Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009

According to the nonprofit group Hackspace.org, hacker spaces are “physical places where people can meet to learn, socialize and collaborate on projects.” The movement began in Europe as a way for artists and engineers to share ideas, technology and infrastructure, and after spreading to the US, it’s now found a home in Japan. The Tokyo Hacker Space group inhabits a house in the swanky Shirokanedai area, where current members—including DJs, photographers, gardening enthusiasts and designers—hold weekly meetings and open houses. Upcoming events include an Electronics 101 class on October 10 and a seminar about how to create a memorable business proposal. www.tokyohackerspace.org