top of page
Mitsunoki
Mitsunoki is a collective formed in 2013 in Shimagahara, Iga City (formerly Shimagahara Village), Mie Prefecture. It began by advocating for "villagers' art," organizing exhibitions in the village. Over time, it developed into a group (kō) dedicated to preserving and reforming the region's long-standing traditional festival, the Shōgatsudō Shūshōe. Today, artists and scholars from around the country take part in the village festival held every February, exchanging ideas with local residents.
Photo: Toshimasa Ogawa
Mitsunoki is a collective formed in 2013 in Shimagahara, Iga City (formerly Shimagahara Village), Mie Prefecture. It began by advocating for "villagers' art," organizing exhibitions in the village. Over time, it developed into a group (kō) dedicated to preserving and reforming the region's long-standing traditional festival, the Shōgatsudō Shūshōe. Today, artists and scholars from around the country take part in the village festival held every February, exchanging ideas with local residents.
Photo: Toshimasa Ogawa
MitsunokiMitsunoki
Mitsunoki is a collective formed in 2013 in Shimagahara, Iga City (formerly Shimagahara Village), Mie Prefecture. It began by advocating for "villagers' art," organizing exhibitions in the village. Over time, it developed into a group (kō) dedicated to preserving and reforming the region's long-standing traditional festival, the Shōgatsudō Shūshōe. Today, artists and scholars from around the country take part in the village festival held every February, exchanging ideas with local residents.
Photo: Toshimasa Ogawa
Mitsunoki is a collective formed in 2013 in Shimagahara, Iga City (formerly Shimagahara Village), Mie Prefecture. It began by advocating for "villagers' art," organizing exhibitions in the village. Over time, it developed into a group (kō) dedicated to preserving and reforming the region's long-standing traditional festival, the Shōgatsudō Shūshōe. Today, artists and scholars from around the country take part in the village festival held every February, exchanging ideas with local residents.
Photo: Toshimasa Ogawa
Mitsunoki
2018
Shimagahara, Iga, Mie
2018
Shimagahara, Iga, Mie
Compost Mural
Yasutake Iwana began working part-time at a composting facility in Shimagahara in 2024.
Using compost as a painting material, he created a large-scale mural in collaboration with the facility’s workers.
A planted bed is integrated into the compost mural, forming a cyclical system in which the gradual deterioration and flaking of the compost surface nourishes the vegetables growing below.
Corporate Support: MCS
Yasutake Iwana began working part-time at a composting facility in Shimagahara in 2024.
Using compost as a painting material, he created a large-scale mural in collaboration with the facility’s workers.
A planted bed is integrated into the compost mural, forming a cyclical system in which the gradual deterioration and flaking of the compost surface nourishes the vegetables growing below.
Corporate Support: MCS
compost mural
Compost Mural
2025
MCS, Shimagahara, Iga, Mie
Compost Mural
2025
MCS, Shimagahara, Iga, Mie
We-kō
In 2024, a small group of artists conceived a painting-based project. Iwana participated in shaping collective its conceptual framework and proposed the We-Kō (e-kō: a fellowship of those who paint). Kō refers to a traditional form of religious association in Japan. The name We-Kō signifies an art collective structured differently from Western models of artist groups.
In 2024 and 2025, the members stayed for several days at a temple in Shimagahara, where they held gatherings and produced large-scale paintings outdoors at midnight.
In 2024, a small group of artists conceived a painting-based project. Iwana participated in shaping collective its conceptual framework and proposed the We-Kō (e-kō: a fellowship of those who paint). Kō refers to a traditional form of religious association in Japan. The name We-Kō signifies an art collective structured differently from Western models of artist groups.
In 2024 and 2025, the members stayed for several days at a temple in Shimagahara, where they held gatherings and produced large-scale paintings outdoors at midnight.
Drawing for We-Kō
Yasutake Iwana
2024
Yasutake Iwana
2024
bottom of page