hanare×SocailKitchen

Discussions about the plans to remodel Kyoto Kaikan were held at the Social Kitchen on February 23rd. While the draft submission by the group "the Kyoto Performing Arts Study Group Looking toward 2020" and some other supporters from the theater world was intended to be the focus for discussions, the participants expressed a great deal of doubt and differing opinions not only about the way in which local government has developed this reconstruction plan but also about the idea of making the plan itself. Separate from the study group's draft submission, we have decided to ask the Kyoto City Office to publicly disclose information on how it has come up with its plan, details of its decision making processes and the source of the data which the city is using to draw up its basic plan.

The focus for the 2nd session, held on March 17th, is to go back to the very beginnings of the issue. Our aim is also to co-ordinate people from the theatre world and the local residents of Okazaki, people who would be affected in a practical way by the proposed remodeling of the Kaikan. Specifically, we hope this session works as a sort of strategy meeting where information may be exchanged and we can discuss how we intend to move forward from here.

While we may be currently faced with the pressing issue of the reconstruction plan, a more important underlying matter may be that we don't know how to effectively use the democratic process. When things are decided behind closed doors, and citizens are unable to access information, what approach should we then adopt to express our opinions? And who should we ask? These issues are definitely of concern to us. In looking toward things which are likely to happen in the future, we hope this session will provide an opportunity for us to engage in democracy in a practical setting.

Conceived and organized by all those who are interested.