Riku Cafe: Seeking Renovation Funds via Crowdfunding
Riku Cafe
Rikuzentakata Town Living Project: Rikuzentakata Community Cafe 'Riku Cafe'
Seeking Funds for Reconstruction Through Crowdfunding
Riku Cafewhose operating period in a temporary building, which began in January 2012, is set to expire in March 2014. The cafe is being forced to relocate for various reasons, including the possibility that a planned reconstruction road may pass through the current site.
While approximately 70% of the construction funds for rebuilding at a permanent location have been secured through donations and grants, to bring the project closer to realization, a portion of the remaining construction costs is currently being raised through crowdfunding via CAMPFIRE (Project Page:http://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/732).
Yuri Naruse of Naruse-Inokuma Architects, who is involved with Riku Cafe as part of an NPO, shares the current situation.
Text by NARUSE Yuri
It has grown into a hub for connection that is loved by more people than we ever imagined.
Riku Cafe isGreat East Japan Earthquakea community cafe in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, operated by local women, in an area devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. (Riku Cafe Official Website: http://rikucafe.jp)
In Rikuzentakata City, most of the town was devastated, leaving no place where residents could easily gather and talk. In response, the 'Rikuzentakata Town Living Project' was launched in 2011. It was initiated by the family of a local doctor, who was also a victim, with the idea of creating a 'place where everyone can easily drop by – a living room for the town.' This idea resonated with us, and experts in community development from universities and architectural specialists came together. With the support of many companies, we were able to open the community cafe 'Riku Cafe' in a temporary building in January 2012.
We want to carry this momentum forward to a permanent cafe and expand our activities.
The cafe is operated by 12 local women. In addition to its cafe services, it regularly hosts events such as concerts and classes, and offers services like mobile grocery sales from the consumer cooperative and parcel delivery. They are also developing original products and undertaking various other initiatives, growing significantly as a community hub for the region and a meeting place for visitors from Japan and abroad.
While Riku Cafe has been operating smoothly, its temporary building has an expiration date of March 2014, and there is a possibility that a reconstruction road will be built on the current site, necessitating an imminent relocation and rebuilding.
Furthermore, limitations in facilities, such as a small space, lack of restrooms, and inadequate kitchen equipment, have constrained their activities. Therefore, the decision has been made to rebuild into a permanent cafe. The new cafe aims to resolve these issues and broaden the scope of their activities.
Daily activities are updated regularly on Facebook!
Thanks to donations and grants from many of you, we have already secured about 70% of the construction costs. To raise the remaining funds, we are currently undertaking a crowdfunding campaign on CAMPFIRE. (Project Page:http://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/732).
On CAMPFIRE, donations start from 500 yen per person. Depending on the donation amount, we will offer heartfelt thank-you gifts from 'Riku Cafe.' For details on the return gifts, please visit the project page linked above.
We have received a tremendous response since the campaign's launch and hope to maintain this momentum to take a significant step towards realizing the permanent cafe. This is a community-building project by the local residents. We kindly ask for your support. We would also greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
And when you visit Tohoku, please do stop by Rikuzentakata and 'Riku Cafe.' All of our staff look forward to welcoming you.
Riku Cafe
http://rikucafe.jp
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/rikucafe