Common Project: “Nonta’s Home Economics Room”

Project Overview

Using Japanese craft experiences to create spaces for communication within families and local communities

“You’ve used so many colors!”“In 5th grade, we learn this in school too.”As college students offered friendly advice, children focused intently, moving their needles through the backs of kimono-style garments without center seams—this was a “semamori” embroidery experience. Each traditional pattern, like kagome, ryugo, and asanoha, carried wishes for the child’s healthy growth. The project connects cultural heritage to modern parenting through updated interpretations of traditional crafts.

Launched on October 16, 2021, at the roadside station “Kohan-no-Sato Fukutomi” in Higashihiroshima’s Fukutomi district, Nonta’s Home Ec Room is a joint initiative by the City of Higashihiroshima and Hiroshima University’s Faculty of Education (Human Life Studies Course). The project promotes regional revitalization by encouraging richer lifestyles through hands-on community events.

In its first year, the theme was “creating with needle and thread,” and included semamori embroidery workshops.Planning and operation were led by Ms. Iwamoto and Ms. Yamatake, students from the Human Life Studies Course, as part of their graduation research.

Iwamoto’s goal: “To gain insight into the factors that energize a local community through student-led events.”Yamatake’s goal: “To analyze how creative environments (such as color choices) influence participation in handcrafts, and to propose ways to encourage active engagement.”

“In today’s society, some households don’t even have needles and thread—let alone knives or cutting boards.Home Economics is a subject that explores daily life centered around the family, which remains the foundation of education in a complex and ever-changing society. By giving future home economics teachers opportunities to interact with real communities, we hope these experiences will also become spaces of rich communication within households and neighborhoods,”shared Professors Suzuki and Murakami of the Human Life Studies Course.

The high level of interest was evident from the serious expressions of the many university students who volunteered to guide the children.

A parent who participated with their child remarked,“It was impressive how deeply the children focused. Today reminded me of the power of making things by hand.”

For Higashihiroshima City, which promotes itself as a “great place to raise children,”leveraging the education resources of Hiroshima University—one of Japan’s leading universities—is essential.With active involvement from citizens and university members alike, we hope this project continues to grow and strengthen community engagement.

Nonta's homepage

Event photos

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