Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture Starting Saturday, November 1st! Experience the new charm of Obi through tradition and contemporary art at “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025.” Introducing content that lets you enjoy the fusion of traditional architecture and

[Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture] Starting Saturday, November 1st! Experience the new charm of Obi through tradition and contemporary art at “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025”! Enjoy the fusion of traditional
architecture and contemporary art.
​ Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture Press Release: October 24, 2025 Starts on Saturday, November 1st! Experience the new charm of Obi through tradition and contemporary art at “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025”! Enjoy content that combines traditional architecture with contemporary art. Bringing you the charm of Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture! Newsletter Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-e1e9d001f6a18380529232e950894c32-1924×2700.jpg

“Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025,” an event that combines historic townscapes with contemporary art, will be held in Obi, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, from Saturday, November 1st. This year marks the 170th anniversary of the birth of Obi native Jutaro Komura. Additionally, the event will mark several milestones: 120 years since the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth, in which he played a historic role as ambassador plenipotentiary, and 40 years since the sister city agreement with Portsmouth, USA, which led to the signing of the treaty. The event will also feature a number of special gastronomy events in honor of Komura Jutaro. Additionally, an art exhibition by general producer Takahide Komatsu will feature contemporary artists showcasing new perspectives on Obi’s historic spaces, creating an inspiring intersection of past and present. This time, we’ll introduce the appeal of the art content available at Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025. Connecting Obi’s history through art, food, and music! “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025” “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025” will be held in the castle town of Obi in Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, to promote the charm of local culture, history, art, food, and music. Making use of Obi’s townscape, designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, a diverse program will be held, including contemporary art exhibitions by artists, live music, original workshops, and limited-edition menus featuring local ingredients. In a space where historical scenery and modern culture blend, visitors will be able to experience the town’s new value and appeal. As an experiential cultural event set in the entire town, it will allow people of all ages to enjoy the charms of the region.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-7a7777d01c552679561e82527a5c096c-286×262.png [Comment from General Producer Takahide Komatsu (Artist)] This year’s Obi DENKEN Now in its eighth year, DENKEN WEEK is a cultural event that has continued for such a long time, a testament to the appeal of Obi’s Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. This year, we’re particularly focused on fusing art and gastronomy. We’ve created a special menu and drinks to commemorate the 170th anniversary of Marquis Komura Jutaro’s birth, allowing you to experience history through your palate. Please note, however, that dining is limited. Furthermore, following on from last year’s collaboration with Taiwan, this year we’ve invited artists who represent the modern era, including Kyushu-based artist Tomoro Yamanaka, who boasts a total of 320,000 social media followers, and Tominaga Bond, who has 230,000. The interweaving of their works with traditional architecture creates a unique atmosphere that is truly appealing to DENKEN WEEK. We hope that each viewer will be free to engage with the concepts expressed by contemporary artists through their works. We hope to continue our efforts to infuse the city of Obi with art and food through DENKEN WEEK. ●DENKEN × Contemporary Art To preserve Obi’s beautiful townscape for future generations, this year’s art exhibition will be organized by general producer Takahide Komatsu, with the theme “New and Free Perspectives.” Artists from within and outside the prefecture will exhibit and create contemporary art in Obi’s historic facilities. In a space where traditional architecture and contemporary art blend, we hope you will reinterpret things from new perspectives and experience the diverse possibilities that Obi offers. 1. Tomoro Yamanaka Venue: Yuzhangguan
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-7e4184064e6c930604070925428041ac-910×1024.jpg 2.Tominaga Bond Venue: Gallery Ushiromachi
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-9da6f7be3ff6c446f3b7cc498d964d05-701×1024.jpg 3. Subaru Yatsuji Venue: Jutaro Komura’s birthplace
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-439d50a12ef8da528a76edd601f0137b-821×564.jpg 4. Kazutaka Shioi Venue: Gosukiya
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-4525e80da0ed879038ab398669781da7-1024×683.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-0e1fb5fb7f5c5dc4d7af78557ff5adcc-1024×1024.jpg 5. Fumi Yoshikawa Venue: Former Yamamoto Ihei Family Home Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-bbf32a6a78132d864fa1848b751e334d-1024×727.jpg 6. Mariko Irie Venue: Gallery Kodama
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-cc5dd9fe7c91abaf970a600171f470b8-1024×683.jpg 7.Nanko Kuroki Venue: Han school Shintokudo
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-ec98a843e25a24a8ab04df72e5e1f289-1024×684.jpg 8. Yoshiaki Ando Venue: Former Yamamoto Ihei Residence
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-3a36f4528271b6a976546ad4d0c5ce5e-1024×1024.jpg 9. Takahide Komatsu Venue: Somewhere during the event
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-e7ca4835e6ffd7837c3ca49ff7cc454d-947×1024.jpg 10. Kazuhiro Ikeda Venue: Former Yamamoto Ihei Residence
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-9f567b4421ba223a8b63caf249d77301-679×1024.jpg 11. Ritsuko Kawabata Venue: Former Yamamoto Ihei Family Home Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/14/154872-14-b27817ebdd1da2fb901e9b2a0fc8087e-606×1024.jpg “Obi������������������������������������ ������������������������ 2025” event overview Name: Obi������������������������������������ ������������������������ 2025 Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 – Sunday, November 9, 2025 Location: Various areas in the Obi district Organizer: Obi Castle Town Cultural Asset Tourism Development Project Council (Planning and Management) Co-organized by: Nichinan City, Nichinan City Board of Education Sponsored by: Kawabata Construction Co., Ltd., Tanaka Sogyo Co., Ltd. General Producer: Takahide Komatsu (Artist) Contact: TEL: 0987-31-1128 (Future Creation Division, General Policy Department, Nichinan City) Official
website:https://denken-obi.jp/denken/ 【Komura Jutaro and Nichinan City】 ◎170th Anniversary of Komura Jutaro’s Birth 120th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth ◎40th Anniversary of the Sister City Agreement with Portsmouth Born in 1855 as a low-ranking samurai in the Obi Domain, Hyuga Province (Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture), he was a Japanese diplomat and politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the House of Peers (with the title of marquis for life). He served as envoy and ambassador to the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, China, and Korea (South Korea). During his two terms as Foreign Minister, he achieved notable accomplishments, including the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth, which brought the Anglo-Japanese Alliance to an end in the
Russo-Japanese War, and the revision of unequal treaties (fully restoring tariff autonomy; extraterritoriality had been abolished earlier by Mutsu Munemitsu). He is known as a figure who embodied modern Japanese diplomacy. His tenure as Foreign Minister was particularly notable, lasting a total of seven years and four months, the longest in history. He ultimately attained the title of marquis.
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