On March 4th, a select shop selling domestic and international crafts will have its grand opening on the 5th floor Living Floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building. To commemorate this, an opening exhibition will be held in the West Park on the same floor, from March 4th to March 24th, featuring Ultraman characters painted by Kutani ware artists. Approximately 60 participating artists, ranging from young artists in their 30s to veterans in their 70s, demonstrated their skills in their respective techniques. Kutani ware employs several techniques, including "aochibu," in which tiny dots of paint are applied one by one to the surface of the vessel, and "akae," in which detailed drawings, known as "hoso-gaki," are applied to the entire vessel, taking advantage of the bleed-resistant properties of red paint. This will be a rare opportunity to see the works of these masters up close. Among these masters, Kutani ware artist Buzan Fukushima, a renowned master, will showcase his work on Alien Baltan, painted using the akae technique. Ruri Takeuchi, a promising young artist, will be participating by creating a detailed colored Eleking.
Also scheduled to appear at the event venue is a diorama created by Tsuburaya Productions' modeling department. Modeled after an actual amusement park in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the birthplace of Kutani ware, it is a large piece measuring approximately 180cm wide. A battle between Ultraman and Alien Baltan will unfold within the diorama, and it's interesting to note that both characters are made of Kutani ware.
On March 23rd, a Kutani ware Ultraman painting workshop (3,000 yen, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM) will be held in the banquet room on the 7th floor of the main building. The workshop lasts approximately 60 minutes. Each session is limited to 12 people. Registration begins at 11:00 AM on March 17th. For inquiries, please contact the Isetan Shinjuku store representative (03-3352-1111).
Photo: (C) Tsuburaya Productions