Bottou & Yohaku: A Community Space in Ekoda, Nerima Ward

Since I have a physical store, I have to do business.

For the past month or so, I've been at a standstill.
Last year, I took courses on writing and marketing,
courses on connecting with female entrepreneurs in Nerima,
and courses on grants.

What is it that I want to do?

Who am I doing this for?

What kind of business do I want to run?

Do I even want to run a business in the first place?

Do I want to engage in community activities?

As long as I have a store, I can't pay the rent unless I do business.
If I can't pay the rent, I'll go under.
If I go under, I'll have to close.

While turning these thoughts over and over in my mind,
I re-established the voluntary organization
Bottou Yohaku Lab.

I reached the conclusion that my desire to continue providing a place for children
is a form of community activity,
and I realized that for that, I need partners.
Because I didn't have any partners.

I asked my regular customers to become my partners,
and they agreed.

I thought, 'Now that I have partners, it'll be fine! It'll work out,'
but that feeling was short-lived.

The Bottou Yohaku Lab as a voluntary organization and
the 'Bottou & Yohaku' store are, after all, different things,
so to keep it going, I have to do business.
I want to keep providing a place for children.

What is 'Bottou & Yohaku'?

One of the things necessary for business is
to find the core of your business, according to marketing books.
I was told this many times in courses as well.

I never understood this for the longest time.
What is 'Bottou & Yohaku'?
I couldn't say it in one word.
I was often told that, too.
The reason it wasn't working out is surely there.

But, I finally understood.

What is 'Bottou & Yohaku'?
'Bottou & Yohaku' = Community Space
That's what it was.

I run a children's cafeteria, I run a shared bookshelf,
I hold workshops for parents and children and reading circles,
I rent out space for tutoring—
that is a community space.

It is not a coworking space.
A community space won't work as a business
unless people come.
Even if it's not a profitable business,
I have to attract people.

Various people have shared their stories with me.

I have mainly faced parents and children struggling with school non-attendance or raising children with developmental differences.

That is who I am.

I have kept going while doing things that barely make a business, and while feeling like giving up many times.
(This is due to my own lack of ability, though)

Since I am not a professional, I may not have been of any help.

I may have given unsolicited advice.

But, at the community space called "Bottou & Yohaku,"
parents and children struggling with school non-attendance or
parents and children with HSC (Highly Sensitive Children)
or young people barely managing in society due to developmental differences, former shut-ins, people currently caregiving, people on leave due to depression, grandfathers who want to connect the history and culture of Ekoda, ordinary energetic university students, working adults, adults who realized in retrospect they might have ADHD, book lovers who just dropped by,
various people have shared their stories with me.

Of course, the

children who come here
have also shared their own stories little by little.

What is a community space?

The significance of a community space includes preventing "isolation," creating a small place to belong by connecting loosely,
getting information you wanted to know, meeting friends you can vent to a little,
and various other things, such as

being able to be useful to someone when you thought you were nobody.

and various other things, such as

A young psychologist who often visits also said that from now on, we need the power of care among ordinary people.
I feel like I can do that too.

A place where you can drop by and have a casual chat.

Of course, I want you to become a shelf owner of the shared bookshelf, but basically, I like being alone.
But sometimes, I want to talk to someone, not just read the room and agree with random trivial talk, but talk to someone about things that might be considered a bit 'woke,' like gender, politics, education, children, or the future environment.

I hope this becomes a place where people who feel that way can drop by and have a chat with the people there.
A place for those who are 'moderately conscious.'
Of course, it's also fine if it turns into trivial talk, anime talk, manga talk, cosplay talk, or academic talk.

And,I hope it becomes a place where you think, that was fun, I'll come again.
I hope it becomes a place where you think, that was fun, I'll come again.

A place for the first step of selling books, miscellaneous goods, or sweets.

I want to gently push the backs of people who are hesitating, thinking, 'I'd like to try a workshop like this, but I'm not ready yet, I need to refine it a bit more...'
and cheer them on by saying,

'It's okay, just go for it!'

I want to think together about ways to take on challenges without going into the red, even if you can't attract a crowd.

At the community space 'Bottou & Yohaku' in Ekoda,
become a shelf owner of the shared bookshelf, hold a workshop, hold a book club, or just come to hang out and
enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

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Bottou & Yohaku Shared Bookshelf
Regular Business Days: Wed, Sat, Sun, Holidays 13:00-17:00

It is a system where you can rent a single shelf and open a tiny shop!

Please feel free to use it as a place to hang out too!

The people renting the shelves take turns
manning the shop daily.

Once-in-a-lifetime encounters with books and people
are waiting for you!

We are also looking for shelf owners
From 2,200 yen per shelf (tax excluded)
For inquiries, contact us via LINE!

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Bottou & Yohaku
Private rental from 2,200 yen for 2 hours
(From one-off events to classes)

For workshops, collaboration projects, and
first-timers, we will provide support!
(You can take on challenges without worrying about being in the red)
For inquiries, contact us via LINE!