The Beloved Baby-chan Series All Together at Last!

Since the debut of Baby Buddha-chan in April 2023, the Baby-chan series has become incredibly popular!
Following that, new additions like Baby Ashura-chan, Baby Benten-chan, and Baby Daikokuten-chan have been born one after another. This exhibition is the very first time all these Baby-chans gather in one place!

This exhibition offers you a chance to meet gods and words that will accompany your suffering and sadness, as well as your dreams and hopes for the future.
If you find a Baby-chan you fall in love with at first sight, cherish that moment—it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime encounter!

　

　

Eisui’s Concept of “Guardian Paintings”

To me, gods and Buddhas are beings who save without saving directly.
They are always close by, offering their hands equally to those who suffer, lighting the way and showing us where to go.

Therefore, for those who can sense them, they are always nearby, lighting a guiding light.
But for those who cannot sense them, even if the hand is right in front of them, they cannot feel that light.

So why is it that some people can feel the presence of gods and Buddhas who are supposed to help everyone impartially, while others cannot?

The difference lies in whether one is prepared to feel it or not.

Those who are ready to receive the light from the gods and Buddhas—
I consider these people to be those who are trying to open their resolve.

No matter how painful or sad they are, whether they seek guidance in confusion or are sinking into the depths of despair,
the gods and Buddhas will surely light a path and reach out their hands to those who make even a small effort to open their resolve.

　

　

Enlightenment

The word “enlightenment,” which means悟り in Japanese, ultimately derives from the concept of “light” and “brightness.”
I believe enlightenment is like lighting a bright light in the midst of darkness and confusion—and making a firm decision to follow that path. In other words, enlightenment is “opening one’s resolve.”

To be connected to gods and Buddhas means that you have prepared yourself to receive their light—that is, you have become ready to open your resolve.

In reality, making such a firm resolve is not easy.
I am just an ordinary person who, despite many twists and turns, tries desperately to face forward and keep moving ahead.

Even when caught in confusion, if you continue to make the effort to become someone who can open their resolve, you will find that help mysteriously comes from somewhere.

That is your chance.

You’ve probably heard the saying that the god of opportunity has hair only at the front.
They say every crisis is also a chance.

Even if the gods and Buddhas send a lifeline when you are struggling, those who are not prepared to open their resolve while lost in darkness cannot see the lifeline—and it quietly drifts away unnoticed.

Without even realizing that a chance had come, they end up believing that they are simply unlucky.

　
　

I want to create guardian paintings.

But you know, there are many people who don’t even know what to resolve in order to escape from their current suffering and confusion.
Some are trying their best but things just don’t work out, and they end up hating themselves more and more.

I really understand those feelings.
I used to feel the same way—hating myself, feeling unacknowledged and miserable, like I was shrinking and withering inside, shutting my heart away.

But what saved me was the words of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Oh, I’m not trying to preach Buddhism.
It’s not Buddhism I’m promoting—it’s Shakyamuni himself.

You see, Shakyamuni didn’t become a monk to spread Buddhism.
He ran away from the small world he grew up in, from unknown fears and suffering, abandoning his family, status, and work to seek salvation.
And even after finally attaining enlightenment and liberation, he felt the weight of that release from suffering so deeply that he initially intended to become a solitary enlightened one and die quietly without teaching anyone.

He was like a super-human Buddha!!

That Buddha didn’t teach to create a world where everyone is happy.
He spoke to save those who, like him, feel that living is painful and empty, teaching the method he found through enlightenment.
His teachings were later gathered into what we now call Buddhism.

When I learned and practiced this “know-how,” I felt so much lighter.
That’s why I want others to know it too, and I started painting to share those teachings through my art.

　

　

The Tumultuous 2025 is Coming!!!

This exhibition will be different from my previous works that depicted the words of Shakyamuni Buddha.
This time, I am preparing as many small works as possible, featuring images of gods and Buddhas, lotus flowers, dragons, and other motifs—all created with the hope of becoming guardian paintings directly protecting someone.

The reason is that 2025 is expected worldwide to be a turbulent year.
It is said that we will face unprecedented disasters and hardships.

In such turbulent times, both good and bad things happen in extremes.

In this turbulent year, I hope that great difficulties will be reduced to minor ones, and minor ones to no difficulties at all.
That chances will appear disguised as crises, and that everything has meaning, so that we can be ready to receive it.

When you are struggling, I hope you remember that gods and Buddhas who light your way are always nearby.
And that you never give up preparing yourself to open your resolve.

With these wishes in mind, I will be waiting for you every day at the exhibition venue.

During the artist talks, I will share the thoughts and stories of gods and Buddhas embedded in each work.
I’m sure you will find a favorite deity that speaks to your heart!

I’ve also prepared many lucky charms and goods for you.

Please look forward to it, and come visit us!