(This article is based on an original story written in Japanese by Yoshinori Ishii, which was translated and edited by David Tharp)

The City of Kyoto is well known for its historic architecture and ancient temples, but few people have visited the “red brick town” of Maizuru, an old port city on Kyoto Prefecture’s northern coast, facing the Sea of Japan.

Maizuru, whose name in Japanese means “dancing cranes,” is known for a number of red brick buildings and warehouses that were constructed during the Meiji Period, when the port became a base for the Japanese navy.

There are 12 remaining red brick warehouses in the city, which have been designated as important cultural treasures. One of these has been converted into a municipal museum, known as “NPO Maizuru Red Brick Club” where a number of art exhibitions and other cultural events are held.

This year The Nippon Foundation invited the prize winning graphic artist Katsuhiko Hibino to do one of his trade mark “Seed Ship” projects in Maizuru with the cooperation of NPO Maizuru Red Brick Club.

Mariko Mori (left) and municipal museum director Toshio Okamoto

Hibino's small-scale “seed ship” will be in the shape of a Morning Glory flower, and will be actually launched in October at Maizuru Port. In the meantime, Hibino is using the facilities at the NPO Maizuru Red Brick Club to build it.

In previous art workshops such as his Yokohama Ship event, he designed a “sun ship” and set it afloat in Yokohama harbor in front of Yamashita Park. The “Morning Glory” ship will be made with the same artistic intention of linking ships with the sea at Maizuru.

The art director at the NPO Club is Mariko Mori, who will be coordinating the building and launch of the Morning Glory ship. Mori graduated from Kyoto Institute of Art and has a wide background in organizing contemporary art events, as well as musical and dance productions.

Hibino (left) talks about his ship project

Other events that Mori has arranged at the museum have been – “Let’s Play With Films; an artistic arrangement of some 280 items such as driftwood, sea shells, and discarded sandals, by Kyoyo artist Tetsu Oyamada; and a unique interactive drama workshop called “The Groaning Dance.”

Hand fans made by kids displayed at Maizuru RB

Artist Hibino’s underlying message for his morning glory ship project is to bring people together to deepen many forms of cooperation – person to person, area to area, and person to earth.

To date, Hibino has built seven seed ships, with the participation of local people and children, that symbolize carrying people to other places to plant the seeds of cooperation.

Hibino built two seed ships in Yokohama, 3 in Kanazawa, and one each in Kagoshima and Tanegashima. The “ships” were built with wood and cardboard.

Tetsu Oyamada gives guidance to kids participating in an art camp

Local Maritime Self Defense Forces (MSDF) and Universal Shipbuiding Company in Maizuru have offered to provide some building materials for Hibino’s project, including steel, wood, and cardboard.

Altogether there will be some 200 local volunteers from all walks of life -- salaried workers, fishermen and kids – who will work with Hibino on this project.

Mori said this cooperation between local citizens and an artist will contribute to Maizuru’s charm and leave a good legacy to attract people to the museum and the city.

These projects inspired by Mori’s creativity have certainly increased the circle of people who are visiting and using the museum.

One local official said that previously people had the impression that the red brick warehouses were inaccessable places. But now, surprisingly, many local citizens are visiting the red brick area to see the museum and enjoy it’s programs.