Ainu culture and contemporary art intersect in eastern Hokkaido. KOM_I and Kads MIIDA have been selected as additional exhibiting artists for Akan Ainu Art Week 2025. Image
URL: Loftwork Press release: September 17, 2025 To Members of the Press Ainu culture and contemporary art intertwine in eastern Hokkaido. KOM_I and Kads MIIDA have been announced as additional exhibiting artists for “Akan Ainu Art Week 2025.” At the special event on October 18th, xiangyu will perform alongside Pete, a player of the traditional Ainu instrument, the tonkori.
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contemporary music. A wide variety of cultural experience programs and events will also be held during the event.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-2e29b6b2f159c9b7e67d7d78451743eb-2880×1650.jpg Event overview Session period October 12th (Sunday) – October 31st (Friday), 2025 Venue Around Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, Lake Akan Onsen, Akan Town, Kushiro City, Hokkaido Admission Free Sponsored Kushiro City Planning and management Loftwork Co., Ltd. Cooperation NINE LLP For more information, please visit the official website. Two new artists have been announced to participate
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-d8fb1bdbf976c9c4c21f33fd5deb296c-1038×1034.jpg KOM I Artist/Singer KOM I is an artist whose expressive practice primarily relies on voice and body. He is influenced by Japanese folk performing arts, folklore, and North Indian classical music. He first visited Lake Akan after participating in the Utasa Festival held at Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, and was deeply moved by the songs and dances that are an integral part of daily life. His major musical works include “YAKUSHIMA TREASURE,” produced with Oorutaichi, and “FANI MANI,” released with Food Festival a.k.a. foodman. He has exhibited his work at the Yanbaru Art Festival’s “Tie It Up, Even If It Breaks,” PARCEL’s “Talk To Yourself,” and Tekkojima FES’s “IRON CALLING.” He co-founded the artivist collective “HYPE FREE WATER,” which tackles environmental and other social issues, with visual artist Minori Murata, and organized the experimental art event “Strange Money,” which explores the concept of currency.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-127d26a1538738580afad6abc43e7551-1650×1650.jpg Miida Kazushige (Miida Kazushige) a.k.a. Kads MIIDA,
Illustrator/Artist Born in Kyoto in 1964, he began working in Tokyo in the 1980s. Under the theme of “ART TRIP,” his travel experiences have led to not only paintings but also product pieces such as apparel and household goods. In 2024, he will hold a solo exhibition titled “Miida Kazunari Exhibition” to mark his 35th anniversary as an artist. His creative activities are diverse, encompassing store interiors, logo design, live painting, and picture books. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, he has turned his attention, which had previously often been directed overseas, to Japan, traveling and rediscovering the country. Together with the people he meets in various places, he is working hard to create works that convey messages for the future. He is also focusing on collaborative works with artisans of
traditional Japanese crafts such as lacquerware and indigo dyeing. He has also rediscovered the joy of painting in the BEAMS JAPAN store, which has a Made in Japan theme, using his real name as the title, restarting his career as an artist and continuing to create daily. He created a large ceiling painting incorporating traditional Japanese motifs and techniques such as dragons, wind gods, thunder gods, and phoenixes. Participating artists Artists active in Lake Akan Ainu Kotan will exhibit wood carvings, glass sculptures, embroidery, and other works that interpret and express Ainu culture in a modern way. Contemporary artists who create works through cultural exchange in the Akan region will also be exhibiting. They will present a range of works, including sound art, live drawing, and installations, that are born from a connection to the rich daily life of Lake Akan. Artists exhibiting at Lake Akan Ainu Kotan (in alphabetical order) Hideo Akibe / Ayako Inoue / Minoru Okada / Katsuoya Erica / Fukiko Goukon / Hiroyuki Shimokura / Hideharu Taira / Shusei Toko / Kayoko Nishida / Yoshiki Hara / Satoru Hirama / Toshihiro Hendori (Pete) / Kaoru Morita / Tatsuya Yagi / Sumio Watanabe
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-85992c0b702f8fc118dc6ab5ef3c4aed-1528×1044.jpg Invited Artists (Alphabetical Order) Michiyoshi Isozaki / Taichi Kagami / Kads MIIDA / Maki Kinoshita / KOM_I / MANA HIRAI / Maruyama Shoya (IEEIR) / Yamaguchi Miina
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-747783b0c395a7aa513510a2af6af655-1528×690.jpg AAAW Special Event Announced Xiangyu, who starred in a film produced as part of this event last year, will perform alongside Toshihiro Hendoro (Pete), a player of the traditional Ainu instrument, the tonkori.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-1bc960ec6263d21deeca5de1c4539d1f-628×348.jpg On Saturday, October 18, 2025, a special event will be held at Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, inviting artists to experience art and music. Xiangyu, who starred in the short films “urar suye” and “cupki mawe” directed by Masashi Togawa last year and set around Lake Akan, will appear, as well as Toshihiro Hedoro (Pete), a player of the
traditional Ainu instrument, the tonkori. Set against the majestic backdrop of Lake Akan, this special event will combine traditional Ainu instruments with contemporary music. In addition, related programs will include a “Silkscreen Workshop” using the main visuals of Ainu Art Week, as well as live drawing and embroidery experiences. Event details will be released on the official website. Schedule Saturday, October 18 Venue Area surrounding Lake Akan Ainu Kotan (see website for details) Time The timetable will be announced on the official website below. Prices Free Performing artists Xiangyu Toshihiro (Pete) etc. Official website Related Events During the event, a variety of events will be held at each venue, including nature experience tours and performing arts programs. Starting October 24th, the International Jew’s Harp Competition, which has been held in countries around the world where Jew’s Harp culture is deeply rooted, will be held for the first time at Lake Akan Ainu Kotan. In addition, you can experience Ainu culture alongside the magnificent nature of Lake Akan, which is the creative inspiration of Ainu artists.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-10181e504f923e170c6b05f7d0230315-1528×713.jpg Event list An hour’s drive from Kushiro Airport. Head to Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, an extraordinary landscape living in eastern Hokkaido. Take a 1.5-hour flight from Haneda Airport to Kushiro Airport. From Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, it takes about an hour by rental car. This year’s event is being held in autumn, before the snowfall. You can rent a car to explore the venues and surrounding areas.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-f9106d83837378d009b5a5b59ca13573-1920×1280.jpg Lake Akan Ainu Kotan: 4-7-19 Akanko Onsen, Akan-cho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido Access “Akan Ainu Art Week 2025” Official Website Launched The official website has been launched. We will be updating it regularly with the latest information, including information on participating artists, details of special events, model itineraries, and related programs. Official website Official Instagram Contact us Email: info@akan-ainu-artweek.com
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/4703/160/4703-160-3e06797757da8be794127c97f911a96a-3000×1108.jpg Loftwork Inc. Loftwork is a creative company that creates future value through co-creation with creators, companies, local communities, and academics, guided by the motto “We believe in the creativity that lies within everyone.” Our operations include “FabCafe,” which uses manufacturing as a starting point to renew local resources and technologies; “MTRL,” which aims to innovate in the fields of materials and technology development; and “AWRD,” a co-creation platform between creators and companies. Rather than focusing solely on short-term profits, we take a long-term view of people, companies, and society, building a business ecosystem that continues to generate social value.
