On 11 April 2026, UNU-IAS Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK) organized an event "Hatake Talk: Reborn Landscapes – Art, Tradition and Community Gardens for Post-Disaster Regeneration". Bringing together students, researchers and community members, it discussed post-disaster recovery and community revitalization in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.
Opening the event, Juan Pastor-Ivars (Research Fellow and Academic Associate) presented the results of a survey on traditional gardens in the Kikugawa area of Kanazawa City, and outlined sustainable approaches to planning and fostering green communities. Yumi Matsumoto (NPO Tsuzuru) introduced her work on repurposing abandoned houses in the city into shared community spaces, highlighting the event venue —Ikuyama House — as an example.
Junko Kirimoto (Vice-Representative, Wajima Kirimoto) discussed efforts to revive lacquerware artisanship in Wajima City following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake to create new value in traditional industries, promote sustainable craftsmanship, and pass on local culture and skills to future generations. Yukimi Yamagami shared initiatives to transform the city's damaged areas into community gardens, supporting both individual and community well-being.
Participants engaged in group discussions on community engagement, urban green spaces and balancing development with sustainability. The event concluded with a hands-on farming activity in Kikugawa.
The event was organized in collaboration with NPO Tsuzuru.
