Taku City, Nippon Paint, and Taku 21 Launch "School Canvas 150" Based on Collaboration Agreement

Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Tomoo Enomoto; hereinafter "Nippon Paint"), Taku City in Saga Prefecture (Mayor: Masanori Katsuki; hereinafter "Taku City"), and the general incorporated association Taku 21 (Representative Director: Shigeo Yamamoto; hereinafter "Taku 21") will implement the first phase of the industry-academia-government collaboration for "School Canvas 150" (hereinafter "this initiative") in Taku City. This is part of Nippon Paint's CSR activity "HAPPY PAINT PROJECT" and is based on the "Regional Revitalization Collaboration Agreement in City Planning Utilizing Art" (hereinafter "this agreement") signed on November 25, 2024.

This initiative was developed through repeated discussions combining the purpose of Nippon Paint's new project "School Canvas 150," launched to commemorate its 145th anniversary, with the direction of regional development utilizing art promoted by Taku City and Taku 21, as well as collaboration with the Taku City Wall Art Project. It will be rolled out as a co-creation project centered around schools to nurture children's creativity and expand connections with the local community.

[Background of This Initiative]
The three parties—Taku City, Nippon Paint, and Taku 21—signed this agreement in November 2024 and are collaborating on the following matters:
(1) Matters related to the promotion of the Taku City Wall Art Project
(2) Matters related to educational promotion
(3) Other matters related to regional revitalization

Taku City has been promoting city planning that enhances regional appeal and fosters human connections through art. This initiative is one of the efforts based on this agreement, specifically aiming to materialize educational promotion and regional revitalization.

Since 2017, Nippon Paint has engaged in regional contributions and educational support across the country through its CSR activity, the "HAPPY PAINT PROJECT," under the concept of "delivering happiness to society through paint." Furthermore, in March 2026, marking its 145th anniversary, the company announced the "School Canvas 150," a new initiative to provide paint support to 150 schools nationwide over a five-year period leading up to its 150th anniversary.

This project envisions schools as "canvases" and aims to spread the value of communication through color to society by decorating school buildings with children's free-flowing ideas. It also aims to expand community connections originating from the school by involving diverse groups, including current students, alumni, faculty, parents, and local residents.

[Details of Implementation]
In the fall of 2026, painting activities will be conducted at Taku City Higashibarashosha Central School as part of this initiative. In collaboration with the Taku City Wall Art Project, artists will be invited to co-create artworks with the students. Details regarding the artists and exact timing are scheduled to be announced this summer.

Taku City Higashibarashosha Central School
As part of this initiative, Nippon Paint will provide water-based topcoat paints for the exterior and interior walls of the school. The provided paints will include upcycled paint, connecting the initiative to environmental consideration and the SDGs. Through this initiative, the following effects are expected:
- Creation of opportunities for children to familiarize themselves with colors and art, nurturing creativity and expressiveness
- Improvement of the appeal of school spaces and cultivation of attachment and a sense of security toward the school
- Revitalization of regional exchange and communication through dialogue and collaboration among participants
- Dissemination of regional appeal through art, originating from schools

The three parties will continue to promote city planning utilizing the power of art and colors based on the spirit of the collaboration agreement. Furthermore, through this initiative, they aim to develop schools not merely as places of learning but as spaces that generate dialogue and co-creation within the community.

[Implementation Overview]
Organizers: Taku City (Saga Prefecture), Nippon Paint Co., Ltd., General Incorporated Association Taku 21 (Taku City Wall Art Project)
Location: Taku City Higashibarashosha Central School (2286-13, Shimotaku, Minamitaku-machi, Taku City, Saga Prefecture)
Timing: Scheduled for Fall 2026
Contents: Painting activities utilizing the walls of school facilities
Participants: Students, relevant parties, etc.
Support provided: Paint provision by Nippon Paint

[Comments]
■ Comment from Masanori Katsuki, Mayor of Taku City
I am delighted to be able to implement "School Canvas 150" together with Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. and Taku 21. We hope this will be an opportunity to nurture children's sensibilities and creativity while deepening interaction with local residents, with the school serving as the stage.

■ Comment from Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.
Our company has been promoting the HAPPY PAINT PROJECT with the desire to "deliver happiness to society through paint." It is a great honor to implement this initiative in collaboration with Taku City and Taku 21. We hope that through the power of color, new dialogues and connections will be born in the schools and communities.

■ Comment from Shigeo Yamamoto, Representative Director of Taku 21
We feel great significance in being able to expand our ongoing regional development efforts utilizing the Taku City Wall Art Project into the everyday setting of a school. Centered around children and together with local residents, we want to make this an attractive project unique to Taku.

[About "School Canvas 150"]
"School Canvas 150" is an initiative launched by Nippon Paint in April 2026 as a project commemorating its 145th anniversary, aiming to provide paint support to 150 schools nationwide over a five-year period leading up to its 150th anniversary.

By treating schools as canvases and colorfully decorating them with children's ideas, it not only brightens school spaces but also leads to creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. The target involves educational initiatives held at schools involving painting on walls, primarily intended for elementary schools and above.

Release URL: https://www.nipponpaint.co.jp/news/20260331/523/
Special Site: https://www.nipponpaint.co.jp/school-canvas-150/

[About Taku 21: Taku City Wall Art Project]
An art-based city planning project that invites active artists from all over the country to Taku City, Saga Prefecture, to create wall art (murals, shutter art, etc.) to bring brightness and liveliness to the town. The project aims to create 100 public art pieces that anyone can view freely and for free at any time. (As of April 1, 2026, there are 81 locations.)
Project URL: https://wallart-project.com/

[About HAPPY PAINT PROJECT]
A CSR activity conducted by Nippon Paint since 2017 under the concept of "delivering happiness to society through paint." Aiming to contribute to local communities across the country, it conducts various paint events. Through these events, it supports regional revitalization, assists school education, creates memories for children, resolves social issues through paint art, and conveys the joy of painting to the world along with community contribution.