hello Kibichūō, Okayama
CIBI Okayama & CIBI House opening!!
CIBI Okayama will open in Kibichūō, Okayama in June 2026, followed by the opening of CIBI House in 2027. Through this journal, we would like to share the story behind how this place has come to life — the process, the people, and the ideas that shaped it along the way.
In this story, we reflect on the making of the CIBI Okayama space, the people involved in bringing it together, and the thoughts and values that sit at the heart of the project.
Our concept; the CIBI Okayama space
The site of CIBI Okayama was once the middle school Meg attended — a large three-storey school building filled with memories and possibility.
Over time, we have many ideas and visions for how the entire building may evolve and be used. But for now, we are beginning by creating a café space and design store near the entrance on the first floor.
The space was originally the teachers’ office.
It was Zenta’s idea to remove the walls entirely — rather than simply using the original layout as it was, he wanted to challenge the fixed concept of the typical “classroom and corridor” structure found in schools, exploring an approach that could shift both the way the space is seen and the way it is used.
By incorporating the corridor into the room itself, the space widened and the view opened up. Through this unique expansion of space, a completely new landscape emerged.
It feels distinctly like a CIBI space — something shared across Melbourne, Tokyo, and now Okayama. At the root of it are Zenta’s sketches and ways of thinking around space: not simply accepting existing forms as they are, but softly reimagining boundaries and uses, transforming spaces into environments where people can naturally feel comfortable and connected. This is the foundation of CIBI’s approach to creating spaces.
Zenta has been travelling back and forth between Okayama and Melbourne, leading the space design, carpentry work, and on-site direction. He has spent time with this place by physically working alongside it — breaking walls, painting, building furniture, and sometimes even cooking a BBQ for everyone involved.
Recently, refrigerators, convection ovens, and other kitchen equipment arrived in the space. From here, the final layers, furniture, fixtures, and small details will come together.
As we move closer to the June opening, the making of the space is entering its final stage.
“What already exists”; to simply shine again
The key concept Zenta wanted to preserve within the space was revival.
Inside the school building, untouched for twelve years, time seemed to have stopped.
Desks, chairs, shelves, and blackboards still remained in each classroom exactly as they once were.
Zenta often says that perhaps these objects, too, are happy to be cared for and used once again. To bring light back onto things that had fallen out of use. That image became central to the making of CIBI Okayama.
For example,
The workbench from the technology room became the cafe’s community table.
The reception counter from the library found new life as the shop counter.
Worktables from the home economics room were repurposed for the cafe kitchen.
Easels and display shelves from the art room became fixtures within the shop, and even the kitchen swing doors were created using fittings from the teachers’ office.
Concrete pipes once resting on the school grounds were also transformed into wash basins.
Sometimes, ideas are shaped by working directly with what is there — cutting, fitting, and adjusting things by hand, and freely reconstructed as new possibilities begin to appear.
To continue weaving together what already exists.
This sense of organic connection, between objects, places, and people is something we deeply value at CIBI.
Our community creating together; builders, craftspeople, neighbours, and friends
The school buildings had sat abandoned for many years, weathered and in need of care everywhere you looked. The grounds were overgrown, too.
Creating CIBI Okayama has only been possible with the help of so many people — local builders, craftspeople, neighbours, friends, and our wider community.
We would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank them here.
Water & Infrastructure — Hiroshi-san
Setting up the basic infrastructure, including water and electricity, became our very first and biggest challenge.
Unexpected problems kept appearing, and there were many moments when the road ahead felt impossibly long.
Together with us, Hiroshi-san searched for underground water sources, dug through the grounds, and helped install an entirely new septic system. Step by step, he stayed beside us through what often felt like an endless process.
We are constantly inspired by his flexibility, his calm response to Zenta’s spontaneous ideas, and the care and beauty he brings to his work.
Thank you for your incredible craftsmanship and generosity.
Electrical — Hisashi-san
Hisashi-san, who also happens to be senior to Meg’s cousin, took care of the electrical systems, one of the most important foundations of the space.
Seeing the school buildings light up again was a moving moment for us. From the different layers of lighting throughout the space to the complex systems at the heart of the kitchen, everything was thoughtfully brought together.
The way the wiring was handled was so thoughtful, and even the electrical conduits were beautifully integrated into the design.
Thank you, Hisashi-san.
Carpenter — Tecchan
Japanese school buildings are incredibly solid, built to withstand earthquakes and made to last for decades. Which also meant taking them apart was no easy task.
Tecchan took on the demanding demolition work, then carefully transformed many of the old fittings and materials into something new again.
A skilled and experienced carpenter, and also Meg’s childhood friend from kindergarten days.
Thank you, Tecchan.
Air Conditioning & Ventilation — Hiro-san
In a CIBI space, where the kitchen is open and connected to everything around it, the range hood becomes a big part of the atmosphere.
Hiro-san understood the feeling we were searching for and helped us find a nice ventilation that feels right for the CIBI space.
Always full of ideas and practical solutions, he has been someone we could rely on throughout the process. Thank you, Hiro-san.
Landscape — Michael
Michael, a longtime friend of CIBI Melbourne, stayed with us for around ten days and helped shape the grounds and planting around the school.
He planted Australian trees and native plants, including eucalyptus and gum trees, bringing a little piece of Australia into this landscape. Through Michael, perhaps a small Melbourne breeze will continue to move through this place, too.
Thank you for the beautiful time together.
Architecture & Design — ara
The ara team, led by Alison Rie-san — longtime CIBI regulars and friends of Meg and Zenta — supported us in so many ways throughout this process.
They helped bring Zenta’s ideas into form, shared new ideas with openness and humour, and guided us through the many practical and administrative parts of the project.
Their thoughtful approach and smooth way of working gave us so much reassurance along the way.
Thank you, ara team.
We truly could not have come this far without everyone’s support, generosity, and care.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
New beginnings; beekeeping, tea, and garden stories
Last year, we began bee keeping after a neighbour living near CIBI Okayama shared a hive and a colony of bees with us.
This had long been a dream project for Yoshi, the General Manager of CIBI Okayama. He has visited beekeeping sites in Melbourne and continues to learn from Michael, who has deep knowledge and experience in beekeeping.
In Melbourne, the importance of bees within the ecosystem is widely recognised so much so that the term “urban beekeeping” is commonly used, and keeping bees within the city feels quite close to everyday life.
Last year, we were able to harvest a small amount of honey for the first time. It was a very special moment for us.
As the harvest becomes more stable, we hope to share this gift with everyone through menu items using honey from this land, and perhaps one day even offer it in the shop.
We have also started building a small garden within the old school grounds, where we will grow vegetables and herbs without pesticides or chemical fertilisers.
Recently, we planted tea trees as well.
Meg often talks about the tea trees that grew at her old primary school. The students would pick the leaves together, have them processed into tea, and drink the tea they harvested themselves throughout the year — cold in summer, warm in winter.
We have also planted kawaraketsumei, a plant traditionally used to make “Kōkai-cha,” a fragrant caffeine-free roasted tea made from its leaves and stems.
It has always been part of everyday life for Meg and her family, something they still drink at home every day. Little by little, we hope to grow it here too, and one day share it with everyone who visits.
To grow vegetables, tea, and other things we consume with our own hands, then share them with others,
and passing these experiences and ways of living on to children feels deeply important to us.
Flowers bloom, bees carry pollen, the soil becomes richer, and many living things continue to support one another through quiet cycles.
We hope CIBI can exist as part of that rhythm too.
CIBI Okayama is hiring!
CIBI Okayama is now hiring for our opening team!
Our new space brings together food, design, and space — expressing CIBI as a whole. As a continuation of our Melbourne and Tokyo locations, we’ll be building this next chapter in Okayama, day by day.
If you feel connected to what we do and would like to be part of shaping this place with us, we would love to hear from you.
