As well as a social work institute with a gallery space, KOBO-SYU provides a variety of facilities, and serves as an atelier, a shop, and even as a cafe during exhibits..

In another sense, KOBO-SYU is also a project that connects the creative activity of Minuma Social Work Association’s members with society at large.

We began in 2002, choosing the term “SHU” (gathering) with the intention of bringing various people together to establish a new sense of social and historical worth, and a place that would be open to the outside and not only for the use of its members.

First of all, “expressive activity” as it relates to KOBO-SYU members is important work. In 1994, we had one particular member for whom we could not find appropriate pre-existing work. The continuing search for suitable work for those with severe disabilities led, in the end, to our starting KOBO-SYU.

At present, there are ten ateliers in various locations managed by Minuma Social Work Association, where around 120 members are engaged in some sort of expressive activity.

These methods of expression include painting, weaving, stained glass, woodwork, photography, calligraphy, poetry, manga, papier mache, etc….. Beyond these established media, our members are creating work made of thread, made of duct tape, made of copper wire, or made using only hot glue…… a very wide of variety of works including some quite baffling creations……

It is definitely not that we have gathered together people of great talent, in fact, it may be just the opposite; people who were thought incapable, and labeled incompetent are not only finding personal happiness, but by producing unprecedented artworks, they are transforming the aesthetic criteria and the consciousness of those around them.

英訳：Phil Marvy