The program’s focus shifted toward Ojika’s vacant plots and houses, particularly in the Fuefuki area. Artist and architect Anja Riabova (Amsterdam / Kyiv) was invited to explore what these temporary and unused spaces could mean for the creation of community.

Before the main workshop, the students received a short introductory lesson on Art in Public Space—covering the different forms, functions, and purposes of public art. This provided context for how creative interventions can shape shared environments and community spaces.

Anja then organized a workshop with students from the local middle school. Using materials she prepared, the students were asked to propose practical ideas for how vacant lots could be repurposed—not conceptually, but from a functional and community-oriented perspective. During the one-hour session, each group created small- scale models of projects they believed would benefit the town and provide positive uses for these empty spaces.

The initial idea for the year’s theme was to design a series of benches to be placed near the harbor. However, when that location proved unavailable, the focus was redirected toward the empty lots scattered throughout the town.

Drawing inspiration from the students’ ideas, Anja went on to create a series of temporary structures, representing the essential elements needed to form spaces that could foster social interaction and community use.

In addition, she used the Kyu-Konishitei building to present an exhibition of her observations, findings, and reflections on Ojika. The outdoor space used for her furniture and spatial interventions was an empty lot near the town center.

Beyond her artistic activities, Anja also delivered a special lecture to all middle school students about the situation in Europe and her experiences in Ukraine during the war, where she has provided humanitarian aid to frontline villages through direct support from international citizens. The lecture aimed to help students better understand the real and human consequences of conflict.