“Nihonga Keikanten,” a new public exhibition aimed at preserving and developing Japanese painting and traditional art materials, will be held in 2026

“Nihonga Keikanten,” a new open exhibition aimed at preserving and developing Nihonga and traditional art materials, to be held in 2026 ​
Nono Painter LLC Press Release: October 31, 2025 “Nihonga Keikanten,” a new open exhibition aimed at preserving and developing Nihonga and traditional art materials, will be held in 2026. The open call will be held from November 11, 2025 to February 2, 2026. Touring to two venues in Tokyo and Fukuoka in 2026
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A new Japanese painting exhibition, “Nihon Ga Keikanten (Japanese Painting Passage Exhibition),” will be held from 2026. The exhibition will focus on the preservation of Japanese painting and traditional art materials, with the aim of creating an economic and educational cycle that will support the future of Japanese painting culture. We will be holding the “Painting Continuity Exhibition.” We are looking for submissions for this project, as well as sponsorship from companies and organizations. Japanese Painting Tsukikan Exhibition Official Website: https://keikanten.com/ Background of the Event In recent years, there has been a trend toward a decline in the number of Japanese art supplies available at art supply retailers, especially in regional areas. At the same time, opportunities to experience and learn about Japanese painting have also decreased. As a result, it has become more difficult to pass on the skills of artisans who support traditional art materials such as paints, brushes, washi paper, and glue, and people are increasingly turning away from Japanese painting. Although there are opportunities to draw during compulsory education, direct experience with Japanese painting is limited in everyday life, which I believe is contributing to issues such as a shrinking Japanese painting market and the preservation of artisanal techniques. On the other hand, people from overseas often highly value the cultural value of Japanese painting, and some are enthusiastic about coming to learn. In light of this situation, we have planned the “Japanese Painting Inheritance Exhibition” as a new attempt to promote economic circulation that supports the preservation of traditional Japanese painting and art materials. The word “Keikan” (transferring) has two meanings: spiritual and technical “inheritance” and material and environmental “circulation.” We aim not only to “protect” Japanese painting culture, but also to connect it with contemporary society and “circulate it into the future.” “Japanese Painting Tsukikan
Exhibition” Application Requirements Recruitment starts Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Application deadline: February 2, 2026 (Monday) Application Details – Age, art history, affiliation, and nationality are not important However, applicants must be able to receive mail within Japan – Flat paintings between SM (227 x 158 mm) and F8 (455 x 380 mm) using traditional Japanese art materials Unframed, suitable for panel display Works that have already been exhibited are also eligible for submission – Submission fee: ¥4,000 (tax included) per entry – Up to two works may be submitted per entry. Each person may submit up to three entries (six works total). Prohibited Activities If any of the following violations are discovered in your application, your application will be invalidated, regardless of whether you win any prizes. Freedom of expression is recognized, but as this exhibition aims to preserve traditional Japanese painting, we ask for your understanding of the following. – If false information is discovered in the application. – If generative AI (including the rough sketch) is used to create the submitted work. – In accordance with copyright law, quoting or imitating a work created within the last 70 years of the author’s death. – Applications from anti-social individuals will not be accepted. – Works that violate public order and morals will not be accepted. Sponsored by: Nihonga Tsukikan Exhibition Executive Committee Co-sponsor: Nono Painter LLC Schedule Review Schedule First round of review | Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Second round of judging | April 3rd (Fri) – 7th (Tue), 2026 – Public judging at the Tokyo exhibition Exhibition Schedule Tokyo Exhibition: April 3rd (Fri) – April 7th (Tue) 2026 Venue: Gallery Ekkoan (8th floor, Ginza Building, 3-3-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) Fukuoka Exhibition: Mid-May 2026 Venue: Tsukishiro Exhibition Room (mallsmall, 1-7-8-1 Ropponmatsu, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture) Nonoma (1-10-36 Ropponmatsu, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City) Awards The winners will be announced and an award ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 5th during the Tokyo exhibition. 30-40 prize winners are expected Special Category Prize: 1 winner each Elementary, Junior High, and High School Japanese Painting Award | Ages 18 and under ・Student Japanese Painting Award | 28 years old or younger ・Longevity Award | 60 years old or older ・Reiwa Japanese Painting Award | For Japanese paintings that capture the current era ・Fudou Nihonga Award | For submissions of Nihonga that will stand the test of time ・Newcomer Award | For submissions of works submitted to the first Japanese Art Materials Open Exhibition, regardless of age ・Traditional Art Materials Award | For works that convey the appeal of traditional art materials ・Sketching Award | Works drawn by sketching, without tracing or using photographs, are eligible. ・Ganpuku Art Award | Audience Award – The work that receives the most audience votes during the exhibition. In keeping with the aim of broadening the base of Japanese painting culture, the “Japanese Painting Inheritance Exhibition” does not have a Grand Prize. To support the continued activities of artists, exhibited works will be available for sale at the exhibition venue and online (participation is optional). Judge ・Megumi Tateshima | Director of the Sato Museum of Art, Director of the Musashino Institute for Art and Design Education ・Tsune Arai | Professor of Japanese Painting Conservation, Department of Cultural Property Conservation, Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts ・Reito Watanabe | Managing Director and Partner, Beta Venture Capital Co., Ltd. This exhibition does not have a Grand Prize, but instead offers awards in a variety of categories (elementary, junior high, and high school, student, newcomer, Reiwa Japanese painting award, traditional art materials award, etc.) to support a wide range of creative artists. Selected works will be sold both on-site and online, providing ongoing support for the artists’ activities. Recruiting sponsor companies/supporters The “Japanese Painting Heritage Exhibition” is seeking corporate sponsors who support the project’s goal of contributing to the preservation and development of Japanese painting. As a company committed to preserving Japanese painting and traditional culture, we plan to create an interview article and post it on the exhibition’s official website, along with a special landing page. Please use this as part of your company’s sustainable corporate social responsibility (CSR) and branding strategy. We look forward to your partnership, which will help us pass on Japanese aesthetics to the next generation. Sponsorship Fee: 100,000 yen per donation (excluding tax) Benefits: A special landing page and interview article will be posted on the official website of the “Nihonga Keikan Exhibition” Proceeds from this open exhibition will be used to promote educational activities for the next generation and to raise awareness of Japanese painting culture. [Contact for this matter] Organized by: Japanese Painting Keikan Exhibition Executive Committee Co-organized by: Nono-ga LLC 1-10-36 Ropponmatsu, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 810-0044 TEL: 092-741-4505 FAX: 092-713-5852 E-mail: info@nonogaka.net Official website: https://keikanten.com