From June 8th to July 15th, Metsa Village in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, will be showcasing an art project called "Forest, Lake, and Umbrellas," featuring approximately 1,000 umbrellas.
Metsa Village opened in November 2018 near Lake Miyazawa. Surrounded by abundant nature, it features a market and shops where you can purchase fresh local vegetables and Scandinavian goods, as well as restaurants and cafes, making it a popular facility for experiencing a relaxing time that makes you feel like you're in Scandinavia.
"Forest, Lake, and Umbrellas" is the largest exhibition in Japan of the "Umbrella Sky Project," an art project that began in 2012 as part of an art festival in the small town of Águeda, Portugal. The project was designed by Masaru Suzuki, who has worked on textile designs for global brands such as Marimekko.



Approximately 1,000 umbrellas will float in the air for approximately 100 meters from the entrance to Metsa to the lake. These umbrellas, inspired by a "rainbow spanning from the forest to the lake," create a rainbow-like path that connects the space with the sky, as light streams in. The scenery changes as you progress, providing visitors with an extraordinary and dramatic experience. Visitors can also enjoy spotting the animals and umbrella shapes casually hiding along the way.

During the event, a pop-up store featuring the colorful umbrella collection that Masaru Suzuki has been releasing since 2011 will be open in the Metsa Hall. In addition to new and old umbrellas, towels, socks and other items will also be on sale.

*Photo is for illustrative purposes only

In addition, workshops will be held with Masaru Suzuki as the instructor. Be sure to enjoy these events during the event.