6th Anniversary and Beginning the 7th Year 6周年記念＆7年目突入

A conceptual life/art exhibition is scheduled to be held in July. *Details to follow.

日本語

Embracing challenges, changes, and celebrations that come with dreaming and exploring new possibilities for Okinawa and beyond, I arrive on this day filled with joy and anticipation.

Today marks the sixth anniversary of the Koza X Mixtopia Research Center, and we are thrilled to embark on our seventh year. These past six years have flown by, marked by numerous events, unexpected discoveries, and tremendous growth, as if we have navigated through uncharted territory. Despite operating on an appointment-only basis and maintaining a low profile, the center accomplished several significant milestones. We held our third annual February event, delivered a series of invitational talks and presentations building a bridge between universities across transpacific borders, and all of these efforts culminated in our sixth internship in the past year.

We are incredibly grateful for the diverse opportunities and connections we’ve forged with people from around the world; these are truly invaluable blessings. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has visited the center from different corners of the globe. Our visitors last year—researchers, professors, artists, students, and more—came from the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Thailand, among others. Your interest, time, and support are what keep our center vibrant and relevant.  

As we embark on our seventh year, we are filled with hope for even more serendipity and blessings that will enhance and expand our mission. This June, I have the honor of speaking at Hiroshima Shudo University on the topic "The Past is Not Over: Pastness of History—Koza Riots, BLM, and Japan." Additionally, we are excited to announce our first exhibition of the year, titled "Afuro-shiki: Performing Okinawa World-YOU-Humor," which will be a conceptual art exhibition taking place in July. We look forward to sharing more details and plans as they develop throughout the year.

Slow and steady, we will continue to create meaningful work in art and life. We invite you to leap into the unknown, embrace challenges, and explore a world filled with possibilities and opportunities, trusting that every step we take is aimed at making a difference.

In this mosaic of a world undergoing transformations, we see a glimmer of hope—a faint yet guiding light at the end of the tunnel for our center.

Life/Art keeps hope alive.

Dr. Ariko Ikehara / Director, Founder