[COBI Inc.] Akie Abe’s “Calligraphy” x Hiroto Rakusho’s “Leaf” Art Exhibition “Yui” Held at Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Jojuin Temple by
COBI Inc. Press Release: October 25, 2025 COBI Inc. will hold the “Yui” art exhibition at Kiyomizu-dera Temple’s Jojuin Temple, featuring Akie Abe’s “Calligraphy” and Hiroto Rakusho’s “Leaf.” November 1st (Sat) – 9th (Sun), 2025 / Kiyomizu Temple Jojuin, Kyoto COBI Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi; Representative: Yoshie Kitagawa) will hold the art exhibition “Yui” by Akie Abe and Hiroto Rakusho at the Jojuin Temple of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto for nine days from Saturday, November 1st to Sunday, November 9th, 2025. This commemorative inaugural exhibition marks the first solo exhibition by Akie Abe, an artist who conveys messages through the art of calligraphy. Through collaboration with Hiroto Rakusho, a gold leaf artist and traditional craftsman, we have created a special art exhibition where the different forms of expression—calligraphy and gold leaf—resonate with each other. (Official website:
https://abeakie-art.jp/yui
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-fdba30cbedf57e9be2cd63ccc137fe6f-2646×1466.png ■Background of the event Akie Abe was deeply touched when she came across a piece created by Hiroto Rakusho, a friend of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in memory of Abe. Rakusho’s desire for world peace resonated deeply with Akie Abe, leading to the birth of a collaborative project between the two artists. Akie Abe was deeply touched when she came across a piece created by Hiroto Rakusho, a friend of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in memory of Abe. Rakusho’s desire for world peace resonated deeply with Akie Abe, leading to the realization of a collaborative project between the two artists. “Calligraphy” and “gold leaf”—these two distinct forms of expression—combine to convey a message of building bonds between people and moving forward into the future, transcending differences in language, culture, environment, and ideology. Exhibition overview Exhibition Title: Akie Abe “Calligraphy” x Hiroto Rakusho “Leaf” Art Exhibition “Yui” Meeting Period: November 1st (Sat) – November 9th (Sun), 2025 Venue: Otowayama Kiyomizudera (1-294 Shimizu,
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 605-0862) Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM, 3:00 PM on the last day) Admission Fee: 600 yen Supported by: Kiyomizu-dera Temple Organizers: Akie Abe x Hiroto Rakusyo Art Exhibition Executive Committee x COBI Official Website: https://abeakie-art.jp/yui About the artist Akie Abe Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-3cc11337f5cd80679319d5174ff59064-738×1020.png As the wife of the Prime Minister, she has been involved in
international activities and has continued to speak out in a wide range of fields, including education, the environment, and cultural exchange. Cherishing connections with nature and people, she is taking a new step as an artist. Akie Abe’s first encounter with calligraphy was the mother of her husband, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Admiring her mother-in-law, who excelled at calligraphy, she took up a brush herself and became fascinated by the world of calligraphy. She explores calligraphy, which expresses the power of words and connects people. In the fall of 2025, she will hold her debut solo exhibition as a calligrapher at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The theme is “Yui (bond).” In collaboration with gold leaf artist Hiroto Rakusho, she will reimagine the bond that connects people, tradition and modernity, Japan and the world. Believing that “art can transcend borders and connect people,” Akie Abe aims to convey hope and messages for the future through calligraphy. Hiroto Rakusho
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-3b6a38b76a0a70750a0212de1a634db7-806×878.png Leaf artist and traditional craftsman. Born in Nishijin, Kyoto in 1962. Using the techniques he inherited from his father, a foil craftsman, he has pioneered new forms of expression in foil crafts. His unique works, which manipulate foil as thin as 1/10,000 of a millimeter and transport viewers to a world of infinity with their brilliance, have been highly praised both in Japan and abroad. Driven by his desire to preserve Japan’s traditional crafts for future generations, he has exhibited his work around the world, including in New York, Paris, London, Kuwait, and Singapore. He has also been involved in the restoration of cultural assets such as folding screens and sliding door paintings at shrines and temples, including Kenninji Temple. His major activities include the G7 Ise-Shima Summit (2016), ART FAIR TOKYO (2017, 2019, 2022, 2023), the Japan-France Exchange Exhibition at the Louvre Museum (2008), the Shanghai World Expo (2010), the National Gallery Singapore (2022), and a solo exhibition at Conrad Centennial Singapore (2024). He has collaborated frequently with fashion and film, producing GIVENCHY’s “Le Rouge Kyoto Edition” and providing artwork for films such as “The Crimes That Bind,” “Burning Sword,” and “Hell Dogs.” As a leading figure in foil art that fuses tradition and innovation, he continues to create unparalleled works. About the Work “Calligraphy,” the origin of Japanese art, and “haku,” a distinctive medium showcasing traditional colors and techniques, come together to create a new beauty. This exhibition will feature approximately 30 collaborative works based on Rakusho’s gold leaf works, with Akie adding calligraphy to them, including words of celebration and classic pieces filled with the charm of nature. Below are some of the works. “Connect people”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-af6fa13e1d18a35a971c4b4e151ff180-764×1148.png “Yui” (musubi) is a combination of the character “kichi” (good fortune), which represents a prayer, and the character “ito” (thread) tied together. It’s our hope that we can connect people, connect communities, and connect various things. (Japanese paper, platinum foil, colored powder foil) “You & I”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-407551f1ace094f894789fc5deb5c24a-1662×1136.png You & I overlap with the sound of the character “yui” (connection). “You” and “I” have a different nuance from the word “further.” It’s also nice to put “&” between the two. (Washi paper, real silver leaf, pearl powder leaf) “Wa Peace”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-69d8f70bf255b9ced4bd3017c975d0c0-1052×1158.png Peace is valued. May people and nature coexist in harmony and harmony. This ideal of peace is embodied in the beautiful era name, Reiwa. (Japanese paper, real gold leaf, real silver leaf) “Hana wa Saku”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-073d52cd8c73a0b9cad388a896f9b2bf-1118×1154.png Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom. For you who will be born someday. Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom. What have I left behind? (Washi paper with real gold leaf) About the venue Kiyomizudera Temple
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-5128413978e92bc8201d777fea7de588-1712×1138.png The exhibition is set at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of the World Heritage Sites that make up the “Cultural Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” This historic temple, which has long symbolized Japanese religion and culture, will send a message of peace to the world. A unique experience will be created through the collaboration of visitors and this representative temple of Japan, which is approaching a beautiful season with its different glows in the morning, afternoon, and evening, including the Praise of Shadows, gardens, light and shadow, and the brilliance of gold leaf. Jojuin
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-3ab05af8ae55b3530e12696238f9287e-1714×1118.png For this exhibition, we will be using the normally closed Jojuin Temple as a special venue. The garden within the temple, known as the “Moon Garden,” is known as a borrowed landscape and pond garden created in the early Edo period and designated as a national scenic spot. Please enjoy the autumn atmosphere of Kyoto while admiring the architectural beauty of this ancient temple and the famous “Moon Garden.” The meaning behind the title “Yui” Yui (yui) is a character made up of the characters “ito” (thread) and “kichi” (good fortune). Since ancient times, “kichi” has been a pictograph depicting a celebratory scene, signifying good fortune and good luck. By adding the character “ito” (thread) to the character “kichi,” it became “yui,” which means to tie and maintain. Even if languages, cultures, environments and ideologies differ, we want to transcend all barriers, such as borders and generations, to form bonds and move towards the future. We want to connect people, regions and various things. This is something that art can do. This is something that can only be done by art. This wish is embodied in the title of this exhibition, “Yui” (Musubi). About COBI
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-b0292ff3314412812d1fe9f4aae4f209-1178×1158.png COBI Inc. operates a service that matches executive guides
specializing in luxury with travel agents who cater to affluent clients around the world. The company also offers training programs designed to provide deep cultural understanding and exceptional hospitality. Contact Us Akie Abe × Hiroto Rakusyo Art Exhibition Executive Committee x COBI info@abeakie-art.jp Art Exhibition “YUI – The Bond” Akie Abe “Calligraphy” × Rakusho Hiroto “Metal Leaf Art” November 1 (Sat) – November 9 (Sun), 2025 Jojuin Temple,
Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto, Japan Organized by Akie Abe × Rakusho Hiroto Exhibition Executive Committee × COBI Co., Ltd. Official Website: https://abeakie-art.jp/yui
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-f1d1f5eb45a669674c44e5d2691b73b2-2646×1466.png Overview COBI Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Nihonbashi, Tokyo; CEO: Yoshie Kitagawa) is pleased to announce the art exhibition “YUI – The Bond,” a collaboration between Akie Abe and Rakusho Hiroto, to be held over nine days from November 1 (Sat) to November 9 (Sun), 2025, at Jojuin, within the sacred grounds of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto. This exhibition marks the first-ever solo exhibition by Akie Abe, who conveys messages through the art of calligraphy. In collaboration with Rakusho Hiroto, a metal leaf artist and certified traditional craftsman, the show brings together two distinct yet harmonizing forms of artistic expression-calligraphy and metal leaf-to create a deeply resonant artistic experience. Exhibition Details Title: Akie Abe “Calligraphy” × Rakusho Hiroto “Metal Leaf Art” Exhibition: YUI – The Bond Dates: November 1 (Sat) – November 9 (Sun), 2025 Venue: Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, Jojuin Temple (1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862, Japan) Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (last entry 16:30; final day until 15:00) Admission: 600 yen Support: Kiyomizu-dera Temple Organizers: Akie Abe × Rakusho Hiroto Exhibition Executive Committee × COBI Co., Ltd. Official Website: https://abeakie-art.jp/yui About the Artists Akie Abe
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-f0e82a86c38a6da31916ece5961c9831-738×1020.png Former First Lady of Japan, Akie Abe has been active in education, environmental initiatives, and cultural exchange worldwide. Guided by her belief in human connection and harmony with nature, she now embarks on a new path as an artist. Inspired by her late husband’s mother, she discovered in calligraphy a way to express emotion and connect people beyond words. Her debut solo exhibition, “YUI – The Bond,” at Kiyomizu-dera in autumn 2025, unites tradition and modernity through collaboration with metal leaf artist Rakusho Hiroto. Believing that “Art transcends boundaries and unites people,” she continues to share messages of hope and harmony through her work. Rakusho Hiroto
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-514093f1ddc997c9255ea371adcae899-806×878.png Metal leaf artist and certified traditional craftsman, born in Kyoto’s Nishijin district in 1962. Inheriting the foil-weaving (hikihaku) techniques from his father, he redefined metal leaf as a medium of light and imagination. Working with foil as thin as 1/10,000 millimeter, his radiant art has been showcased worldwide-from New York and Paris to Singapore-and includes cultural restoration projects at historic temples such as Kennin-ji. A pioneer who bridges tradition and innovation, Hiroto’s works also span collaborations with GIVENCHY and contributions to major Japanese films. About the Works This exhibition presents approximately 30 collaborative works, in which Abe’s calligraphy merges with Hiroto’s foil art. “YUI – Connect People”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-40156841af93467f5516a2702c27bd37-764×1148.png The character “Yui” is formed by combining “thread” with “auspicious blessing,” a symbol of celebration and good fortune. It embodies the wish to weave connections – linking people, communities, and all things that flow from us. (Washi paper, platinum foil, color powder foil) “You & I”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-11e8fd7dc58bdd8d296aa55fa0ee9389-1662×1136.png The sound of “Yui” echoes “You & I.” It’s not merely about “two people,” but about you and me – distinct yet connected. And the “&” in between feels just right. (Washi paper, pure silver foil, pearl powder) “WA – Peace”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-31844a3251a26c018e2afea35e749395-1052×1158.png “Wa” teaches that harmony is the greatest virtue – that people and nature should live together in gentle balance and mutual respect. It embodies the ideal of “peace,” beautifully reflected in the era name Reiwa. (Washi paper, pure gold foil, pure silver foil) “Hana wa Saku – Flowers Will Bloom”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-8fa7d6252cde2c13e708aaaf3559f4b8-1118×1154.png Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom – someday for those yet to be born. Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom – what have I left behind? (Washi paper, pure gold foil) The Venue – Kiyomizu-dera and Jojuin Kiyomizu-dera
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-481d28d2044a473ec8fa80ef1efe964b-1712×1138.png A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Japan’s most revered temples, serves as the stage for this exhibition. Amid its centuries of history and devotion, it stands as a beacon of peace and cultural heritage. Jojyuin
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-2f10f06c8c778a819713ad485b972dfc-1714×1118.png The exhibition takes place in the normally closed Jojuin Temple, known for its Tsuki-no-niwa (“Garden of the Moon”), a designated National Place of Scenic Beauty. Created in the early Edo period, the garden’s borrowed scenery and reflective pond will offer a serene harmony of light and shadow-allowing visitors to experience Kyoto’s autumn beauty through art, nature, and spirit. About COBI
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/152137/5/152137-5-0e5acb2660854711d7be3a9ad32a70c6-1178×1158.png COBI Co., Ltd is connecting executive guides with luxury travelers and high-end travel agencies worldwide. Additionally, COBI provides training programs to enhance guide capabilities, emphasizing cultural depth and exceptional hospitality. Contact Akie Abe × Hiroto Rakusyo Art Exhibition Executive Committee × COBI ������ Email:
info@abeakie-art.jp For more information about this release automatically, so please do not reply. Press release attachments