Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture Starting Saturday, November 1st! Experience the new charm of Obi through tradition and contemporary art at “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025.” We’ll be introducing content to enjoy music, culture, and more!

[Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture] Starting Saturday, November 1st! Experience the new charm of Obi through tradition and contemporary art at “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025.” We’ll introduce you to content that will have you enjoying music and culture!
​ Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture Press Release: October 25, 2025 Starting Saturday, November 1st! Experience the new charm of Obi through traditional and contemporary art at “Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025.” We’ll be introducing content to enjoy music and culture! Bringing you the charm of Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture! Newsletter
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“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, where the treaty was signed. The event will also feature a number of special gastronomy projects 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 some of the content being implemented at Obi DENKEN WEEK 2025, including content that can be enjoyed in conjunction with music and culture. 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/154872/15/154872-15-7a7777d01c552679561e82527a5c096c-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 × Music The event will open on Saturday, November 1st with a performance by violinist Tatsuya Yamauchi, a native of Miyazaki Prefecture. Title: “Sugion” “A Feast of Sugioto” – A Musical Festival Echoing Through Obi Castle Date and Time: Saturday, November 1st, performance begins at 4:00 PM
Reservations: Not required Venue: Obi Castle’s Happiness Cedar (In case of rain: Domain School) Shintokudo) Performers: Tatsuya Yamauchi (violin), RIN (percussion violin), Kaori Kosaka (piano), Mion (violin)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/15/154872-15-649da00a5bf86aa7c27b90f656ca0b98-902×609.jpg ●DENKEN × Music The event will open on Saturday, November 1st with a performance by violinist Tatsuya Yamauchi, a native of Miyazaki Prefecture. Title: Make a Handmade Postcard from Obi Cedar Date and Time: November 1st (Sat) – 8th (Sat), 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Reservations: Not required Venue: Domain School Shintokudo
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/15/154872-15-4030e2ed51787e09b4b62b5e0688131c-604×369.jpg ●DENKEN Historical Bus Tour A sightseeing bus will operate around the Obi area, visiting nearby shrines, temples, and other sightseeing spots. It will depart every 30 minutes during the tour period. [Excursion bus overview] Operation period: 11/1 (Sat), 11/2 (Sun), 11/3 (Mon), 11/8 (Sat), 11/9 (Sun) Operating hours: 10:00-15:30 Fare: Free Stops: At the stops listed below: You can get on and off at any stop. 1. Tourist parking lot (next to the tourist restroom) 2. Tanokami Hachiman Shrine (under the shrine stairs) 3. Ganjojuji Temple (Imamachi bus stop) 4. Obi Station (in front of the bus stop) 5. Shinmachi Bus Stop 6. Honmachi Street (Honmachi 1-chome Bus Stop) 7. Miyazaki Kotsu Nichinan Office (Obi Bus Stop) 8. Ioyaku Shrine (Parking lot in front of the shrine’s torii gate) 9. Tomb of Komura Jutaro
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/154872/15/154872-15-e67b08de800261ddcc80cbd3bbb182dc-3034×2148.jpg “Obi ������������������������������������ ������������������������ 2025” Event Overview Name: Obi������������������������������������ ������������������������ 2025 Period: November 1, 2025 (Saturday) to November 9, 2025 (Sunday) Location: Various areas in the Obi district Organizer: Obi Castle Town Cultural Asset Tourism Development Project Council (Planning and Management) Co-organizers: Nichinan City, Nichinan City Board of Education Sponsors: Kawabata Construction Co., Ltd., Tanaka Sogyo Co., Ltd. General Producer: Takahide Komatsu (artist) Contact: TEL: 0987-31-1128 (Nichinan City General Policy Department, Future Creation Division) Official website:
https://denken-obi.jp/denken/ [Komura Jutaro and Nichinan City] ◎170th Anniversary of the Birth of Jutaro Komura 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). Japanese diplomat and politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the House of Peers (Marquis for life). He served as envoy and ambassador to the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, China, and Korea (South Korea), and during his two terms as Foreign Minister he achieved notably 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 (complete restoration of tariff autonomy; extraterritoriality had been abolished earlier by Mutsu Munemitsu), and is known as a man who embodied modern Japanese diplomacy. In particular, he served as Foreign Minister for a total of 7 years and 4 months, the longest in history. He ultimately attained the title of Marquis.
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