The history of Saiwaicho Housing Complex in Mihama Ward, Chiba City, is closely entwined with labor history. In 1964, during Japan’s period of high economic growth, the area along the coast of the bay was reclaimed from the sea on a large scale, and Chiba Food Industrial Complex was constructed. Residents began moving into the adjacent Saiwaicho Housing Complex in 1967, and soon working-age people came from all over the country, forming a new community. The residents brought with them the festival cultures of their hometowns, with the result that a unique kind of festival was held at the complex each year. Though seemingly a hodgepodge of elements and influences, the festival also serves as a record of the residents’ efforts to put down roots in this place.

Today, the residents who have been there since that time are now advanced in years and many foreign migrants have moved in to replace this retiring workforce. Their lives vary: some work at factories in the Chiba Food Industrial Complex, others attend a nearby Japanese language school while doing part-time jobs. The population of the housing complex is currently approximately 40 percent elderly residents and 15 percent foreigners: it is perhaps a microcosm of Japanese society to come.

Over the course of his fieldwork, artist Tsubasa Kato conducted interviews with people who have lived in Saiwaicho Housing Complex for over five decades, their grandchildren who are now raising their own children, and foreign residents. He then built a full-scale replica of a room in the housing complex, set it up in the plaza, and, as part of the housing complex’s summer festival on August 30, undertook a performance in which he flipped it over with a rope with the assistance of residents. This act generated temporary bonds between people who tend to lead separate lives, kept apart by differences in lifestyle and language, and by physical distance, and as Saiwaicho Housing Complex reaches a significant demographic crossroads, will surely serve as the collective memory of the first steps taken toward rebuilding for the future.

The exhibition features the upturned structure along with footage of the interviews and the performance.

Event Overview

• Dates: Friday, September 19–Monday, November 24, 2025
• Opening times: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Closed: Every Wednesday
• Venue 1: Saiwaicho Housing Complex Triangle Area（2-12 Saiwaicho, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture 261-0001）
  [No parking/No elevator]
• Venue 2: Saiwaicho Community Center Library（2-12-14 Saiwaicho, Mihama Ward, Chiba City）
  [No parking/Restrooms available]
• Venue 3: Mikey HOUSE（2-12-9 Midoricho, Inage-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, 263-0023）
  [No parking/No elevator/Restrooms available]　
• Free admission
• Project Sponsor: Urban Renaissance Agency
• In cooperation with: Saiwaicho Neighborhood Association, Mikey Corporation, Otsuka Construction

Heatstroke Prevention Measures

Please take measures to prevent heatstroke by staying hydrated and wearing a hat, etc., according to the environment. If you feel unwell, please notify a nearby staff member.

Photography and Video Recording

Photography and video recording will be conducted on the day for promotional and record-keeping purposes. Media outlets may also conduct interviews and filming. Photographs and videos taken may be published on the Chiba International Art Festival website, social media, brochures, and other promotional materials, as well as on television, magazines, and other media. We kindly ask for your understanding in advance.