At first glance, Kuramae 4273+creative garage (hereafter, Kuramae 4273), created by renovating a small factory, looks like a hip café. But it is actually a space that can be used as a gallery, art studio, or office.
Its owner, Masahiko Orui, used to work as a director at a production company. However, rather than unilaterally transmitting information to the public, he felt he wanted to engage in the kind of work that sends interesting things out into the world through mutual communication, and in 2014, he opened Kuramae 4273.

The venue currently operates on a system called “creative membership” that requires a monthly fee. Once joined, members can rent shared and residential spaces.

Hiroyuki Imamura, the founder of “reboot,” has long developed creative activities and networks by making use of existing buildings.
His aims for “reboot” were to create a space that artists and creators can use 24/7 and make as much sound or smell as they pleased, and also to cultivate an ecosystem in which creators can carry out their activities with ease.
Renters at “reboot” are creators from a wide range of genres, including leather product design, jewelry design, Japanese-style painter, washi Japanese paper craftman, puppetry, administrative paralegal work, editing, animation, and graphic design.
The puppet theater Utervision Company Japan, has been a member since two year ago and using “reboot” in various ways. For example, it has ordered custom-made Japanese paper from another member, Tokyo Washi, and put on a show in “SOOO dramatic!” an event space on the facility’s first floor.

Text: Emi Sato
Photo: Shu Nakagawa