Shibazono Elementary School & Shibazono Junior High School

This inner-city campus links a junior high school and four consolidated elementary schools. Entitled “A Nine-Year Journey,” the campus was conceived as an embodiment of the children’s growth, with each of the sub-schools enjoying both independence from and connection to the others. A gently-curved 200-meter-wide strip of land sits between the road in front of the school and the Jinzukawa River, forming a rich landscape that lingers in the memory of anyone who visits. Sheltered by a large overhanging roof, the passage through the campus becomes a scenic space where students, teachers, and local citizens can interact naturally throughout the spring, summer, fall, and snowy winters.