[Pentel Co., Ltd.] The streets of Nihonbashi, Tokyo, are the canvas. Four Artists Working on Murals
Pentel Co., Ltd. Press release: September 18, 2025 To Members of the Press The streets of Nihonbashi, Tokyo, are the canvas. Four artists are currently creating murals. Pentel’s mural artist training program, “Pentel × Mural Rookies Project,” Part 2 Pentel Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, hereafter “Pentel”), a stationery and art supplies manufacturer founded 80 years ago, launched the “Pentel × Mural Rookies Project” as part of an art project starting in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, the company’s hometown. Four selected artists began creating murals at three locations in the Nihonbashi area on Sunday, September 14, 2025. The completed murals are scheduled to be open to the public on Friday, October 3, 2025.
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artists—CLEMOMO, KOTOKO, Kitabayashi Minami, and Anmin—were selected from over 250 applications, exceeding last year’s total. They will begin creating murals at three locations in the Nihonbashi area starting Sunday, September 14, 2025. Currently, each artist is working on the rough sketches, making preliminary sketches and mixing paint colors, while communicating with those involved in the production site. Anyone can view the artists’ work at various locations during the period leading up to the mural’s completion, as well as after it is completed. An opening event to commemorate the completion of the mural is also planned for Tuesday, October 3rd. Through this project, Pentel aims to provide a creative space for young artists and create opportunities to bring people together in the Nihonbashi area, under the vision of “making art a part of everyday life.” By doing so, the company hopes to establish mural art as a new culture that connects people to the city through art. ■Mural production location and production scene■ 1.BnA_WALL (1-1 Nihonbashi Odenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) Mural size: H6m x W6m Mural theme: Colors of the City Production artist: CLEMOMO
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-44943165fd45ffddf80240dd119f705a-476×476.jpg “Colors of the City” rough draft/CLEMOMO 2. THE A.I.R BUILDING (3-2-8 Nihonbashi-Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) Mural size: H4m x W9m Mural theme: Sounds of the City Production artist: KOTOKO
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-0c9800cef6dec95b01fb989e50591f77-830×369.jpg “Sounds of the City” rough draft/KOTOKO 3. Nihonbashi Area Temporary Fence (1-chome, Nihonbashi-Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) Mural Size: H3m x W4.8m Mural Theme: Connections of the City Artist: Kitabayashi Minami
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-2a95cb7a2b64b1dcce237bcdbf9e625f-829×475.jpg “Connections of the City” Rough Draft/Kitabayashi Minami Mural size: H3m x W11m Mural theme: Connections of the City Artist: Anmin Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-abd2a1a4884eff980d73403ddc8af189-2000×1334.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-f1dcf087e299e8e0b82cdeadcda6035d-855×177.jpg “Connections of the City” rough draft/sleep ■Mural production period■ Scheduled for September 14th (Sunday) to September 30th (Tuesday), 2025 *The event may be canceled, postponed, or end early depending on the artist’s schedule or weather. *When attending, please view from a position that does not obstruct pedestrian traffic. ■Mural completion commemorative event■ Date and time: October 3rd (Friday) 19:00-23:00 Venue: BnA_WALL (1-1 Nihonbashi Odenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), THE A.I.R BUILDING (3-2-8 Nihonbashi Honmachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) Admission Fee: ¥1,000 1 drink order (no advance registration required) To commemorate the completion of the murals at three locations in Nihonbashi, we will be holding an opening event. Four artists will participate in the event to celebrate the murals, and we will also be hosting a variety of art programs, including live painting by Tadaomi Shibuya, who served as an artist mentor for the project, and live music. Event details: https://tokyodex.wixsite.com/thisandthat ■Art materials used when creating murals■ 1. School Gouache Used as a primary art material. This opaque acrylic resin paint can be used to color non-oil-based surfaces, such as wood, cardboard, fabric, Styrofoam, plastic, stone, and cans. It has a matte finish and is water-resistant after drying. The fluorescent colors (6 colors) create unique effects under black light. Product page:
https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/artmaterials/school-gouache/
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-eeddf0541b63fdbda73bba242021cc2f-2000×1334.jpg 2. Neo Sable This is Pentel’s signature paintbrush used for wall painting. Made with special bristles made using a unique manufacturing process, this brush offers a good balance of water absorption and stiffness. The tip is well-formed and durable. Can be used with both watercolor and acrylic paints. Product page:
https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/brush/paintbrush_neosable/ Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-50951f708c752e61c76e7de649209c22-1667×1111.jpg
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-322c1c31e59b1bf6f0693169bf090bcb-2000×1334.jpg 3. Pentel Pastels (for sketching, croquis, and conte painting) Used as an art material for rough sketches in murals. These pastels contain no wax or oil. They can be mixed, layered, and smudged, and can be spread with a wet brush to create a watercolor-like finish. Product page: https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/artmaterials/pentelpastel_conte/
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-19fc29730f8e5aef95c2639c089a287d-2000×1334.jpg ■Profiles of Artists and Mentors Participating in the “Pentel Mural Rookies Project”■ Artist: CLEMOMO Clem Chen, a Canadian, and Momoko Negishi, a Japanese, are a duo based in Nakanojo, Gunma Prefecture, and began working together in 2019. Their work explores the
differences, commonalities, and interactions between individuals in everyday life, all with a touch of humor. Materials and methods are chosen according to the environment and ideas at hand. They experiment with various collaborative methods, resulting in works that emerge unexpectedly and uncontrollably. Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/clemomo_/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-708950a6bdd73d776f069942e16048f5-3900×3900.jpg Artist: KOTOKO Born in 2001. He paints surreal and humorous scenes from a slightly detached perspective. He began his creative endeavors in earnest in 2024, participating in group exhibitions and creating mural art in the disaster-stricken Noto region. In the same year, he also participated in art programs organized by TokyoDex and
Visiontrack, broadening the scope of his activities. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sooooziki
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-4f19fb7113426e8913251df8ff13f99a-3900×3900.jpg Artist: Minami Kitabayashi Born in Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from the Department of Oil Painting at Musashino Art University, she completed the Indonesian government scholarship program at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta, as a Dharmasiswa Scholar. Having spent his childhood in Thailand and Singapore, he continues to paint the landscapes that unfold within himself, centered around the feelings of loneliness and alienation he experienced in a foreign country. He primarily exhibits his work in Japan and abroad, and is involved in a wide range of artistic endeavors, from book design and illustrations to picture book production and workshops. Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/minami0imanim/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-ae8f404468d14bb936c3b3ab62a263a6-3900×3900.jpg Artist: Anmin Born in Okinawa Prefecture. Illustrator. His works depict the world of dreams, where reality and unreality blend, using nostalgic and peculiar characters. He became interested in the morphology of plants as a child and began drawing. His current style was influenced by action games and street culture. He continues to hold solo exhibitions and participate in group exhibitions, among other activities. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anminnone
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-94b29543efb78db98cc41952fd683757-3900×3900.jpg Mentor: Tadaomi Shibuya Born in 1973 in Yokohama. Graduated from Tama Art University, Department of Design, majoring in 3D Design and Product Design. An artist/illustrator active across borders, using his unique worldview, reconstructed linearly. He has collaborated with numerous global brands, including the GIVENCHY emblem (2008) and the visuals for the Nike Air Jordan CP3.IV (2011). He has also
participated in a variety of projects in recent years, including the development of the Japan national team uniform with Mizuno (2021). In the art scene, he has exhibited both domestically and internationally, developing his work across genres. In this project, he will serve as a mentor, providing support from rough sketch creation to the actual production process. Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tadaomishibuya/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-7fe62878c8c23c0dec198a74cdcbc7c4-2000×2000.jpg ■Pentel Mural Rookies About the Project Project Name: “Pentel Mural Rookies” Project” Recruitment period: Thursday, June 5, 2025 to Sunday, July 6, 2025 Announcement of selection results: Thursday, July 31, 2025 Mural production period: From Sunday, September 14, 2025 Scheduled for Tuesday, September 30th Mural exhibition period: Friday, October 3, 2025 – * *The mural exhibition end date will be announced on the official website soon. Mural Completion Celebration Event: Friday, October 3rd
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2857/292/2857-292-79cc374cfe5b5447a03f2e879bfa7eb8-2000×2000.jpg “Pentel Mural Rookies Project” Official Website
https://www.pentel.co.jp/corporate/pmrp/ “Pentel Mural Rookies Project” Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pentel_for_artists/ Organizer: Pentel Co., Ltd. Planning and Management Office: BnA Co., Ltd. Planning, Operational Support, Management Support, Artist Selection, On-site Production: TokyoDex Co., Ltd. Cooperation: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., THE A.I.R BUILDING ◎Product Inquiries Pentel Co., Ltd. Customer Service Center (toll-free) 0120-12-8133