Our Temporary Studio

I just wanted to show you guys a few pics of our temporary studio! This is Mabuya, the building where we're creating our short film, Kappa-Chan. It was originally built as a medical clinic for the community in the 1920's with a live in doctor so there's also living areas inside. 

From my understanding the clinic was closed and it had sat unoccupied for close to 20 years but a group of talented local people under the banner Kizuki-kai wanted to breathe new life into it and make it back into an important part of the community.

All volunteering their time and skills, they completely renovated the building, preserving the traditional methods in which it was originally built. 

It's incredibly inspiring to be working and creating something in this place. It's deceptively massive inside and the craftsmanship is mind bending. You could write books on just how they even selected the wood. I even stumbled upon an official secret room. (Don't leave me alone in a building with a secret room. I WILL FIND IT.)

We're the first group to live and work in the building post renovations but this place will go on to house offices, a cafe (which is up and running and has amazing apple pie), be a meeting place for the community, and to house other artists in the future. It's been an amazing experience living in working here and we're so grateful to all the amazing folks at Kizuki-kai and for this wonderful opportunity.

~D