EN
Exhibitions
【2025.10.4.Sat-11.16.Sun】漆・水彩・硝子・彫刻・陶の5人展「うむいの森」
Exhibition Period:2025年10月04日 - 2025年11月16日
Hotel Anteroom Naha GALLERY 9.5 NAHA is pleased to present "Umui no Mori," a group exhibition featuring five Yanbaru artists.
Yanbaru, the northern area north of Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture, is home to magnificent natural scenery. In 2021, "Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa, and Iriomote Island" were registered as a World Heritage Site. This exhibition features works by five artists who live in or use the Yanbaru region as their subject, each with their own unique style.
We look forward to your viewing.
Umui no Mori Overview
A five-person exhibition featuring lacquer, watercolor, glass, sculpture, and ceramics.
The exhibition, featuring artists working with different materials, explores the brilliance of the universe, the breath of nature, and the joy of living that they experience in their daily lives. This exhibition offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing viewers to rediscover the natural beauty of Yanbaru and the connection between people and nature.
*Umui: A word meaning "thoughts" or "feelings" in the Okinawan dialect. Express your heartfelt feelings, prayers, and wishes.
Dates: Saturday, October 4, 2025 – Sunday, November 16, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM *Closes at 3:00 PM on the final day
Venue: GALLERY 9.5 NAHA (Hotel Anteroom Naha, 2nd floor)
Admission: Free
Parking: Free, 50 spaces
*If the parking lot is full, please use nearby paid parking.
Exhibiting Artists (in alphabetical order): Katsuhisa Kado, Chika Senga, Ryo Tsuda, Atsuto Yasumoto, Manabu Yamagami
Graphics: Kiwa Graphics
(Image 2) Katsuhisa Kado, Waterside / Tabu wood, lacquer, pigment, tin powder / 2025
(Image 3) Chika Senga, Fantasy / Watercolor paints, pencil, Waterford watercolor paper / 727mm x 727mm / 2025
(Image 4) Tsuda Ryo Hummingbird / Heat-Resistant Glass / 2025
(Image 5) Atsuto Yasumoto Let's Hold Hands - Love, Peace, and Freedom from Okinawa / Nara Yoshino Hinoki Cypress, Acrylic Paint / 2022
(Image 6) Manabu Yamagami Shisa from Yanbaru Castle (Gusuku) / Ceramic / 2025
Highlights of this Exhibition
Lacquer artist Katsuhisa Kado creates works based entirely on nature, applying lacquer to trees he cuts and shapes himself, based on the theme of the breath of life. He attempts to revive trees that have fallen or decayed due to weather.
Watercolor artist Chika Senga, drawing on her roots in ink painting, captures the beauty of nature on canvas with her unique perspective. She paints what she sees and feels when she actually steps foot into the mountains, but her colors and perspectives are expressed with a unique gentleness and freshness.
Tsuda Ryo creates glass works using high-temperature burner work. By working with glass, an inorganic yet formless and ephemeral material, he confronts the changing nature, evolution, and the human spirit.
Yasumoto Atsuto's sculptures began when he was active as a Buddhist statue maker in Nara. Leaving aside the stoic world of dedicated engagement with Buddhist statues, he creates works that express not only the warmth of Okinawa's nature and people, but also their thoughts and personalities. By breaking away from his resistance to plastic and expressing himself through sculpture, he is challenging himself to build new networks in a diverse society.
Yamagami Manabu's pottery is unique in its expression, using a method different from the traditional Okinawan craft of Yachimun. He creates his works using the natural movement of his hands, the amount of pressure used to create shapes, and skillfully using Okinawan coral and stone to enjoy the dialogue between the energy emanating from within himself and the natural materials outside.
The ocean view and the inorganic space harmonize with each artist's work, filling the tranquil space with the energy and dynamism of Yanbaru's abundant nature.
Related Events
Opening Reception
On the first day of the exhibition, an opening reception will be held to celebrate the start of the exhibition with the five artists.
The five exhibiting artists will hold gallery talks in which they will share their thoughts on the exhibition, and musicians mayu and Ayumu Yamashita, from Yanbaru, where the exhibition is set, will perform a special one-night-only live performance.
The hotel lounge will be open for special evening hours on the day, with drinks and light snacks available for purchase.
Date and Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Live Performance: 6:00 PM – approx. 30 minutes (estimated), Gallery Talk: 6:30 PM – *Reservations not required
Venue: GALLERY 9.5 NAHA (Hotel Anteroom Naha, 2nd floor)
Admission: Free
Click here for details about the opening reception.
Special Movie Screening
During the exhibition, a video featuring the artist's creative process and the natural beauty of Yanbaru will be screened at the venue. This documentary-style video offers an up-close look at the artist's daily creative process and activities. This must-see video, shot specifically for this exhibition, also showcases the beauty of various parts of Yanbaru.
Photography: Yuuma Hentona
Live Sculpting - Woodcarving Demonstration
A live woodcarving demonstration and painting experience will be held with Atsuto Yasumoto. Experience the power of carving natural wood and the process of how shapes are created up close. Dates and Times:
① Sunday, October 26th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
② Saturday, November 8th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
③ Sunday, November 9th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
④ Saturday, November 15th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
No reservations required
Please ask a staff member if you would like to try painting.
Demonstration Participation Fee: Free
Painting Participation Fee: ¥1,650 (tax included) *¥1,100 (tax included) for the second and subsequent family members
Linked Exhibition in HOTEL STRATA NAHA
A collaborative exhibition recreating the world of "Umui no Mori" will be held in the CAFE STRATA showcase on the first floor of our group hotel, HOTEL STRATA NAHA.
Artist Profile/Statement
Kado Katsuhisa | KADOU Katsuhisa
He runs the Somayama Studio in Nago City, in the northern part of Okinawa's main island. He creates objects that utilize Okinawa's subtropical trees. Centered on the craft of pottery making, he explores the rich expressive techniques of lacquerware, shifting between intentional and random. He holds the "Somayama Studio Wood Lacquer Exhibition" annually at Yamahara Craft Shop in Ogimi Village. He continues his work with the motto of cherishing life and living in harmony with nature.
Senga Chika | Senga Chika
She paints watercolors that incorporate elements of ink painting, focusing on the nature of Okinawa. She expresses the beautiful nature she has experienced with translucent colors and delicate brushstrokes that capture the light, air, and fragrance of nature.
In addition to Okinawa, she has exhibited her works in Amami Oshima, Kyoto, France, and Italy.
Major collaborations: Orion Beer Co., Ltd. (2024) "The Premium," Minamijima Seika (2025) "Beniimo Moonpuff"
TSUDA Ryo | TSUDA Ryo
He expresses objects that exist quietly, as if alive, and exude a sense of energy, using glass.
Using a technique called burner work, he creates artworks using simple shapes, colors, and structures, expressing everyday observations, phenomena, and images that arise from within.
All of his works are made of heat-resistant glass, allowing them to change appearance and blend into everyday life.
YASUMOTO Atsuhito | YASUMOTO Atsuhito
After working as a Buddhist statue sculptor in Nara, he moved to Okinawa. He transitioned to becoming a woodcarver, expressing warmth and kindness through his unique worldview.
In the traditional field, he participated in the restoration of Shuri Castle's "Chuzan Sedo," while also using 3D printers to create original gachapon figures featuring Okinawan animals, culture, and people. In collaboration with welfare organizations, he has distributed over 100 units in six prefectures.
He specializes in fusing traditional techniques with modern expression.
YAMAGAMI Manabu
The texture of his works is born from the process of pressing and arranging natural materials from the Yanbaru region, such as coral and shells from the Okinawan sea, into clay with the delicate touch of his fingertips.
The sensation is similar to the way birds and insects build their nests, and also to creating patterns using the woven ropes of Jomon pottery.
He enjoys creating bricolages of familiar Yanbaru natural materials.
Yanbaru, the northern area north of Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture, is home to magnificent natural scenery. In 2021, "Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa, and Iriomote Island" were registered as a World Heritage Site. This exhibition features works by five artists who live in or use the Yanbaru region as their subject, each with their own unique style.
We look forward to your viewing.
Umui no Mori Overview
A five-person exhibition featuring lacquer, watercolor, glass, sculpture, and ceramics.
The exhibition, featuring artists working with different materials, explores the brilliance of the universe, the breath of nature, and the joy of living that they experience in their daily lives. This exhibition offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing viewers to rediscover the natural beauty of Yanbaru and the connection between people and nature.
*Umui: A word meaning "thoughts" or "feelings" in the Okinawan dialect. Express your heartfelt feelings, prayers, and wishes.
Dates: Saturday, October 4, 2025 – Sunday, November 16, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM *Closes at 3:00 PM on the final day
Venue: GALLERY 9.5 NAHA (Hotel Anteroom Naha, 2nd floor)
Admission: Free
Parking: Free, 50 spaces
*If the parking lot is full, please use nearby paid parking.
Exhibiting Artists (in alphabetical order): Katsuhisa Kado, Chika Senga, Ryo Tsuda, Atsuto Yasumoto, Manabu Yamagami
Graphics: Kiwa Graphics
(Image 2) Katsuhisa Kado, Waterside / Tabu wood, lacquer, pigment, tin powder / 2025
(Image 3) Chika Senga, Fantasy / Watercolor paints, pencil, Waterford watercolor paper / 727mm x 727mm / 2025
(Image 4) Tsuda Ryo Hummingbird / Heat-Resistant Glass / 2025
(Image 5) Atsuto Yasumoto Let's Hold Hands - Love, Peace, and Freedom from Okinawa / Nara Yoshino Hinoki Cypress, Acrylic Paint / 2022
(Image 6) Manabu Yamagami Shisa from Yanbaru Castle (Gusuku) / Ceramic / 2025
Highlights of this Exhibition
Lacquer artist Katsuhisa Kado creates works based entirely on nature, applying lacquer to trees he cuts and shapes himself, based on the theme of the breath of life. He attempts to revive trees that have fallen or decayed due to weather.
Watercolor artist Chika Senga, drawing on her roots in ink painting, captures the beauty of nature on canvas with her unique perspective. She paints what she sees and feels when she actually steps foot into the mountains, but her colors and perspectives are expressed with a unique gentleness and freshness.
Tsuda Ryo creates glass works using high-temperature burner work. By working with glass, an inorganic yet formless and ephemeral material, he confronts the changing nature, evolution, and the human spirit.
Yasumoto Atsuto's sculptures began when he was active as a Buddhist statue maker in Nara. Leaving aside the stoic world of dedicated engagement with Buddhist statues, he creates works that express not only the warmth of Okinawa's nature and people, but also their thoughts and personalities. By breaking away from his resistance to plastic and expressing himself through sculpture, he is challenging himself to build new networks in a diverse society.
Yamagami Manabu's pottery is unique in its expression, using a method different from the traditional Okinawan craft of Yachimun. He creates his works using the natural movement of his hands, the amount of pressure used to create shapes, and skillfully using Okinawan coral and stone to enjoy the dialogue between the energy emanating from within himself and the natural materials outside.
The ocean view and the inorganic space harmonize with each artist's work, filling the tranquil space with the energy and dynamism of Yanbaru's abundant nature.
Related Events
Opening Reception
On the first day of the exhibition, an opening reception will be held to celebrate the start of the exhibition with the five artists.
The five exhibiting artists will hold gallery talks in which they will share their thoughts on the exhibition, and musicians mayu and Ayumu Yamashita, from Yanbaru, where the exhibition is set, will perform a special one-night-only live performance.
The hotel lounge will be open for special evening hours on the day, with drinks and light snacks available for purchase.
Date and Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Live Performance: 6:00 PM – approx. 30 minutes (estimated), Gallery Talk: 6:30 PM – *Reservations not required
Venue: GALLERY 9.5 NAHA (Hotel Anteroom Naha, 2nd floor)
Admission: Free
Click here for details about the opening reception.
Special Movie Screening
During the exhibition, a video featuring the artist's creative process and the natural beauty of Yanbaru will be screened at the venue. This documentary-style video offers an up-close look at the artist's daily creative process and activities. This must-see video, shot specifically for this exhibition, also showcases the beauty of various parts of Yanbaru.
Photography: Yuuma Hentona
Live Sculpting - Woodcarving Demonstration
A live woodcarving demonstration and painting experience will be held with Atsuto Yasumoto. Experience the power of carving natural wood and the process of how shapes are created up close. Dates and Times:
① Sunday, October 26th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
② Saturday, November 8th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
③ Sunday, November 9th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
④ Saturday, November 15th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
No reservations required
Please ask a staff member if you would like to try painting.
Demonstration Participation Fee: Free
Painting Participation Fee: ¥1,650 (tax included) *¥1,100 (tax included) for the second and subsequent family members
Linked Exhibition in HOTEL STRATA NAHA
A collaborative exhibition recreating the world of "Umui no Mori" will be held in the CAFE STRATA showcase on the first floor of our group hotel, HOTEL STRATA NAHA.
Artist Profile/Statement
Kado Katsuhisa | KADOU Katsuhisa
He runs the Somayama Studio in Nago City, in the northern part of Okinawa's main island. He creates objects that utilize Okinawa's subtropical trees. Centered on the craft of pottery making, he explores the rich expressive techniques of lacquerware, shifting between intentional and random. He holds the "Somayama Studio Wood Lacquer Exhibition" annually at Yamahara Craft Shop in Ogimi Village. He continues his work with the motto of cherishing life and living in harmony with nature.
Senga Chika | Senga Chika
She paints watercolors that incorporate elements of ink painting, focusing on the nature of Okinawa. She expresses the beautiful nature she has experienced with translucent colors and delicate brushstrokes that capture the light, air, and fragrance of nature.
In addition to Okinawa, she has exhibited her works in Amami Oshima, Kyoto, France, and Italy.
Major collaborations: Orion Beer Co., Ltd. (2024) "The Premium," Minamijima Seika (2025) "Beniimo Moonpuff"
TSUDA Ryo | TSUDA Ryo
He expresses objects that exist quietly, as if alive, and exude a sense of energy, using glass.
Using a technique called burner work, he creates artworks using simple shapes, colors, and structures, expressing everyday observations, phenomena, and images that arise from within.
All of his works are made of heat-resistant glass, allowing them to change appearance and blend into everyday life.
YASUMOTO Atsuhito | YASUMOTO Atsuhito
After working as a Buddhist statue sculptor in Nara, he moved to Okinawa. He transitioned to becoming a woodcarver, expressing warmth and kindness through his unique worldview.
In the traditional field, he participated in the restoration of Shuri Castle's "Chuzan Sedo," while also using 3D printers to create original gachapon figures featuring Okinawan animals, culture, and people. In collaboration with welfare organizations, he has distributed over 100 units in six prefectures.
He specializes in fusing traditional techniques with modern expression.
YAMAGAMI Manabu
The texture of his works is born from the process of pressing and arranging natural materials from the Yanbaru region, such as coral and shells from the Okinawan sea, into clay with the delicate touch of his fingertips.
The sensation is similar to the way birds and insects build their nests, and also to creating patterns using the woven ropes of Jomon pottery.
He enjoys creating bricolages of familiar Yanbaru natural materials.