Wikidata #2 workshop held in Tokyo, Japan

We held a workshop about Wikidata in the Tokyo Metropolitan Library in Meguro district on August 22nd. This was the second event related to Wikidata organized by the Wikimedians of Japan User Group. 21 people have participated, comprising a diverse group of residents of both the Kansai and Kanto regions, ranging from beginners to experienced veteran editors.

This workshop was spearheaded by a member of Open Knowledge Japan forum Higashi Shusaku. First he explained what Wikidata is and how to edit it, then we continued into a hands-on practical session. Following a pre-prepared list of incomplete or missing entries, we all dove into the editing process.

We were joined by some truly inspiring people, including Eugene Ormandy, a Wikimedian of the Year 2023 nominee, and Hijiri, this year’s Honorable Mention nominee. Seeing that even such experienced editors still have things to learn was a huge motivation for the rest of us to keep learning.

Participants asked question which were all answered one by one. Even the login issues that always troube beginners were solved—a true testament to the power and support of the Wikimedia community! With everyone from high school students to seniors, and people of all genders, the event also became a place of debate about the openness of data and information. I believe that this kind of diverse dialogue lies at the heart of the Wikimedia movement.

The results of the workshop are: 815 edits, 178 new added sources, and 45 new entries. We look forward to seeing the participants apply what they have learned here further, so that further activity can be achieved in the future.

Just as the workshop ended, a heavy rain started. I think that made the day an unforgettable experience for those who did not bring an umbrella (haha). We will be eagerly waiting for more participants to come to our next workshops and events!