people of all ages dancing and enjoying kagura.

  • The stone paper used for Kagura masks and costumes is handmade by local artisans, and local craftsmen also handle the making of Kagura masks and costumes.

  • Yunotsu in Oda City is the only hot spring town designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in Japan. While Yunotsu once thrived with spa guests and tourists, it has since become a quiet area. In fact, the Iwami region of Shimane Prefecture is where the term "depopulation" originated, recognised as a leading area in demographic decline. 

  • In recent years, the pandemic has shifted societal values, leading to significant changes in the community. Over the past four years, more than ten entrepreneurs have returned to or relocated to the area, opening accommodations and restaurants.

    The main street of this hot spring town, spanning just 500 meters, previously had only one restaurant. However, in recent years, seven new restaurants have opened. Seven new accommodation facilities have also been established, and two existing inns have been renovated and reopened. Mr. Kobayashi was the very first to return to this area.

 

Yunotsu & Shinya

In March 2020, Shinya Kobayashi arrived in Yunotsu seeking vacant satoyama for sustainable manufacturing. With a background in training blacksmith successors in his hometown of Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, Kobayashi understood the vulnerabilities of production reliant on external distribution for resources and sales channels. Recognising the importance of self-sufficiency in manufacturing, he focused on the Yunotsu area, known for its former thriving iron-making industry and abundant iron sandーa vital material for tool makingーand was captivated by the area’s rich natural environment.

Believing in the revival of the traditional satoyama lifestyle practised by predecessors to achieve a craft-making process that avoids environmental harm and promotes self-sufficient sourcing of steel, fuel, and other materials, Kobayashi acquired mountain forests (formerly satoyama areas, undeveloped woodlands near populated areas) and began their revitalisation in the summer of the same year.

Today, a diverse community from within and outside the prefecture actively participates in satoyama revitalisation workshops using vacant houses and other local environments. The involvement continues to grow with support from visiting teams and international volunteers. Various ateliers have also been established within the satoyama area using local materials.

And now, the AKIYA AIR project will become a part of this evolving endeavour.

ーSatoyamaー

Satoyama refers to rural landscapes typically situated at the interface between nature and human habitation, where communities practise sustainable living, fostering a harmonious coexistence with nature. More than just a geographical area, satoyama embodies a deep-rooted philosophy of respecting nature and managing resources sustainably, a cornerstone of Japanese culture for centuries.

Mission

Through the AKIYA AIR project in Yunotsu, vacant houses and depopulated towns are reimagined as abundant and affordable resources, offering materials and space for creators. Situated away from major cities, participants can immerse themselves daily in traditional rural living and culturally rich practices like Kagura performances. This initiative acts as a catalyst, prompting internal and external reevaluation of Yunotsu as a profoundly rich and valuable destination.

To achieve this vision, we invite artists from the Netherlands to join us in fostering collaboration between new residents and the existing community, encouraging mutual engagement. Together, our objective is to uncover Yunotsu's unique identity and explore effective ways to utilise it. Through these interactions, artists will discover abundant inspiration for their creative pursuits, using vacant houses as studios to enrich their artistic activities.

Yunotsu features numerous traditional and iconic locations, with plans underway to host an art festival in 2027, leveraging the

region's rich environment as a platform for artistic expression. The hope is to establish Yunotsu as a gathering place for creative talents from both domestic and international communities.

Furthermore, the MONO JAPAN Foundation, based in the Netherlands, is committed to continuously offering Dutch creators fresh and stimulating opportunities by bridging the creative industry in the Netherlands with Yunotsu.