Ogaki Mini Maker Faire 2024

2024

Take over and develop “Let’s start from making. Things / Play / Culture”

The Maker Faire is where Maker’s from a variety of fields gather from all over the country to showcase their electronics, robotics, crafts, paper crafts, electronic musical instruments, science, recycling / upcycling, etc.. It is a Maker movement festival to spread the joy of making by showing and speaking about things they have made.
The Mini Maker Faire is a local version hosted by the community, and counting from the predecessor event hosted in Ogaki from 2010, this is the 8th time it has been held.
The theme of “Let’s start from making. Things / Play / Culture” was heralded, and it was held as an event that carries on the greatness of the past up to now whilst chershing the relaxed space and atmosphere that only a regional event can provide.

Additionally, this time in order to allow for the participation of people who could not attend the physical venue due to a variety of circumstances, the pre-event was hosted prior in the “metaverse” venue alongside the publicization of the event. As a result, we were fortunate enough to have over 5000 participants. The smiling faces of visitors of the event left a lasting impression as they viewed the works of Makers who freely interpret technology without being bound by existing definitions and express themselves in an array of works assembled in the venue.

This time there were a total of 116 groups who exhibited what they had made. Alongside the exhibition of works by Makers, presentations and workshops were also implemented at the event. There were 12 groups who held presentations, which were simultaneously streamed on Youtube Live. 9 groups held workshops. Since the number of groups exhibiting their works increased, rather than creating a common workshop space, there was a table for workshop-use prepared at each exhibition booth.
Further, as related events “Hebokon in Ogaki” by Hebokon & Daily Portal Z and a live performance by NxPC Lab. were carried out.

This time as a new experiment, a pre-event was hosted one week prior to the main event. It was held in the “metaverse” venue on the metaverse platform “cluster.” The event, which included presentations from three exhibitors, combined a hall for listening to presentations (with live streaming) and a room where all participants could interact through voice and chat. This setup allowed attendees to move freely between the two, creating a space that offered a variety of ways to participate.
The objective of the event is to create an opportunity to share the joy and familiarity of making things with visitors through interaction and dialogue with various Makers through their works. The venue which was filled with more exhibitors than previously was bustling with many visitors of a wide range of ages and variety of interests. The event, which has made several attempts to keep people interacting with each other even during the global coronavirus pandemic, was finally able to take place as usual this time.

Additionally, we responded to requests from visitors that exhibitors did not have enough time to view each other’s works, and as such an exchange event was held after the exhibition closed on the first day. Through doing so the Makers were able to interact with each other’s works, and a time to exchange ideas without inhibition was allocated. Children could interact with the works of Makers, exchange words and show their genuine reactions in smiles. It was impactful to see the majority of visitors having such a pleasant time.

The role of IAMAS

As the administrative office of the executive committee consisting of companies, education institutions, and local governments in Gifu prefecture, our university’s office and the Research Center for Industry and Culture played a central role in all phases of the event, from the planning, coordination, design, and publicity to day-of-event operations, as well as the pre-event at the “Metaverse” venue.
Host

Ogaki Mini Maker Faire 2024 Executive Committee
The Ogaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gifu IT & Manufacturing Network, Gifu Information Industry Association, Gifu Industrial Association, Softopia Japan, Gifu Industrial Economic Promotion Center, Gifu Prefecture Metal Industrial Cooperative Association, Itochu Urban Community Group, National Institute of Technology, Gifu College, Gifu prefecture, Ogaki-shi, Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences [IAMAS]
Co-host

O'Reilly Japan, Inc.
Event dates

November 23, 12:00 ~ 17:00 and November 24, 2024, 10:00 ~ 16:00
(Pre-event: November 16, 2024, 15:00 ~ 17:00)
Venue

Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences [IAMAS] Softopia Japan Center Building
(Pre-event: “Metaverse” venue: cluster)
Faculty in charge and collaborators

General director: Shigeru Kobayashi (Professor at IAMAS) / Director: Satoshi Fukushima (RCIC) / Venue Organization and Project Manager: Yushi Yashima (Artist) / Web PR: Shoko Ito (RCIC) / Design: Chihiro Oyama / Recording: Fumio Kohama (Filmmaker), Yukiko Kodera / Operation Support: Shuji Hirose (Host of sketch on), Madoka Okoshi (Contemporary Artist) / Operations: Yoko Yamada (IAMAS Administrative Office)

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