When you say Narita, many people probably think of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, but it is not the only thing to see. In Narita, there are many people who provide hospitality to visitors, and I would like you to know about them. Here, we will introduce them to you as “People of Narita”!
Our guest this time is artist Yusuke Shimura. He has created numerous works of art in the Narita Airport area, and we spoke with him in detail about his activities and his vision for the future of Narita Airport.
ーPlease tell us about your activities, Mr. Yusuke Shimura.ー
As an artist, he is active in the field of contemporary art, presenting multifaceted works in drawing, photography, and painting. His activities are both domestic and international, and his character “Fuwari”, a white rabbit wearing a red cape and the hero of dreams and hopes, is not only a work of art but also an art project.
In addition to presenting my work as an artist, I am also involved in an art project as the director of the first contemporary art project in the Narita Airport area, “FUWARI NO MORI”, which was launched in 2014 to allow people to experience contemporary art that had not been available in this area before. I am also involved in art projects as a director.
ーWhat is the “FUWARI NO MORI”?ー
Narita is a well-known place in Japan and abroad. Therefore, we have decided to create an art area that is accessible from Narita Airport, from the city center, and from the region. Since we are artists, we developed “Fufwari no Mori” as an artist-centered art project and started an artist-in-residence program as the core of the project.
The Artist-in-Residence program invites high-profile artists from Japan and abroad to Narita, where they stay and create public art (murals, etc.). The first artist invited for the first round (2014) was Rei Sato from Kaikai Kiki by Takashi Murakami, who created artworks.
The artists' stay in Narita will expand the art of this project, so we value the originality that can only be achieved by being artist-centered, where the artists you see in museums in Tokyo will be sitting next to you in FUWARI NO MORI.
And now in its 10th year, we have invited artist Faan Peeti from Bangkok (Thailand) to create paintings that switch the viewpoint of her stay at Narita-san and others.
ーPlease tell us about your career to date and what you have been working on.ー
As an artist, I started my career in my early 20's, first in Tokyo and New York, and then overseas. I was able to get out earlier than my peers, and as my works sold well, I was involved with many people through solo exhibitions, media, magazines, and collaborations with companies such as Yoshida Kaban and the Apple Store.
At the same time, from that point on, I also had my sights set on overseas activities. At that time, since I was going overseas from Tokyo, I stayed overnight before heading to Narita Airport, and gradually my hometown, NARITA, became another base with Tokyo. At the same time, after working in New York, Milan, and the Middle East, I expanded my activities in Asia and met many artists there.
So, in order to open a venue that would be accepted in Japan, I opened the “FUWARI NO MORI” contemporary art project in the Narita Airport area. I produced and created this project by myself as an artist and as a director, while maintaining two sides to the project.
ーDo you have a favorite spot in the area around Narita Airport?ー
I love Shimousa Manzaki (Narita City). It is also the base of FUWARI NO MORI, and I have my own atelier, gallery, and café here. I have so many memories of this place that it is truly my second hometown. The location is in a rural area with no buildings, rice paddies, and hot springs, and I am always happy to see how many visitors are moved by this place and fall in love with it.
There are many places I like. I love Narita Airport because it is where I always depart for the world, and I also love Sakae Town, where I am from, and it is an important place for me, as I collaborated with Sakae Town on the art elevator at JR Ajiki Station and was given a landmark role at my hometown station.
“FUWARI NO MORI” project aims to expand art to 9 cities and towns in the Narita Airport area (Narita, Sakae, Shibayama, Katori, Yokoshibahikari, Tako, Kouzaki, Sammu, and Tomisato), so that people from all over the world can visit these 9 cities and towns for art upon arrival at Narita Airport, and there are still many places I love. I really love Shibayama Town because I was allowed to stay there when I collaborated with Museum of Aeronautical Sciences, and I also love Yokoshibahikari Town and Katori City, where the art is also completed. 9 cities and towns, I love them all!
Whenever overseas artists come to AEON MALL Narita, which we have collaborated with on a large scale, they all go to see the artworks (inside the building, art elevator, etc.). Following the art elevator, in 2025, we collaborated to create an art object on the terrace, and it is one of my favorite places in Japan.
ーHow would you like to take action for the future of Narita?ー
We would like to make "NARITA" a “destination” for the world.
NARITA is a place known to everyone, both in Japan and abroad. I would like to create a new value for NARITA, a place for contemporary art that has not yet existed, through art, and create a future where many people from all over the world will gather in this place that is also their hometown.
The concept of “FUWARI NO MORI”, “creating A/R/T within the letters ”NARITA”” will take its form. In order for “traveling to NARITA for the purpose of ART” to become a daily routine, there will be a “forest of fluff” and an exhibition to "discover" (discover) ART in the letters of NARITA with my own activities, so that it will not be a transient art festival, but something that exists here and that I will feel responsible for so that I can take it into the future. I would like to act with a sense of responsibility so that we can connect this exhibition to the future, not as a temporary event of the Art Festival, but as something that exists here.
I look forward to creating a future where Japan is seen at airports around the world, and where ART exists in TOKYO/NARITA but not in TOKYO/HANEDA, and where the many children I have worked with will be responsible for their hometowns. I believe that my role is to pass the baton to the next generation, and I will be happy if many of them come to love their hometowns. Therefore, I hope to continue to take action and create a future for everyone.
