Miyakejima University is a project that was undertaken on Tokyo’s Miyakejima Island from FY2011 to FY2013. By deploying the “mechanism” of this university on Miyakejima, this project sought to design a forum for learning at which people could meet and chat with each other through the university’s courses and programs, thereby encouraging communication, as well as identifying and publicizing the island’s appeal and local resources.
Over the course of a year, the Miyakejima University Magazine will look back at Miyakejima University through interviews with those involved in the project, examining the project from such perspectives as its relationships to the area and to people, and the potential for and limitations of efforts to create such forums. The results of this research will be used to compile a publication, which will be widely distributed. This study will be led by Fumitoshi Kato, the editor-in-chief of Miyakejima University Magazine, who was involved in this three year project’s planning and running.

On October 4, a public seminar will be held to share and examine Miyakejima University’s activities with an even wider audience. In addition to a look back at Miyakejima University and a review of various anecdotes provided by Fumitoshi Kato and Yasuaki Igarashi, this seminar will feature a presentation by Shinya Ominami concerning an example of art-focused regional regeneration in Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, with participants discussing such topics as the impact of art projects on local communities and efforts to create venues and develop talent through art projects.