CROWDFUNDING · UKRAINIAN CULTURE GARDEN
Connecting the Futures of Ukraine and Japan through Art
Help us open “Ukrainian Culture Garden,” a Ukrainian art center in Wakimachi, Mima City, Tokushima, Japan.
- Goal¥5,000,000about $32,000
- DeadlineDec 15, 2026
- Grand openingApril 2027
raised
From the Otsucle project page · updated
Tokushima Prefecture matches donations up to ¥5 million — your gift counts double!
01 — HELLO FROM ALONA
A home for Ukrainian culture, in a small town in Japan
Hello, my name is Alona Chyzhenko, and I am the representative of Ukrainian Culture Garden Inc.
I am preparing to open the UKRAINIAN CULTURE GARDEN ART CENTER in Wakimachi, Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture — a permanent art center where the rich cultures and art of Japan and Ukraine meet and flow in both directions.
I studied contemporary art in Kyiv, worked at galleries and art centers, and took part in festivals across Europe. Over many years, I have felt firsthand how rich Ukrainian art is, and the joy of surprise and discovery that art brings.
Coming to Japan was a long-held dream of mine. But when I arrived in 2022, through the war and a displaced persons protection program, the meaning of that dream changed greatly.
I am building this art center so that I do not lose my connection to my home country, the feeling of “home,” and the bonds with my dear friends. It is also a way to share Ukrainian history and art, and to feel that I am playing a meaningful role for the future.
In Japan, I found that the atmosphere around culture and art is very different from Europe. Sometimes art activities feel challenging here. On the other hand, I discovered a strong demand for workshops — something I had not seen in Europe. I am truly enjoying these differences.
When I found this building in Wakimachi, I decided to make it a permanent home for Ukrainian culture. I would be very grateful for your help with the renovation and equipment. If you find a thank-you gift you like, please choose it. And once we open, please come and visit. I look forward to welcoming you!
— Alona Chyzhenko
02 — ABOUT ALONA
Career
In Ukraine
- After completing the Viktoria Burlaka School of Contemporary Art in Kyiv, she gained hands-on experience in running art centers as a producer and manager at the contemporary art gallery “Triptych Art” and the contemporary art center “M17.”
- She managed contemporary artists and served as festival coordinator for the large-scale festival “Start-up GogolFest 2019” in Mariupol.
- She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Faculty of Architecture at the National Aviation University in Kyiv. This background shapes her eye for designing the “space” that holds art.
In Japan
- Since arriving in Japan in 2022, she has worked as a Cultural Coordinator for Soja City Hall in Okayama Prefecture. With friends she met in the community, she founded the art event team “Tornado” and has held many lectures and workshops.
- She was invited as an artist and instructor to a pinhole camera art exhibition at the Chofu City Cultural Hall “Tazukuri” in Tokyo.
03 — THE ART CENTER
What is “Ukrainian Culture Garden”?
The building I found is a five-story building in Wakimachi, Mima City. It is a 4-minute walk from the “Udatsu” historic townscape, a well-known sightseeing area, and a 2-minute walk from the community center “Miraizu.”
This nearly 50-year-old building was once a barbershop loved by the community for many years, and later stood empty. We will bring it back to life as a hub where Ukrainian tradition and contemporary art meet.
NOW
AFTER
Image (AI-generated)
Image (AI-generated)
Entrance & Shop
Original Ukrainian artworks, and a shop for a stylish Ukrainian lifestyle brand coming to Japan for the first time.
Image (AI-generated)
Traditional Art Gallery
Seasonal exhibitions about every three months, showing beautiful traditional Ukrainian art passed down through generations.
Image (AI-generated)
Contemporary Art Gallery
Bold and passionate Ukrainian contemporary art. Through Alona’s network, we will invite wonderful works by artists from abroad.
Image (AI-generated)
Event & Workshop Space
A stage, screen, and seating for film screenings, concerts, and talks. Hands-on workshops four times a week: pysanka (egg dyeing), motanka (traditional dolls), and vytynanka (paper cutting).
Ukrainian Cooking Classes with the Community
Once a week, we will use the kitchen of the community center “Miraizu” in Mima City to build warm connections with local people through food.
04 — SCHEDULE & FUNDS
Schedule and use of funds
Your donation counts double
Tokushima Prefecture adds the same amount as the donations collected, as a subsidy for the project — up to ¥5 million (about $32,000) in total. If we reach our ¥5 million goal, the art center receives ¥10 million (about $64,000).
- Every yen you give brings twice as much support to the art center.
- Your donation goes through Tokushima Prefecture, a local government — a public, reliable channel.
- The project has been selected by the prefecture as a business that brings new value to the region.
How this crowdfunding works
- This project is part of Tokushima Prefecture’s “Hometown Entrepreneur Support Project,” which uses Japan’s furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) system. Your donation is made to Tokushima Prefecture, which then passes it on to the project together with the matching subsidy.
- This is an “all-in” project: your donation supports the project even if the goal is not reached.
05 — THANK-YOU GIFTS
Thank-you gifts
Dollar amounts are approximate (¥157 = $1, October 2026). All thank-you gifts are valid until the end of 2035, so you can use them whenever it suits you. For donors overseas, Alona will discuss shipping and how to receive your gift with you individually (see Notes for overseas donors).
Easy ways to support
¥5,000≈ $32
Thank-you letter with a vytynanka
A heartfelt letter from Alona with a delicate vytynanka, traditional Ukrainian paper cutting.
¥10,000≈ $64
Thank-you letter with a handmade Easter egg (+ 2 workshop tickets)
A pysanka, traditional dyed Easter egg, handmade by Alona. Includes 2 workshop tickets to use after we open.
Workshop tickets (with exhibition admission)
Tickets for traditional craft workshops.
10 workshop tickets
20 workshop tickets
50 workshop tickets
Personal annual pass
Enjoy the art center again and again — with your family and friends. Free admission to exhibitions, events, and film screenings for you plus up to 5 family members, or up to 2 non-family companions; 50% off all workshops (companions included). The period starts from the first day of use.
Personal annual pass, 1 year
Personal annual pass, 3 years
Personal annual pass, 5 years
Special made-to-order art experiences & visiting programs
Small pinhole camera (with darkroom access)
Alona turns an object of your choice into a one-of-a-kind pinhole camera. Includes darkroom access and your first shot.
Private workshop, 1 session
Up to 20 people; travel costs extra. A traditional craft workshop for your group, club, or community — at your place or in a private session at the center.
Lecture, 1 session
Up to 50 people; travel costs extra. For schools, companies, and organizations: art management, differences between the European and Japanese art scenes, and the rich culture of Ukraine.
Consulting for artists and curators (limited to 10)
For artists building an international career. Three 45-minute sessions: portfolio review, choosing and preparing for grants and residencies, and a final check of applications. Continued support after selection is included.
Large pinhole camera (1 m²)
A made-to-order pinhole camera of up to 1 m² per unit. Alona has turned pianos, water towers, and buses into giant pinhole cameras.
Your name listed
As one of the first supporters of Ukrainian Culture Garden, your name will appear on our website and when we tell the story of our founding.
Art event or exhibition, planned and run by Alona
An original art event or exhibition for spaces such as a school gym or community facility. Details to be discussed; travel and material costs extra.
Consulting will continue to be offered as part of the art center’s work after the crowdfunding (at a different price). If you are interested, please contact us.
Annual pass for companies and organizations
Free exhibition admission for members plus up to 2 family members, by showing a staff or student ID (for organizations of up to about 500 people); 5 private workshops and 2 visiting lectures per year, free of charge.
1 year
3 years
5 years
06 — HOW TO DONATE FROM OVERSEAS
How to donate from overseas
Otsucle is in Japanese only. Follow the steps below — the Japanese labels you will see on the screen are shown like 寄附する. You can pay with a credit card issued outside Japan.
- 💳 A credit card
- ✉️ An email address
- ⏱ About 10 minutes
Your browser’s translation feature can help, but button names may be translated differently. Use the Japanese labels on this page as your guide.
Choose a gift
- Open the project page on Otsucle ↗.
- Scroll down to the list of gifts and find the one you want (see Thank-you gifts for the English names). On a computer, the list is on the right side of the page.
- Click the pink 寄附する (Donate) button under that gift.
Do not choose 徳島県民の皆さまへ — it is for Tokushima residents only.
お名前の記載
ウクライナ文化の箱庭の最初の支援者として、Webサイトや立ち上げ時のストーリーを話す際にはお名前を記載します。
寄附する ＞Example: “Your name on our website” (¥100,000). Each gift has its own button. The numbers of supporters and days left change.
Log in or sign up
The login page appears: ログイン (Log in).
- Already a member? Enter your email and password and click ログイン. You can also log in with X (Twitter) or Facebook.
- New? Click the link to 会員登録 (Sign up) and fill in the form. Fields marked ※必須入力 are required.
- 氏名 (Name), 表示名 (Display name, optional), メールアドレス (Email) and パスワード (Password). Enter the email and the password twice — the second box is for confirmation.
- Check プライバシーポリシーの内容を確認しました。 (I have read the Privacy Policy) and click 確認画面へ (Go to confirmation).
- A confirmation screen appears. Check your information and click 登録 (Register). That’s it — no email verification is needed.
- Go back to the project page and click 寄附する again.
会員登録
↓ Next screen
会員登録
Example values.
ご支援 — Your donation
The gift you chose is shown at the top. Check that it is the right one.
- 追加情報 (Additional info): leave blank, or write a note if needed.
- 応援コメント (Message of support): a message to Alona — optional, and English is fine! It will be shown on the project page.
- 追加支援額 (Additional amount): to give more
than the gift price, click the button
支援金に寄附を追加する場合のみ金額を入力してください。
(①). A box appears — enter the extra amount in yen, in numbers only, such as
10000(②). Leave it closed if you don’t want to add anything. - Check 利用規約に同意します。 (I agree to the Terms of Use) (③).
Click 次へ (Next) (④).
支援金額 (Amount) on this screen stays at the gift price, even after you enter an additional amount. The total, including the additional amount, is shown in Step 3 as お支払額 (Total).
注文
お名前の記載
その他、返礼品にサイズや色などの選択が必要場合はこちらにご記入ください。
Example: “Your name on our website” (¥100,000) plus an additional ¥10,000.
支援者情報 — Your information
The form is designed for Japanese addresses, but overseas addresses are accepted.
- ワンストップ申請: select 希望しない (Not needed) (①).
- 氏名 (Name) and フリカナ (Name reading): enter your family name and given name in English letters — the same in both.
- 生年月日 (Date of birth): YYYY/MM/DD.
- 郵便番号 (Postal code): your postal code. If your
country has none, enter
000-0000. You don’t need the 住所検索 (Address search) button. - 都道府県 (Prefecture): your country and state / province.
- 住所1 / 住所2: city and street / apartment, building, etc.
- 電話番号 (Phone): with your country code.
Click 次へ (Next) (②).
注文
支援者情報
Example values. The name you enter will appear on the donation receipt issued by Tokushima Prefecture.
お支払い — Payment
- Check the gift name (リターン名), the additional amount (追加支援額) and the total (お支払額).
- Click カードで支払う (Pay by card) (①).
Do not choose 振込でのお支払い — it is for bank transfers within Japan.
注文
アートで繋ぐウクライナと日本の未来、アートセンター「ウクライナ文化の箱庭」設立プロジェクト
¥100,000 + ¥10,000 = ¥110,000 (≈ $700).
支払い情報 — Card details
A card form opens. Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover.
- カード: card number.
- 有効期限 (Expiry): month / year (月 / 年).
- CVC番号: the 3- or 4-digit security code.
- 名前 (Name): as shown on the card.
- 追加情報 (Additional info): enter at least one — メール (Email) or 電話番号 (Phone). For the phone, first choose your country code from the menu — it is set to Japan (+81) by default (①).
Click the blue カードで支払う (Pay by card) button at the bottom (②). (Yes, it has the same name as the previous button.)
Example values.
確認 — Confirm
A yellow message says 決済はまだ完了していません — “Your payment is not complete yet. Please check the details and press the confirm button at the bottom of the page.”
- Check your gift, the additional amount, your information, and the total (お支払額).
- Click 寄附を確定する (Confirm donation) at the bottom of the page (①).
Your donation is not complete until you click this button.
注文
お名前の記載
ご支援
支援者情報
お支払い
Example values.
完了 — Thank you!
You will see 「ありがとうございます。ご支援が確定されました。」 — “Thank you. Your support has been confirmed.” A confirmation email will be sent to you.
The アンケート (Survey) is optional.
After donating, please send us a message so that Alona can arrange your thank-you gift with you.
注文
ありがとうございます。ご支援が確定されました。
確認のEメールを送信しました。
よろしければ以下のリンクをクリックし簡単なアンケートにお応えください。
アンケート
07 — NOTES
Notes for overseas donors
- No tax benefitThe furusato nozei system is a tax deduction for people who pay taxes in Japan. If you do not pay taxes in Japan, you will not receive a tax benefit.
- Donation receiptTokushima Prefecture issues a donation receipt to the address you enter. We cannot guarantee that it will be mailed overseas. If you do not pay taxes in Japan, you do not need it.
- Thank-you giftsAlona will contact you about where to send your gift and how to receive it. Lectures, consulting, and some other gifts can also be provided online.
- CurrencyDonations are charged in Japanese yen. Your card company converts the amount into your currency, and may charge a foreign transaction fee. Dollar amounts on this page are approximate, at ¥157 = $1 (October 2026); the actual charge depends on your card company’s rate.
- No cancellationsOnce your donation is confirmed, it cannot be canceled or refunded.
08 — CONTACT
Questions? Get in touch
About the project, the donation steps, or your thank-you gift — feel free to contact us in English.
Thank you for your support.
We look forward to welcoming you in
Wakimachi!