The first Oku-Noto Triennale will be held from September 3 to October 22, 2017, in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, located at the tip of the Noto Peninsula. Surrounded by the Sea of Japan, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a rich fishing ground where the Kuroshio Current and Oyashio Current collide from the north. Many unique cultures have been nurtured in the satoyama and satoumi, and traditional industries such as agehama-style salt production, charcoal grilling, Suzu ware, and charcoal grills using diatomaceous earth were recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites in 2011. Furthermore, the Village Festivals, held in each village in spring, summer, and fall to pray for bountiful harvests, were also recognized as Japan Heritage sites in 2015. During the autumn season, approximately 50 days from early September to late October, these festivals are held every day in some village in the city. The upcoming Oku-Noto Triennale will see artists from Japan and abroad create and develop works and spaces rooted in the city's nature, festivals, food, and other aspects of daily life and culture. This unprecedented art festival will be held throughout the city of Suzu, and will be brought to life by a large group of people, including Suzu residents and supporters from outside the region. In preparation for the event, an official participatory project called "Oku Note" has also been launched, which aims to rediscover the charms of Oku-Noto Suzu. A variety of events are planned ahead of the festival, including the "Not Bad - Oku-Noto Suzu Photo and Word Submission Contest," hosted by local residents and travelers to Oku-Noto Suzu, and the publication of the free paper "Oku Note," which delves deeply into the region's charms. The general director will be art director Fram Kitagawa. Participating artists include photographer Naoki Ishikawa, who has won awards such as the Photographic Society of Japan Newcomer Award and the Kodansha Publishing Culture Award, as well as art director Katsumi Asaba, costume artist Kodue Hibino, and artist Eko Nugroho. The official website (http://oku-noto.jp) has also been launched.
