Orizuru Tower stands tall next to the Atomic Bomb Dome. The scenery visible from the observation deck 50 meters above ground evokes the strength of the people of Hiroshima who have recovered from war and atomic bombing. From the Orizuru Tower observation deck, a 450 meter spiral slope with nine levels allows visitors to walk back down to ground level. Nine artists with ties to Hiroshima have started a project to decorate that slope with an enormous art piece.

Watching the process of each artist’s heart being expressed through their unique aesthetics and techniques as the project approaches completion is like watching the city of Hiroshima being reborn after losing everything.

Nagaoka Yu, lead planner of the “2045 Nine Hopes” wall art project

“In this project, the artists are expressing their hopes through their art based on the theme of the year 2045, which will be 100 years after the war. We’ve asked nine artists with ties to Hiroshima to express their hopes through powerful paintings.”

These are the words of the project’s lead planner, Nagaoka Yu from the Orizuru Tower Administrative Office.

“The plan started with thinking about what we can leave behind for the future now that it’s been 75 years since the war. From the bombed city Hiroshima, these artists are dynamically expressing their hopes for posterity in 2045 on this enormous wall art canvas.”

The nine artists participating in the project come from a wide variety of genres including wall art, animation, and paper cutouts. They come from all age groups, some in their 20’s and some in their 90’s. They have built scaffolding on the nine-level slope and are using their various techniques to convey their passionate hopes for 100 years after the war. We asked some of the artists working on the project to tell us about their pieces.

Ninth Level

Doi Kiko

Born in 1997, Ms. Doi is a graduate student at Hiroshima City University and creates paintings and silk screen art.

“My piece uses colorful dots to show the hourses and their silhouettes, which have been connected to people’s everyday lives since ancient times. The beautiful running of horses gives people courage. So the idea is for these horses to lead the silhouette of Hiroshima into the future. The luminescent paint mixed into the colorful dots is meant to evoke floating lanterns and the colors of the recycled paper used to fold paper cranes.”

Eighth level

Wakasa Shinichi

Born in 1982, Mr. Wakasa is from the graduate school at Hiroshima City University. He creates various pieces around themes of Japanese nature and religion. He has also diversified his activities by starting a fashion brand.

“My piece is full of original Japanese culture. The main visual is a beckoning cat, which has been part of our culture since ancient times. A lot of foreigners visit this place, so I’m painting it in the seven colors of the rainbow to express diversity and peace.”

Sixth Level

Tanaka Miki

Born in 1981, Ms. Tanaka mainly does consultant art in which she turns clients’ visions into paintings to visually express their thoughts. She is also the cover artist for “To You Who Climb Orizuru Tower in 2045,” a book by the tower’s creator Matsuda Tetsuya.

 “To me, this is a place where your soul can be reborn. I wanted to celebrate the birthdays of all people, so I’m thinking and painting 366 birth flowers on this wall. There’s a baby carriage in the center of the painting, and I’m painting the flowers around it to express my wish for something new to be born from all different kinds of people coming together.”

Third Level

Mimasu Masanori

Born in 1960, Mr. Mimasu is an artist who works with a Japanese modern theme. From his unique perspective, he creates fusuma paintings and hanging scrolls that have been displayed in temples, shrines and tea houses around Japan, including Jodoji Temple in Onomichi.

“My main subjects are two white crows. White crows don’t actually exist, so they symbolize something unthinkable. Hiroshima has had the unthinkable experience of atomic bombing, and it has also overcome that to become the city it is today. I hope this will be a message of hopes and prayers that bring the strength to overcome and to look toward the future with our loved ones.”

First Level

Miura Tsuneki

Born in 1930, Mr. Miura was 15 years old and living near Yokogawa in Hiroshima’s Nishi Ward when the atomic bomb hit. He now paints to convey the tragedy of atomic bombing based on that experience.

Mr. Miura is part of an organization called “Koyokai,” and two Hiroshima members of that organization are painting one of Mr. Miura’s pieces for this project.

Kimura Junko, Koyokai Hiroshima Branch

“For a long time now Mr. Miura has been creating a series of oil paintings titled ‘Atomic Bomb Shapes’ to show the tragedy of atomic bombing from a survivor’s perspective. Here, we have ‘destruction and restoration’ on either side. In the center we see ‘restoration’ expressed through the motifs of the shining sun, the calm Sea of Japan, and the abundant, sprawling Shonai plains that can be seen from Mr. Miura’s residence in Tsuruoka, Yamagata. It is an image of peace. We are painting this three-part piece to express Mr. Miura’s wish for peace. I can’t paint this huge wall by myself by any means. I’m working with my fellow Hiroshima Branch member Hamamoto Noriko and some young students from Hiroshima City University, and it’s an incredibly valuable experience.”

This “2045 Nine Hopes” wall art project in which artists paint their wishes will be open for the public to see the production process in late January 2022, and all nine pieces are expected to be completed by late April. Visitors will be able to walk down the spiral slope and see not only the completed pieces, but also the process of creating them. We will be looking forward to seeing what messages will be left for 100 years after the war.

WALL ART PROJECT  “2045 NINE HOPES”

Public production period: January 21st – April 26th, 2022 (Estimated)

Expected completion: April 29th, 2022

 Orizuru Tower

TEL：082‐569‐6803

Address: 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chuo-ku, Hiroshima-shi

Observation deck entrance fees: (General) Adult: ¥1700, Middle/high school student: ¥900, Elementary school student: ¥700, Preschool child (ages 4 and up): ¥500 *Orizuru wall posting fee: ¥100

Opening hours: 10:00-19:00 (The observation deck entrance is open up to one hour before closing. Hours may vary depending on the season and events.) *Please see the website for up to date information on opening hours, such as closures due to COVID-19 emergency measures.

Holidays: No fixed holidays

Website: https://www.orizurutower.jp/