WhyWhy Zero Waste in Kamikatsu Town?
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- Why Zero Waste in Kamikatsu Town?
Welcome to Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center WHYWelcome to Kamikatsu Town Zero Waste Center WHY
With time and care—what we can do together
About one hour by car from central Tokushima, Kamikatsu is a quiet mountain town of about 1,400 people along the upper Katsuura River. Amid the rich greenery stands the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center “WHY”, a facility whose red exterior blends gently with the landscape.
Opened in May 2020, WHY was built by combining fittings and scrap materials donated by local residents.
Its nickname, “WHY,” comes from the shape of the entire complex: from above, it resembles a question mark.
Asking a different question: how do we prevent waste?
As a hub for Zero Waste, WHY is a place where residents and visitors meet, share ideas, and reflect on how we live now. By taking on challenges together, we spark new ventures, revitalize the community, and pass these efforts on to future generations—spreading this cycle from Kamikatsu to the world.
FLOOR MAP
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Garbage Station
The town’s only waste collection site. Residents bring their household waste here and carefully separate it into 13 categories and 45 sub-categories. Thanks to this daily effort by everyone—from children to the elderly—Kamikatsu has achieved a recycling rate of over 80%.
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KURU KURU SHOP
A reuse shop where residents bring items they no longer need to be passed on to someone else. Anyone can freely take home what they like. To remind everyone of the value of circulation, each item’s weight is recorded when taken.
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Learning Center & Exchange Hall
A welcoming community space for all visitors. Here you can browse books on sustainability and environmental issues selected by book director Yoshitaka Haba, or relax with your children in the kids’ area. The hall is also available for private use, such as company training sessions.
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Laboratory
A satellite office and seminar space for companies and research institutions engaged in zero waste and circular economy initiatives. Annual contracts are available, and the space features unique upcycled furniture, such as bookshelves made from repurposed vegetable baskets.
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HOTEL WHY
An accommodation where you can experience zero waste in practice. Guests are invited to join a guided tour of the facility and try waste sorting during their stay. HOTEL WHY offers more than a place to sleep—it provides a chance to experience Kamikatsu’s way of life and rethink not just how we dispose of things, but how we choose and purchase them in the first place.
ABOUT ARCHITECTURE Architectural Design: Nakamura Hiroshi & NAP Architectural Design Office
Architectural by Nakamura Hiroshi
The site was originally reclaimed land, filled with waste and leftover soil. To secure a stable foundation, the main building was positioned toward the mountainside, while vehicle entrances were placed to avoid sharp, winding roads. At the center of the site, with clear visibility of entrances, sits the office and concierge-equipped reuse shop. On either side are the waste-sorting area for residents and staff, and the community facilities and parking area for visitors. On the solid natural ground above, separate buildings house the experiential hotel. The horseshoe-shaped plan symbolizes the continuous cycle of “sorting → storage → recycling & reuse.” The circular sorting plaza, sheltered by wide eaves, allows residents to see the entire stockyard and sort into 45 categories with efficiency, while minimizing walking distance. In the afternoons, forklifts and trucks pass through for recycling collection. To ensure safety and privacy, visitor pathways follow the building’s outer perimeter, separated from resident traffic. Beyond the sorting area lies a reuse shop, community hall, and a grassy open space with panoramic views—intentionally designed as a “meeting place” where residents and visitors naturally connect.
Awards at Kamikatsu Town Zero Waste Center WHY
- 2021 Architectural Institute of Japan Award (work)
- 2021 Japan Architects Association Environmental Architects Award
- Dezeen Awards 2021 sustainable building of the year
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Grand Prize at Hometown Creation Award for 2021 (Prime Minister's Award) (Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture)
- KUKAN OF THE YEAR 2022
- Japan Space Design Award Sustainable Space Award 2022
Nakamura Hiroshi
Born in Tokyo in 1974. Spending his childhood in Kamakura and Kanazawa.
Completed the master's course in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Meiji University in 1999. In the same year, he joined Kuma Kengo Architectural Urban Design Office.
He established NAP Architectural Design Office in 2002 and continues to this day.
The company believes in designing it is designed to align with the local climate and industry, the topography and nature of the site, and the behavior and feelings of the people who work there.