With the hip, culturally vibrant neighborhood of Shimokitazawa in western Tokyo's Setagaya Ward threatened by a major development project, participatory design group Urban Typhoon is organizing a series of workshops to raise awareness on the importance of preserving the culture of the area. The workshops, which will be conducted in English and Japanese, take place June 26-29.

Urban Typhoon welcomes to its multidisciplinary workshops any creative thinkers to brainstorm alternatives to the government's plan to construct a 26-meter-wide road through Shimokitazawa's streets, and to help create "a multimedia testimony to the unique spirit of Shimokitazawa."

Anyone who works during the day but is still interested in participating can register part-time.

Registration is not required for the "freestyle" presentation events on June 27-28 (9 p.m. start) and the all-night Urban Typhoon presentation and party event on June 29 (7 p.m. start) taking place at Alley Hall in Shimokitazawa. These events are free and open to the public. The fee to participate in the workshops (payable upon arrival) is 10,000 yen (5,000 yen for Shimokitazawa residents). For more info in English or Japanese, visit www.urbantyphoon.com