Gifu book service partners with welfare group on upcycled art bags

A book selection service in Gifu City is collaborating with a local social welfare organisation to launch a unique product that combines literature, art, and social inclusion. The project is titled “Natsu no Hyaku” (Summer’s Hundred), pairing a curated book with a one-of-a-kind art bag crafted from upcycled flour sacks by people with disabilities.

The is a partnership between the Kikukawa book service and the Ibuki Fukushikai social welfare corporation. Starting 16 July, 100 limited-edition sets will be sold online. Sales from the bags will directly provide income for the artists, and a portion of the project’s overall profits will be donated to the facility.

Ibuki Fukushikai, which supports over 150 individuals, runs baking programmes that generate a supply of used flour sacks. Rather than being discarded, these sacks are cleaned, cut, and then hand-decorated by 23 of the facility’s members, known as “nakama” (companions), with support from 10 staff members. Each bag becomes a unique piece of art.

The project’s theme is “the joy of a chance encounter.” Customers do not choose a book based on their preferences but instead select a number from one to 100. Each number corresponds to a pre-selected book and a surprise art bag, creating an experience the organisers compare to drawing a fortune slip.

This collaboration was born from a chance encounter in July 2024. Kikukawa’s founder, Yukari Ichikawa, happened to visit an exhibition celebrating Ibuki Fukushikai’s 30th anniversary. Upon seeing the upcycled flour sack art bags, she was deeply moved.

Her interest led her to visit the facility’s shop, “Hotori,” where a message on the window read, “Ippai asobi ni oide ne” (Come and play a lot). Ichikawa felt the message conveyed a warm sense of belonging and strengthened her resolve to collaborate. The facility agreed, and the “Natsu no Hyaku” project was developed, featuring a new, custom-sized bag for the initiative.

‘There is an unexpectedness and joy of chance in books,’ said Ichikawa. ‘In a world where we have to decide so much for ourselves, I believe it is important to sometimes have time to entrust things to others and wait. When you surrender yourself and open your heart to chance, you can encounter unexpected wonder.’

Kikukawa aims for the project to be a new bridge between welfare and culture.  The collaboration supports the mission of Ibuki Fukushikai, which was to create a community where even people with severe disabilities can live with richness and peace of mind.