Hara Museum ARC

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the atomic-bombed kaki (persimmon) tree which was planted in the museum’s garden in 2005 as part of Tatsuo Miyajima’s Revive Time Kaki Tree Project. To commemorate this event, we will be hosting an artist talk by Tatsuo Miyajima and two workshops by Gunma prefecture-based artist Daisuke Nukui.

Meet the Artist: Tatsuo Miyajima
For this event, Miyajima will talk about the past and future of the Kaki Tree Project; memories of past involvement with the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art and Hara Museum ARC; and his most recent activities. Kazuko Aono, Director of Hara Museum ARC, will moderate the event.
*This event will be held in Japanese.

Tatsuo Miyajima
He graduated from the graduate division at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1986 and was invited to participate in the New Talent section of the Venice Biennale in 1988, where his work with digital counters attracted international attention. Since then, he has held exhibitions in Japan and abroad at over 250 locations in 30 countries. He accomplishments include the following: 1997: Winner of the University of Geneva Competition. 1998: Winner of the 5th Prize for the Promotion of Contemporary Art in Japan. 2020: Winner of the 71st Art Encouragement Prize of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 1998: Awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts London. 2006-2016: Vice President of Tohoku University of Art & Design (currently visiting professor). 2012-2016: Vice President of Kyoto University of Art and Design (currently visiting professor). His representative works include Mega Death. Continuing projects include the Revive Time Kaki Tree Project (1995-) and the Sea of Time-Tohoku Project, which aims to preserve the memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake and its victims and to help create a future for Tohoku.

The Revive Time Kaki Tree Project
On August 9, 1945, a single persimmon tree miraculously survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. With more than half of its trunk burnt black, it was barely standing and about to die at any moment. But in 1994, thanks to the care of Nagasaki-based arborist Masayuki Ebinuma, the tree eventually recovered enough to produce second-generation seedlings. Contemporary artist Tatsuo Miyajima, learning of Ebinuma’s activity, launched the Revive Time Kaki Tree Project together with Ebinuma. By handing out saplings from the mother tree to children around the world and encouraging them to express themselves through art, using the kaki tree as a theme, the project seeks to teach them about peace and the importance of life. To date, the project has expanded to include more than 320 kaki trees planted in kindergartens, schools, art museums and parks in 26 countries. Art cultivates the imagination to help us feel others’ pain, and fosters creativity to build a new world. It goes beyond borders, religion, race and even language to help us feel sympathy for each other. In agreement with the goals of the project, Hara Museum ARC became a foster parent of a tree in 2005.

Date and Time

November 16, 2025 (Sun.) 16:15 – 17:45 (doors open at 15:45)

Venue

Cafe d’Art, Hara Museum ARC
*last order at 14:30, closes at 15:00 for venue preparation

Capacity

50 (first-come, first-served basis)

Participation fee

General: 1,500 yen (admission not included, includes one drink) / Hara Museum ARC members and up to one accompanying guest (member only, in case of Friends/Single): 1,000 yen

Reservations

Please use the dedicated Google Form below.
Meet the Artist: Tatsuo Miyajima Reservation Form

Members should use the following dedicated Google Form.
Meet the Artist: Tatsuo Miyajima Reservation Form for Members

*A separate application is required for each participant.
*The fee should be paid in cash at the reception desk on the day of the event.