Kärcher Japan Launches 'Kärcher Senden Project' with Cleaning Art Appearing in Ueno and Asakusa, Promoting Various Organizations While Cleaning Dirty Walls as Canvases; Japan's First Initiative with Don Quijote, Asakusa Hanayashiki, Tokyo University of the Arts
Kärcher Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of German cleaning equipment giant Kärcher, launched the 'Kärcher Senden Project' on April 14, 2026. This Japan-first initiative transforms dirty walls and floors into canvases for 'cleaning art' (reverse graffiti), simultaneously cleaning and promoting various organizations. A large 'Samurai' art piece by artist Klaus Dauven was completed on April 10 at Matsudagawa Dam in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, as a precursor. Future 'Senden Actions' will take place in Ueno and Asakusa, collaborating with partners such as Don Quijote Asakusa, Asakusa Hanayashiki, and Tokyo University of the Arts. Kärcher Japan is also soliciting participation from building owners and organizations. The project utilizes the HD 4/11 C Bp, a battery-powered commercial cordless high-pressure cleaner. Kärcher was founded in 1935, and its Japanese subsidiary in 1988.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 20:01
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Kärcher Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Kärcher, a global leader in cleaning equipment from Germany, launched the 'Kärcher Senden Project' on April 14, 2026. This project aims to co-create a cleaner world with various partners by conceptualizing dirty floors and walls across Japan as canvases, and creating art through the cleaning process, which also conveys the appeal of different organizations.
As part of this initiative, the 'BRING BACK THE SAMURAI Powered by Kärcher' project, which began in March this year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Matsudagawa Dam in Matsuda-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, saw its approximately three-week cleaning work completed. On April 10, a giant 'Samurai' art piece was finished on the dam wall.
The 'Kärcher Senden Project' is a unique Japanese expansion of Kärcher's global reverse graffiti cultural contribution activities. By creating a mechanism to appeal the charms of various organizations through the cleaning process, it aims to partner with government, local authorities, companies, and educational institutions. This Japan-first initiative seeks to expand Kärcher's cultural contribution activities and co-create a cleaner world by collaborating with partners across the country.
The 'BRING BACK THE SAMURAI Powered by Kärcher' project, which initiated the Senden Project, celebrated the 30th anniversary of Matsudagawa Dam. Utilizing 'reverse graffiti' — a method of removing dirt (patina) to create art — it symbolically reverses time through the cleaning process to engrave history onto the dam wall. Artist Klaus Dauven, who has returned since 2008, focused on the timeless humanity inherent in Ashikaga's traditional 'Setsubun Yoroi Toshi Koshi' event. He portrayed a 'Samurai' figure, embodying protection, drawing inspiration from the oldest records approximately 750 years ago. This aims to vitalize the region by visualizing the dam's mission to protect the community and promoting its historical value as a new tourism asset.
The 'Kärcher Senden Project' embodies Kärcher's purpose: 'Together, we create a big impact for a clean world.' It's Japan's first initiative to combine 'city cleaning' and 'promotion' for various organizations by using reverse graffiti to create appealing information for diverse entities on dirty walls across Japan. By transforming dirty floors and walls nationwide into canvases for Kärcher and consenting organizations, it seeks to partner with various entities to create 'surprising' cleaning experiences and co-create a 'clean world.' The cleaning art on each wall is intended to be fully cleaned later, though it may remain if the collaborating organization wishes.
'Senden Actions' are being rolled out in the Ueno and Asakusa areas. The first phase includes:
Asakusa Area:
- Don Quijote Asakusa Store: The wall of Don Quijote Asakusa will be adorably 'taken over' with reverse graffiti featuring numerous 'Donpen' (Don Quijote's official character).
- Asakusa Hanayashiki: The area around the stairs leading to the Panda Car area will be 'taken over' with reverse graffiti of the 'Panda Car,' which originated at Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan's oldest amusement park.
Ueno Area:
- Tokyo University of the Arts Ueno Campus: The university museum gate will be cleaned with a 'cherry blossom' design to welcome new students during the enrollment season.
Kärcher Japan has also begun recruiting dirty walls and floors in Japan that wish to be cleaned, and is accepting requests for endorsement of the Senden Project via official social media (Kärcher Japan Official X).
The high-pressure cleaner used is the HD 4/11 C Bp, Kärcher's first battery-powered commercial cordless high-pressure cleaner, allowing use in locations without power outlets.
Kärcher Japan Co., Ltd. was established in 1988 as the 18th local subsidiary of Kärcher, a German-born global leader in cleaning equipment. Since its founding in 1935, Kärcher has continuously innovated, offering over 3,000 types of products, from household to commercial, such as high-pressure cleaners, floor scrubbers, and steam cleaners, widely used in approximately 190 countries worldwide.
Kärcher's mission is to deliver the 'WOW!' of cleaning. It aims to restore the original brilliance and sustain the value of everything from daily life to agricultural and industrial production sites, and urban infrastructure. Based on this belief, Kärcher's global 'Cleaning Project' has revitalized historical structures worldwide, like the Statue of Liberty in New York and Nihonbashi in Tokyo, as cultural contribution activities for future generations. Kärcher aims to create 'surprising' cleaning experiences that support people's rich lives and make a significant impact on society for a clean world.
As part of this initiative, the 'BRING BACK THE SAMURAI Powered by Kärcher' project, which began in March this year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Matsudagawa Dam in Matsuda-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, saw its approximately three-week cleaning work completed. On April 10, a giant 'Samurai' art piece was finished on the dam wall.
The 'Kärcher Senden Project' is a unique Japanese expansion of Kärcher's global reverse graffiti cultural contribution activities. By creating a mechanism to appeal the charms of various organizations through the cleaning process, it aims to partner with government, local authorities, companies, and educational institutions. This Japan-first initiative seeks to expand Kärcher's cultural contribution activities and co-create a cleaner world by collaborating with partners across the country.
The 'BRING BACK THE SAMURAI Powered by Kärcher' project, which initiated the Senden Project, celebrated the 30th anniversary of Matsudagawa Dam. Utilizing 'reverse graffiti' — a method of removing dirt (patina) to create art — it symbolically reverses time through the cleaning process to engrave history onto the dam wall. Artist Klaus Dauven, who has returned since 2008, focused on the timeless humanity inherent in Ashikaga's traditional 'Setsubun Yoroi Toshi Koshi' event. He portrayed a 'Samurai' figure, embodying protection, drawing inspiration from the oldest records approximately 750 years ago. This aims to vitalize the region by visualizing the dam's mission to protect the community and promoting its historical value as a new tourism asset.
The 'Kärcher Senden Project' embodies Kärcher's purpose: 'Together, we create a big impact for a clean world.' It's Japan's first initiative to combine 'city cleaning' and 'promotion' for various organizations by using reverse graffiti to create appealing information for diverse entities on dirty walls across Japan. By transforming dirty floors and walls nationwide into canvases for Kärcher and consenting organizations, it seeks to partner with various entities to create 'surprising' cleaning experiences and co-create a 'clean world.' The cleaning art on each wall is intended to be fully cleaned later, though it may remain if the collaborating organization wishes.
'Senden Actions' are being rolled out in the Ueno and Asakusa areas. The first phase includes:
Asakusa Area:
- Don Quijote Asakusa Store: The wall of Don Quijote Asakusa will be adorably 'taken over' with reverse graffiti featuring numerous 'Donpen' (Don Quijote's official character).
- Asakusa Hanayashiki: The area around the stairs leading to the Panda Car area will be 'taken over' with reverse graffiti of the 'Panda Car,' which originated at Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan's oldest amusement park.
Ueno Area:
- Tokyo University of the Arts Ueno Campus: The university museum gate will be cleaned with a 'cherry blossom' design to welcome new students during the enrollment season.
Kärcher Japan has also begun recruiting dirty walls and floors in Japan that wish to be cleaned, and is accepting requests for endorsement of the Senden Project via official social media (Kärcher Japan Official X).
The high-pressure cleaner used is the HD 4/11 C Bp, Kärcher's first battery-powered commercial cordless high-pressure cleaner, allowing use in locations without power outlets.
Kärcher Japan Co., Ltd. was established in 1988 as the 18th local subsidiary of Kärcher, a German-born global leader in cleaning equipment. Since its founding in 1935, Kärcher has continuously innovated, offering over 3,000 types of products, from household to commercial, such as high-pressure cleaners, floor scrubbers, and steam cleaners, widely used in approximately 190 countries worldwide.
Kärcher's mission is to deliver the 'WOW!' of cleaning. It aims to restore the original brilliance and sustain the value of everything from daily life to agricultural and industrial production sites, and urban infrastructure. Based on this belief, Kärcher's global 'Cleaning Project' has revitalized historical structures worldwide, like the Statue of Liberty in New York and Nihonbashi in Tokyo, as cultural contribution activities for future generations. Kärcher aims to create 'surprising' cleaning experiences that support people's rich lives and make a significant impact on society for a clean world.