While recommendations the cultural policy in the Governor as Tokyo participation, Mr. Yusaku Imamura to serve as director of the Tokyo Wonder Site to promote the exchange of domestic and foreign young artists (TWS). TWS concepts and the establishment of the circumstances, also heard the appeal and challenges of urban space of Shibuya.

- Tokyo Wonder Site (TWS) is, What kind of was founded in the concept.

In 2000, Governor Ishihara opened the hallway of the courthouse, as the exhibition hall, began a public exhibition called "Tokyo Wonder Wall". Consider the subsequent measures with people of a variety of experts, I facility has been proposed that or not is a need to nurture the artists. Image that was carrying at that time, was "AA School" in London, known for unique educational content. Here, including Daniel Libeskind designed the "Freedom Tower" in the World Trade Center site, is the architecture school of the highest peak in the world that produced many talented architect. Not a techie at this school, it emphasizes that cultivate human resources with a vision. For this reason, the exchange of different fields it is anyway active. To lecture in the field of non-construction has been very substantial, in the premises of the center there is a pub, every night, shakes the experts and students of various fields discussion while drinking beer. The new vision is, I do such things born collide things alien doing so. Governor Ishihara is you say well if the TWS, the first half of the 20th century has been formed artists' commune Paris Montparnasse also, precisely because gathered all over the world of artists, not only in Japan, a lot of talent as it has been flowering . Turning to Japan, also on how much the apex wants look young, I think I have a still place tend to stay in the same quality. So, I was born and grew up, way of thinking, and even if make even different foreign artists and domestic young artists can exchange facility religion, I thought than be an interesting thing.

- And So we established the TWS Hongo in 2001. What what's the reason for choosing Hongo.

Actually it was also talk of whether we start now of TWS Shibuya of place from the beginning. However, there is a main street right in the middle, it will stand out too. So, to transfer the rice from grown in nurseries in the rice fields, first made to the fact that you Totonoeyo the foundation of TWS in a quiet place (laughs). I It was also good was Moyoose freely even overnight club event since the TWS Hongo around were many generous land pattern University. On the other hand, less up-and-coming cultural spots around, because only TWS Hongo is the state nestled between Potsun, there was also a disadvantage that there is no integrated effect. So, have passed about four years now gather also national and international artists, and would soon okay been tossed about in Shibuya of rough seas, it established the TWS Shibuya in 2005. In order to also be spread to the city of the activities in the TWS Shibuya, it may be provided art cafe, features an art market that sells T-shirts and goods the artist worked, and lead to new developments. In addition, Cinema Rise san and Theater Image Forum's like, I think that if Hakarere also cooperation with the Culture spot from earlier in Shibuya.

- And this month (November 2006), TWS: Aoyama Creator-in-Residence is it was open.

From the beginning, we felt the need for a facility with an "artist-in-residence" feature that foreign artists can stay and production in Tokyo. However, to have nothing revenues in Residence, also hard to understand cost-effective. 3 months, it is said from stayed artists and "this work was able to", to it do not know what worth the investment (laughs). Recently, because also you will be prompted to profitability capital of the business, I had to not Fumidase quite. Because it was such a situation, it was supposed to use the old United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies of the facility with the original property was just good luck. The residence, in addition to inviting the artist to ask the production of works from abroad, in cooperation with the countries of residence, is also ongoing program to each other to accept the artist each other. We are already realized the exchange of artists with South Korea and Australia, together to talk with London and Paris. And, sometimes overseas prominent artists have considered trying to invited, in fact, that the visit is a big shot in the end of the year has already been determined. Not only getting them as production of place in such a first-class artists, including artists working in Aoyama, Shibuya neighborhood, visited by various people, to chat, it wants to "platform" of art dress stimulation. Of course, since there are other several residences in Japan, also it aims to build a national network TWS Aoyama is one of the hub.

TWS Aoyama: Creator-in-Residence of the library. Here stay artists and curators of the talk has been done

- From foreign artists, Shibuya How do you seen.

There is no doubt that attention has been tremendously high. I often hear that artists from different countries talk about "I want to do something in Shibuya." Especially for the scene of the scramble intersection in front of the station, everyone seems to be shocked. No matter where you look in the world, there is no such intersection (laugh). One big artist representing the UK gazed at the scrambled intersection from SHIBUYA MARKCITY and said "I want to do a project over there". In their eyes Shibuya appears in a very special city. I myself think so. So, rather than trying to change something dramatically, if you reconsider the current merit of Shibuya and accelerate it, will not it be a more interesting city?

- What Once you have that there is something missing in Shibuya now.

This leads to the entire Tokyo not only Shibuya, but I'm a public space is less Tachiyoreru a flat for free. To begin with TWS is, we wanted to be in space, such as a vacant lot in the city. Such space is to "tear" in the city, for a moment, I bring a sense, such as disconnected from the everyday. For example, the Shibuya Station and Shinjuku Station you'll also packed with passengers. When suddenly overlooking place such a hustle and bustle is in the station yard, had been drawn to the "Lost in Translation" in the movie, feel the joy, as he had become alien. That feeling is in conjunction with the art, it can not be obtained from the pursuit of functionality. In Montmartre in Paris, originally, it is though it is hard to climb up and down the stairs, because there is really beautiful cityscape overlooking occasionally, will not seem as also be nice stairs. In that point of view, just because Shibuya, conventional "impossible" to ignore the urban planning things I want you to build in the town. For example, architect Bernard Tschumi has me amazed proposed a plan with a golf course on the premises in the design competition of the Kansai International Airport. Those that can not be located and is about, is such an image.

- Applying it to Shibuya, what plans do you think.

Once it might be interesting if revived the Shibuya River, which was sung in the "spring of brook" in the nursery rhyme. The river is what "tear" in the city. It is in the path of air, the function of natural ventilation. I think you have to brew a good atmosphere that is also Takasegawa flows Pontocho in Kyoto. And When the creek is flowing into the space was cluttered, such as Shibuya, Why do not you excited just thinking. Looking at the reproduction model of Edo of streets that have been placed in the Edo-Tokyo Museum, originally, you can see that he had the river flows in the vertical and horizontal directions in Tokyo. I think it was a beautiful town to really by the time of the Edo. It is also convinced that the Westerners were entirely startle that landed there. Because now there is a technology to control the water level, I though I think that it is not the revival of Shibuya River never unrealistic plan. Then, it may be interesting if there example of Shibuya Station right next to the running track and swimming pool or something forests,. If we incorporate the cleft of the city consciously in such a point of view, I think we become a city that is loved by more people.

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Yusaku Imamura
1959 Born in Fukuoka Prefecture. Nihon University Graduate School of Science and Engineering Research Institute Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering graduates. In 1985 admitted to the Arata Isozaki & Associates, a period of two years from 1991, is a Columbia University visiting researcher. Then, establish a life Scape Institute independently. Currently while make recommendations to the governor about the cultural policy as participation Tokyo, who is also director of the Tokyo Wonder Site.