WHY TEKU TEKU DAIMYO?

“Why TEKU TEKU, why do you care, you don’t even live in Daimyo….!” 30 years ago my father went on a business trip to Japan. He visited Kyoto, and Beppu. As a little girl I was totally amazed by Japan and fathers pictures of Geisha’s, rice fields and Japanese buildings. For months I wanted to sit on the floor wear my yukata and eat with the chopsticks dad brought me.

First time I visited Japan, I was told before how lucky I was to go to Kyoto, cultural highlight of Japan! Though when I arrived at Kyoto station, I couldn’t believe my eyes, the concrete jungle the place turned into. Don’t get me wrong, I love living in Fukuoka. I lived here since 1999 and I find it a very easy place to live.

The year I came and two years prior to that, Fukuoka was chosen, by the magazine Asia Week , most livable city in Asia and I do agree. The people of Fukuoka can be proud of their hometown as this place has a lot to offer!!!

Japanese city planning, or better to say the lack of planning shocks me though. Places once nice rapidly change in to loud/ impersonal/ disharmonized places.

The last 8 years I spend a lot of time in Daimyo, its painful to see how it is deteriorating . Traditional Japanese houses being demolished and being replaced by huge characterless buildings or parking lots, many high wires, cars and graffiti.

Founder of Teku Teku Daimyo Project : Mies Heerma

DAIMYO

An area of about 500 by 500 meter. Central in Fukuoka. Till shortly it used to be residential only, still now the population is around 4000. Lots of changes have taken place though over the last 10～15 years, many shops have opened and closed again. The area has narrow streets without sidewalks, which makes many people walk on the road.

Daimyo is very popular, due to its cozy atmosphere and trendy little shops. Lots of shops have trouble staying in business though as due to its growing popularity the rent has been going up extremely. High land prices and the March 2005 earthquake are a fatal combination for old traditional Japanese houses they have to make way for parking lots or huge apartment buildings. So in a rapid tempo the area is loosing its authentic character.

GOOD POINTS & BAD POINTS

GOOD POINTS	BAD POINTS
Cozy	Losing its character, old houses, demolished replaced by parking lots or big buildings.
Narrow streets	Congested with cars.
Small interesting shops.	Many parking lots.
Central	High wires above ground.
Easily accessible by public transportation.	Appeals to young and trendy people only.
Traditional Japanese houses.	Graffiti
Relaxed atmosphere.
Lot of interesting people.