sangimi no yado

A new art project in Mizuma, a town that has lived alongside two rivers!

The Kogigawa River, originating from Mt. Izumi Katsuragi, and its tributary, the Kibitanigawa River.
The sacred land of Mizuma, where two rivers converge, is said to be the holy place where Bodhisattva Gyōki, once traveling under the imperial command of Emperor Shōmu, was guided by a white crane and sixteen child attendants and encountered a statue of Kannon Bodhisattva at the Waterfall of Descent.
In this region of Mizuma, long connected to water, a sustainable art project themed around water, the “Water Art Festival,” has begun.
This time, we report on the “Water Art Festival” held from Friday, September 19 to Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
See, eat, drink, smell, create, listen, dance. Why not enjoy an art experience that stimulates all five senses?

The 10,000 Windmill Project at Mizuma Park.

Mizuma Park, “Water and Wind Walk” at the Large Lawn Plaza

• 
• Blue, aqua, and white—three-colored windmills all catching the breeze at once on the grassy hill make for a photogenic spot.
  The large lawn plaza is a popular place for citizens to relax, stroll, and picnic on a regular basis.
  During the Water Art Festival, approximately 10,000 windmills are displayed on the lawn plaza.
  On weekends and holidays, food and drink tents were also set up.
  It’s a spot where you can leisurely spend your holiday, feeling the cool breeze like wind across water as the windmills spin in the breeze.

• The blue sky, the white clouds, and the windmills standing out against the green grass.
• When the wind blows, they all start spinning at once.
• Under the wisteria trellis by the plaza, plant-dyed fabrics are on display. They look so comfortable, swaying in the breeze.

“Sengoku no yakata” and “Sakura no Terrace”

Presented by Sengoku no yakata: “Mizuma Azure”

• 
• First up is the pottery and art studio “Sengoku-no-yakata” on the first floor of Sakura no Terrace.
  On display is “Mizuma Azure.”
  True to its name, flowers dyed a bright blue like a cloudless sky are arranged in miniature garden style alongside works by the ceramics teacher and students.
  This piece offers something to see from every angle, 180 degrees around.
  The impressive dragon, the charming frogs and shisa, and the cute demon with its wide-open mouth—all these ceramic figurines are available for purchase.

• The Dragon God is the deity of water. In the sandy terrain, it represents the two rivers: the Kogigawa River and the Kibitanigawa River.
• The dragon’s body wraps around the entire piece. The frog’s expression is also soothing.
• A white beckoning cat and a ceramic sign for “Mizuma Azure.” A special piece created for the art festival.

Experience fresh music at “Sakura no Terrace.”

• 
• The second floor of the “Sakura no Terrace ” where cherry blossoms in full bloom overflow before your eyes in spring.
  In addition to the permanent exhibition, this venue hosted a collaborative music live performance by the acoustic piano and vocal duo “Muku” and painter “Kanae Kyo”, as well as a performance featuring live music by “Muku” and calligrapher “Hosui Inoue”.
  And on the balcony area, a frog was displayed, relaxing leisurely.

• Calligraphy depicting flowing water refines the space, blending seamlessly with modern interior design.
• Preparing for a live music performance.
• For years, the tiles protected the house from wind and rain. Now retired, they bear the image of… a frog playing freely.

Shared Atelier & Community Space “boon good”

Fragments of daily life, and the experience of swallowing words along with water.

• 
• At the shared atelier and community space “boon good” (formerly the Yamaguchi Residence), photographs from “Hibi_photo_by_EMI” were on display.
  Photographs captured under the concept of “a special moment within ordinary days” feel like fragments of the days spent in Mizuma.
  If you’ve ever pressed the shutter simply because the sky looked beautiful or flowers by the roadside seemed cute—even in the familiar streets where you live—you’ll surely relate.
  On the first floor, “Cafe Mizu-Uma” was open. Here, visitors will discover keywords that had been dormant within them, reflected alongside their own image in water drawn from the source of the Kogigawa River. It is a special experience to savor both this water, essential to life, and one’s own reflection.

• “boon good” is apparently a building that used to be a stationery store. The second floor is filled with photos of the sky.
• We exchange words every day, but receiving a special keyword feels somehow mysterious.
• We took photos with the permission of those participating in the experience.

General Information (Former Yamamoto Residence)

It’s like a treasure hunt! A moving experience where the shape and what you feel differ depending on the viewer.

• 
• The Water Art Festival General Information Center (formerly Yamamoto Residence), located right next to “boon good”.
  Here, in addition to an exhibition and interactive experience by invited artist Nozomi Murata, there are also exhibitions by Mao Hiraoka and Mayu Shirono.
  Nozomi Murata’s exhibition is an installation featuring mirrors depicting birds placed throughout the space at various angles.
  The bird within the mirror facing the sky changes its flight path depending on the viewer.
  Mayu Shirono expresses the grand cycle of life through vermilion dye.
  HIRAOKA MAO’s installation features a concrete block wall.
  Looking into the hole reveals images related to water and your own reflection.

What should I draw on which mirror? I participated in an art experience!

• 
• On 9/22 (Tue), I participated in an art experience led by Nozomi Murata.
  The experience involved choosing a favorite mirror from a large selection, drawing on it with marker pens, and then taking a photo reflecting the sky.
  The mirrors displayed as an installation all had birds drawn on them in white marker, but for the experience, you could draw in any color!
  Once the marker ink dried, you could scrape it with a toothpick to create fine details or layer colors. Of course, you could erase mistakes too.
  We all gathered around one table. It was fun seeing everyone’s different ideas, praising each other’s finished mirrors, and trying various angles while pointing them at the sky.
  The process was very simple, making it easy to recreate at home—another great aspect!

• Everyone is intensely focused during the workshop. Holding colorful pens, they sketch ideas and inspirations onto the mirror.
• Try displaying it outside and experimenting with different angles. Let’s capture the best shot using today’s sky!
• I ended up drawing two pieces. The mirror is now displayed at Mizuma no yado, so please do come see it!

Former Kangetsu-do

Let’s make one-of-a-kind colorful accessories using plastic bottle caps!

• 
• FRAANE DESIGN, who created the logo and posters for this year’s Water Art Festival, held a workshop at the former Kangetsu-do.
  They finely chop plastic bottle caps—items usually discarded as trash after use—and transform them into new keychains and accessories using an iron and scissors.
  Even young children could participate with parental assistance.
  Additionally, they offered a “silkscreen printing” experience where participants printed the Water Art Festival logo onto fabric items.
  The riverside location of the former Kangetsu-do added a special atmosphere.

• A colorful array of materials. They all seem to have colors I recognize.
• Not just keychains, but stylish earrings too. With a little creativity, you can make just about anything.
• These are the tools for the silk-screen printing experience. You create holes in a mesh screen to allow ink to pass through, then use a squeegee to push the ink through and print.

Mizuma Monzen machi Cafe & Library

This is so much fun! Touch and throw this mysterious parachute and play!

• 
• On the first floor of the Cafe & Library, an exhibition and hands-on experience featuring invited artist Akira Higashi will be held.
  The space dotted with cone-shaped parachutes thrills both kids and adults alike!
  When tossed into the air, these cute little parachutes fill with air and float gently down—some are even made from ordinary plastic shopping bags.
  The inflatable clothing piece “Para-huuuk,” designed for parent-child play, can actually be worn too.

• Everyone’s favorite idol, Kaizuka-shi’s mascot “Tsuge-san” shaped parachute. The level of detail is… incredible.
• A large parachute can fit even an adult inside if timed right with its descent.
• Mr. Higashi demonstrating while wearing a “Para-huuuk”. The trick is not to step on the hem.

Presented by Hito to Hito, Welcome to the world of Circulating blue.

• 
• On the 2nd floor of the Cafe & Library, an installation featuring “plant-dyed textiles,” “photography,” and ‘clothing’ presented by “Hito to Hito” was held.
  Within the historic building’s sun-drenched space, the unique “blue” born only in this place is expressed through the practice of “transferring time and effort.”
  The exhibition conveyed the scenery of Mizuma Monzen Town and the cycle of “water,” “plants,” and “memories” that breathe life into it.

• Clothing made using scraps of various colors, all dyed at the same time. The color varies depending on the fabric.
• An exhibition featuring photographs taken in Okumizuma. Simply beautiful…!
• The bright space of the book-lined cafe & library is now colored in “Mizuma-Color.”

Don’t miss the special menu at “Cafe & Library × haru Dining +” and the lovely candles.

• 
• At the entrance to the 1st floor of the Cafe & Library, the popular “Cafe & Library × haru Shokudo+” was also open for business.
  In addition to the regular menu, original Water Art Festival items—“Lemon Soda Cotton Candy” and “Polka Dot Soda”—were also available.
  This time, I ordered the “Lemon Soda Cotton Candy.” The refreshing soda flavor paired perfectly with sweet meringue and tangy strawberry.
  The slight bitterness of dried lemon added a delightful contrast!
  Next, candle artist “lealeapono,” who loves the sea, had a booth.
  They sold natural candles evoking the ocean using real seashells, as well as candles made by recycling empty cans and used wax.

• I was really tempted by Nakade Farm’s Mizunasu(eggplant) Beer, but I resisted since I was at work.
• The beautiful blue soda-flavored coarse sugar looks lovely. The scent of cotton candy is so nostalgic.
• The “lealeapono” booth. Inside, there were candles that looked like marbles at first glance but had a soft, squishy texture—I was surprised when I touched them.

Mizuma-dera Temple

The rear corridor of Mizuma-dera Temple’s main hall. Seek out what can only be seen and felt there.

• 
• Art festival exhibits are also being held within the grounds of Mizum–dera Temple.
  This is the site-specific art installation “Tsubutubu (“Tsubu” is the Japanese word for particle.)” displayed in the rear corridor of the main hall.
  ‘Tsubutubu’ represents the “prayerful hearts” of those who visit Mizuma-dera Temple.
  Sitting on chairs lined up along the wall and putting on the provided headphones, all you hear is the sound of a waterfall constantly cascading down.
  Here, there’s actually a river running beneath the corridor, and it’s also near the Descent Falls. But when you put on headphones, you hear sounds different from the present moment. It feels strange.
  In my case, when I closed my eyes while listening to that sound, I gradually began to hear sounds from outside the headphones, and I could hear the sound of a wooden fish—a Buddhist instrument used for chanting at temples—.
  This exhibition was fascinating because everyone experienced and enjoyed it in their own unique way.

• An information sign was posted on the pillar just in front of the main hall.
• Behind the main hall. This place is usually very quiet. One of my favorite spots.
• It’s fun to imagine what the person next door might be feeling and thinking.

Water Art Festival Official Instagram

Access

 

Related Articles

「創る」という贅沢な時間を堪能しよう！千石舘の陶芸体験【貝塚市おさんぽガイド】