The “Naoetsu Umimachi Art” event, which decorates the town of Naoetsu in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture with art, began on Saturday, the 23rd.
Naoets Umimachi Art is an event organized by local residents to revitalize the town through art. Now in its fifth year, the event is being held on a scale similar to last year, with various works on display at the Naoe Tsumi Yatai Kaikan as the main venue, as well as at Muji Naoe Tsumi and the Lion Statue Museum.
On the first day, Saturday, August 23, the opening ceremony was held at Naoetsu Shopping Center Elmar, where a local brass band performed and local kindergarteners danced Yosakoi while holding fans decorated with pictures they had drawn themselves related to the festival.
At Elmar, there is a huge artwork titled “The Long Journey of Water from Mountains to Sea” created by students from Sango Elementary School in Joetsu City, which is closing this year, together with Keiko Arakawa, a former special professor at Joetsu University of Education.
In addition, 23 fifth-grade students from Naoetsu Elementary School have created banners featuring motifs from Naoetsu’s tourist attractions, which will be on display throughout the event. The banners will be displayed in various locations during the event period.
Meanwhile, at Funami Park, another venue, there is an exhibit celebrating the registration of Sado Gold Mine as a World Cultural Heritage Site last year. It is an object modeled after a Kitamae ship that had connections with Naoetsu during the Edo period.
The bow of the ship is facing Sado Island.
Naoetsu Umimachi Art Executive Committee Minoru Shigehara
“(In our fifth year) we have gained recognition from everyone and received their cooperation. We want to create lots of smiles. We will do our best.”
Naoe Umi Machi Art 2025 is being held at various locations in the Naoe area, including the Naoe Yatai Kaikan as the main venue, the Naoe Shopping Center Elmar, and the Lion Statue Hall, until September 15 (Mon).
On Saturday, October 13, the Naoetsu Yatai Kaikan and Kaigan Park will host the Naoetsu Umimachi Music Festival, featuring local musicians as well as Ikuno Takagi from Myoko City and Johnny Saito from Joetsu City. In addition, various exhibitions and workshops will be held during the festival. For more details, please visit the Umimachi Art website.
