KILTA Yokohama Renewal

A Weekend of Making, Rain or Shine

On May 17–18, 2025, we took part as collaborators in KILTA Yokohama Renewal, a joyful celebration of community spirit and creative reconnection. Despite Saturday’s rain, all workshops were fully booked, which truly showed how eager everyone was to come together and create.

The event was designed as both a warm invitation and a bold announcement: KILTA Yokohama is back, and something is always happening even in the quieter corners of the city.

Neighborhood Effort

Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two designing our flyers for Makers’ Day!

Leaning on this experience, we designed and distributed flyers—not just creating a graphic, but walking the surrounding neighborhoods, placing each one by hand into mailboxes. It may seem small, but in our experience this proved to be the most effective way of introducing your event to the community and yes, even with social media involved. Community engagement doesn’t always start with fanfare; sometimes, it begins with a single printed sheet to spark curiosity.

Woodshop Wonders

A play on our Wonder Workshop, which we facilitated on Makers’ Day! years ago. The familiar material from construction and renovation work became the starting point for our two workshops:

In “Artsy Architects – Build Your Own Buildings, Create Your Own City!”, kids (and quite a few adults!) turned these scraps into colorful, expressive little structures. We watched as markers, paint, and creativity flowed freely—parents reconnecting with their inner child, and children focused on their creations.

Our second workshop was all about the Giant Jenga. We cut and sanded each piece ourselves, turning prep into part of the process. Families gathered around to decorate them with paint, drawings, and wild patterns—animal prints, abstract art, you name it. The next day, these blocks became part of the game, now vibrant and full of personality.

It brought us back to the kinds of toys we used to love, the ones that didn’t require batteries, just imagination, and your own two hands.

With &kidea.

One of the most exciting parts of the weekend was finally getting to collaborate on-site with &kidea. a team whose work we resonate with due to our shared values. Together, we facilitated workshops rooted in shared values: creativity, confidence-building, and hands-on joy.

In their signature activity, kids worked on crafting KILTA’s very own pinball game. Under &kidea.’s thoughtful guidance—and with plenty of encouragement from nearby parents—children eagerly took on each step of the process, gaining confidence as they went. It was more than just making; it was a quiet act of proving to themselves what they could do.

They also hosted an engaging workshop featuring Kinocca, a charming toy car made from natural wood and powered by rubber bands. Participants chose their favorite shapes, sanded them smooth, painted them in vibrant colors, and assembled them from start to finish. Each Kinocca became a unique, lovingly crafted creation—proof of what’s possible when play, design, and hands-on learning come together.

Rain, Recognition, and Real Moments

What stood out most was how people showed up. The weather didn’t stop them. Kids laughed in ponchos. Parents painted. And more than once, someone spotted Beyond The World’s Spin Spin Sticks from a past Makers’ Day! and lit up with recognition. Those moments—when something you once made sparks a memory in someone else—remind you why you do this.

But above all, it was the collaboration that made it meaningful. Being in sync with the team felt like building something far beyond workshops or games. It felt like rebuilding trust, excitement, and connection—together.

The Invitation Continues

KILTA Yokohama Renewal is gentle reminder that community lives in the little things and we’re grateful to have been part of it.

Keep your eyes open. In even the quietest places, something beautiful is always being built.