On OYOYO Street in the city center of Sapporo stands a building that looks slightly, or rather, very odd. On the corner of the sixth floor, the “OYOYO Machi X Art Center Sapporo” celebrates it’s first anniversary.
As the intersection of community and art, OYOYO is managed as an after school facility for people interested in art or music. They aim to reenergize the city using the power of art.
We spoke with Hisashi Shibata, Art Director of OYOYO, about its past activities and some of his hopes for the future.


OYOYO Art Director Hisashi Shibata (S-AIR)

- It’s been one year since the opening of OYOYO.

This building was constructed in 1963, so it has just about the same amount of history as I do.
OYOYO renovated this building for use, but a year later the interior decoration is still underway. (laughing)


- What sort of activities took place this fist year?

Acoustic concerts, crafts workshops, artist talks, photography exhibits, and other festive activities.
One memorable event was the double bass concert. There were no other instruments used in the concert, and made for a very unique event.
We published a brochure listing our year’s activities. We have them at OYOYO, so please stop by and take a look.


OYOYO main hall - Concerts and workshops take place here.


One can view a brochure of past activities at OYOYO.


- We hear you manage OYOYO as an after school space?

Yes, and we have many divisions, too. So far, we have an art, photography, music, entertainment, and Niko Club divisions, and the design division has recently branched out of the art division.
The music division is very active.
I recently began an event called the relay lecture within the art division. It has become a a great place for young members to share their experiences and projects with one another. Young creators now have access to computer software that helps them create intricate presentations. I was impressed with the ease at which artists presented their work, even if they usually may have been timid or shy to speak up in person.


- As a point of contact for the community?

The night of November 3rd, we projected visuals created by Sapporo and International artists on a wall of the Tokyu Hands parking structure next store. While I enjoyed the surreal atmosphere, I also felt the city transformed into art.
The projector was on a building across from Tokyu Hands. In a way, two buildings across OYOYO Street were connected through art.
We also plan to start using art in other environments, and would like to try something at Miyoshi Shrine next.


- What sort of reactions has OYOYO received?

There have been a few cases of people coming to visit OYOYO from outside of Hokkaido. We’ve had people from Yokohama, Funabashi, and Toyama visit and explore our facility.
We’ve also made connections with artists outside of Sapporo in Otaru. An Otaru glass blower held a lecture recently for OYOYO, so we hope to continue such interaction with other cities.

Retro, freaky, analog. The many items of OYOYO never bore you.

You can look over OYOYO Street from the open terrace.

- Finally, what is it that you want OYOYO to become?

There aren’t any “hang-out” spots in the center of Sapporo. Not only people like us in our 40’s, but people in their 20’s think so, too.
There aren’t any “hang-out” spots in the center of Sapporo. Not only people like us in our 40’s, but people in their 20’s think so, too.
In the past, I hadn’t taken much notice to the city center, which can be attributed to the lack of such a place. I hope OYOYO can attract more people to the city center and become the first of may hang-outs to come.

One year since its’ beginning, an OYOYO café will also open in June. Stop by sometime. OYOYO Machi X Art Center Sapporo welcomes anyone.


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OYOYO Machi X Art Center Sapporo
Chuo-ku 1-6, Sapporo, Japan
http://www.oyoyo16.com/

Article by Eiichi Sato
Translation by David Neptune