[Izumiotsu City] Wrapping a “Fureai Bus” with works by Keyan (Mr. Hideki Kimura: Izumiotsu City Culture and Arts Community Development Support Ambassador) with the theme of heaven, earth, and water. *Izumiotsu City*
Press release: September 13, 2024
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A “Fureai Bus” is wrapped with works by Keyan (Mr. Hideki Kimura, Izumiotsu city culture and arts community development support ambassador) with the theme of heaven, earth, and water.
*Unveiling at “IZUMIOTSU WELL-BEING EXPO 2024”, touring the city from September 24th*
Image of northbound bus wrapping with the theme of “Earth”
Izumiotsu City (Izumiotsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Mayor Minamide) In order to encourage active social participation of the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women, people with infants, etc., three Fureai buses are operated as welfare buses on three routes around the city (north, middle, and south). The bus circulates around public facilities and welfare facilities.
This time, Izumiotsu City has installed three works by Hideki Kimura, a famous painter from Izumiotsu City and an ambassador for the city’s cultural and artistic community development, in order to make the Fureai Bus known to as many people as possible and increase the number of users. We will wrap each bus.
When narrowing down Mr. Kimura’s many works to three works, we focused on the themes of heaven, earth, and water; a work with a “heaven” theme was a “butterfly” dancing in the sky, and a work with a “earth” theme. I chose an “elephant” running on the earth as my work, and a “carp” climbing a waterfall from the waterside as a work with the theme of “water.” In addition, the colors of the work are in line with the symbol colors of the three courses that the Fureai bus travels (green for the middle course, red for the north course, and blue for the south course), and the middle course uses a lot of green. A red “elephant” is used for the northern course, and a blue “carp” is used for the southern course.
Visitors can see a bus wrapped in Mr. Kimura’s signature lively, brightly colored and powerful artwork as it travels around the city, creating a sense of excitement not only for passengers but also for citizens. It is hoped that this event will not only deliver the best of both worlds, but also help revitalize the region and promote the arts.
Image of a mid-loop bus wrapping with the theme of “Heaven”
Image of southbound bus wrapping with the theme of “water”
*Future plans*
“IZUMIOTSU WELL-BEING EXPO” to be held at Sea Pass Park
On the second day of “2024” (held from 9/21 to 9/22), one of the three wrapped buses (the southbound bus with a “carp” wrapped around it) was exhibited and unveiled, with Mayor Izumiotsu and Hideki Kimura His talk show will also be held.
*For details on “IZUMIOTSU WELL-BEING EXPO 2024”, please see the URL below. https://izumiotsu-expo.com/
Additionally, from September 24th (Tuesday), a “Fureai Bus” wrapped with Kimura’s works will begin operating and tour the city.
* About Mr. Hideki Kimura, Izumiotsu City Culture and Arts Community Development Support Ambassador *
An artist from Izumiotsu City. During the early days of Japanese rock music, he produced many legendary events as an organizer, and upon reaching his 60th birthday, he turned to becoming an artist. He has created murals in over 250 locations both in Japan and abroad, including the carp mural at Mazda Stadium and the lotus sliding door painting at Shoren-in Temple in Kyoto. Mr. Kimura’s works attract many people with their bold colors and unique designs.
In Izumiotsu City, the production of “Art Blanket”, which is a local industry of the city, with Mr. Kimura’s designs printed on blankets, the exhibition of “Danjiri Picture Folding Screen” commemorating the 80th anniversary of the city’s administration, and the 1st floor entrance of Texpia Osaka are Mural “Danjiri&Carp” 4 meters long and 20 meters wide
are Dragons in Heaven” is being produced.
On June 17, 2020, he was appointed as the “Izumiotsu City Culture and Arts Community Development Support Ambassador” and has contributed to the promotion of culture and arts in Izumiotsu City, as well as attending city events and other events. We are doing PR from the front.
Inauguration ceremony for Izumiotsu city culture and arts community development support ambassadors
Mural “Danjiri&Carp are Dragons in Heaven” at the entrance of Tespia Osaka city facility
*About Fureai Bus*
Starting from the General Welfare Center, three buses circulate around the city’s public facilities and welfare facilities on three routes: northbound, middlebound, and southbound, five times a day each. [People who can ride]
・People over 60 years old
・Persons with a disability certificate
・Pregnant and nursing mothers
・ People with infants (up to elementary school age)
・ A caregiver for the above person
[Operation date]
Monday to Saturday (closed on Sundays, public holidays, and New Year’s holidays from December 29th to January 3rd). Respect for the Aged Day. In 2020, the bus will also operate on Sunday, September 22nd, and on Sundays and holidays in October and November.
*For details on the Fureai Bus, please see the URL below.
https://www.city.izumiotsu.lg.jp/kakuka/fukushi/hukusiseisaku/tantougyoumu/fureaibasu/fureaibesunitite.html