Kosa Town opens OWL forest library at cho-juu-park

A new community library named ‘OWL’ has opened at cho-juu-park in Kosa Town, Kumamoto Prefecture. The facility was established in response to a growing number of municipalities in Kumamoto that lack bookstores.

Located on the site of a former waterfront park adjacent to Kosa Elementary School, cho-juu-park is a multi-purpose complex operated by the Yatsuda Medical Corporation. The park features welfare facilities for the elderly and children, a restaurant, a market, and rental spaces. The library itself is designed like a mountain hut to blend with the surrounding forest, river, and playground.

The collection of approximately 1,100 books was curated through a collaboration between Nagasaki Shoten of Kumamoto City and MINOU BOOKS from Fukuoka Prefecture. The selection focuses on the theme of ‘freedom,’ aiming to provide diverse perspectives and encourage personal discovery. The library operates in conjunction with the onsite restaurant, ‘Mashira,’ allowing visitors to use the space freely while enjoying the natural environment.