"Forest Art Festival in Ladakh 2026" Kick-off Event "Mebuki no Utage Futatabi!" Held at Kai House
KAI Corporation, a global cutlery manufacturer, held the kick-off event "Mebuki no Utage Futatabi!" for the "Forest Art Festival in Ladakh 2026" at its headquarters, Kai House. This project, organized by the NPO Wall Art Project, aims to integrate tree planting and art to promote culture and contribute to society in the Ladakh region of India.
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KAI Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Hiroaki Endo), a global cutlery manufacturer, sponsored the "Forest Art Festival in Ladakh 2026," an art project combining tree planting and art organized by the NPO Wall Art Project (Representative: Akiko Okuni). The kick-off event for this project was held on Wednesday, April 22, at KAI's headquarters event space, "Kai House."
The Wall Art Project has collaborated with local communities in rural India to host school-based art projects and international conferences. In 2023 and 2024, events were held in Ladakh, featuring mural painting demonstrations by Japanese artists in front of children, as well as workshops by musicians, filmmakers, and dancers.
Ladakh, a region where traditions have been cherished, is facing changes due to climate change and the penetration of a monetary economy. There is a desire for culture to provide a new perspective to navigate these evolving circumstances.
KAI Corporation has a factory in Rajasthan, India, and opened its first directly managed store, "kai shop," in India in August 2017, demonstrating its deep connection with the country. KAI has supported this project since its inception and will continue to contribute to the realization of a richer society.
■ Event Name: "Forest Art Festival in Ladakh 2026"
Kick-off Event "Mebuki no Utage Futatabi!"
■ Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 15:00-20:30
■ Venue: KAI Corporation Headquarters Event Space "Kai House"
■ Organizer: NPO Wall Art Project (http://wallartproject.net)
■ Cooperation: KAI Corporation
■ Presenting Artists: Sakiko Azuchi (Musician), Chihaya Oguri (Manga Artist), Atsushi Tomimatsu (Sculptor),
Chieko Hanada (Contemporary Dancer)
■ Online: Yusuke Asai (Artist), Jamyang Namgyal (Artist),
Chemat Dorje (Artist), Tsering Yudol (Artist), and others
■ Content: Exhibition by participating artists of the Forest Art Festival
Chihaya Oguri Live Event
Talk Event
Impromptu live performance by Sakiko Azuchi and Chieko Hanada
Event Highlights:
Approximately 100 visitors interested in the project gathered at the event. Before the talk event, manga artist Chihaya Oguri performed a live painting. Oguri-san drew a "wild rose" tree and trunk, and KAI employees and participants stenciled flowers onto it. This "wild rose" mural, completed by Oguri-san with students at a public school in Ladakh in 2017, is scheduled for restoration after nine years. Additionally, mysterious creatures were depicted swimming across the same wall, reminiscent of the Ladakh art festival. Attendees enjoyed watching while savoring Indian spiced chai and "Pin," a traditional Ladakhi vermicelli curry.
When the talk session began, visitors took their seats. First, Noboru Hiraiwa of KAI Corporation explained KAI's 17-year sponsorship of the Wall Art Project and the reasons behind it. Next, the NPO Wall Art Project screened a documentary video of the Forest Art Festival and explained its content. Artists invited for 2026 shared their aspirations for workshops and creations planned in Ladakh. Connecting online with Ladakh, the people and artists of Ladakh conveyed their expectations for this project and their determination for Japan, India, and Ladakh to continue working hand-in-hand.
Kazunori Hamao of NPO Wall Art Project, Ladakhi food Pin (vermicelli) and Timomo, Live painting by Chihaya Oguri
In the second part of the talk event, an impromptu performance by musician Sakiko Azuchi and contemporary dancer Chieko Hanada was presented. Participants were able to communicate through art, music, and food, enjoying a meaningful time together.
In addition, works by participating artists of the Forest Art Festival were exhibited and sold at the venue, and block prints and hand-embroidered fabrics from the Indian handicraft brand "Tsomoriri" were showcased and sold. Visitors enjoyed viewing and touching the works.
Sakiko Azuchi's live performance
Exhibition view (partial)
Forest Art Festival
Keywords:
The Wall Art Project has collaborated with local communities in rural India to host school-based art projects and international conferences. In 2023 and 2024, events were held in Ladakh, featuring mural painting demonstrations by Japanese artists in front of children, as well as workshops by musicians, filmmakers, and dancers.
Ladakh, a region where traditions have been cherished, is facing changes due to climate change and the penetration of a monetary economy. There is a desire for culture to provide a new perspective to navigate these evolving circumstances.
KAI Corporation has a factory in Rajasthan, India, and opened its first directly managed store, "kai shop," in India in August 2017, demonstrating its deep connection with the country. KAI has supported this project since its inception and will continue to contribute to the realization of a richer society.
■ Event Name: "Forest Art Festival in Ladakh 2026"
Kick-off Event "Mebuki no Utage Futatabi!"
■ Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 15:00-20:30
■ Venue: KAI Corporation Headquarters Event Space "Kai House"
■ Organizer: NPO Wall Art Project (http://wallartproject.net)
■ Cooperation: KAI Corporation
■ Presenting Artists: Sakiko Azuchi (Musician), Chihaya Oguri (Manga Artist), Atsushi Tomimatsu (Sculptor),
Chieko Hanada (Contemporary Dancer)
■ Online: Yusuke Asai (Artist), Jamyang Namgyal (Artist),
Chemat Dorje (Artist), Tsering Yudol (Artist), and others
■ Content: Exhibition by participating artists of the Forest Art Festival
Chihaya Oguri Live Event
Talk Event
Impromptu live performance by Sakiko Azuchi and Chieko Hanada
Event Highlights:
Approximately 100 visitors interested in the project gathered at the event. Before the talk event, manga artist Chihaya Oguri performed a live painting. Oguri-san drew a "wild rose" tree and trunk, and KAI employees and participants stenciled flowers onto it. This "wild rose" mural, completed by Oguri-san with students at a public school in Ladakh in 2017, is scheduled for restoration after nine years. Additionally, mysterious creatures were depicted swimming across the same wall, reminiscent of the Ladakh art festival. Attendees enjoyed watching while savoring Indian spiced chai and "Pin," a traditional Ladakhi vermicelli curry.
When the talk session began, visitors took their seats. First, Noboru Hiraiwa of KAI Corporation explained KAI's 17-year sponsorship of the Wall Art Project and the reasons behind it. Next, the NPO Wall Art Project screened a documentary video of the Forest Art Festival and explained its content. Artists invited for 2026 shared their aspirations for workshops and creations planned in Ladakh. Connecting online with Ladakh, the people and artists of Ladakh conveyed their expectations for this project and their determination for Japan, India, and Ladakh to continue working hand-in-hand.
Kazunori Hamao of NPO Wall Art Project, Ladakhi food Pin (vermicelli) and Timomo, Live painting by Chihaya Oguri
In the second part of the talk event, an impromptu performance by musician Sakiko Azuchi and contemporary dancer Chieko Hanada was presented. Participants were able to communicate through art, music, and food, enjoying a meaningful time together.
In addition, works by participating artists of the Forest Art Festival were exhibited and sold at the venue, and block prints and hand-embroidered fabrics from the Indian handicraft brand "Tsomoriri" were showcased and sold. Visitors enjoyed viewing and touching the works.
Sakiko Azuchi's live performance
Exhibition view (partial)
Forest Art Festival
Keywords: