If I’m going to exhibit at Hōryū-ji, it has to be Prince Shōtoku!

When I first received the offer to take part in the Hōryū-ji Art Festival 2024, the very first image that came to mind was the “Two-Year-Old Prince Shōtoku”.
In the sculpture, he is shown pressing his hands together in prayer with a serious, sincere gaze.
But in my version, he’s secretly holding a tiny, fluffy chick in his hands—just out of sight.

This piece, which I created especially for the festival, is titled “Prince Shōtoku-chan”, and it’s filled with hidden details and symbolic clues that connect throughout the work.

To learn more about the story behind the piece, take a look at this post:
👉 Instagram Link

For this exhibition, I selected deities deeply connected to the history of Hōryū-ji.

First and foremost is, of course, Prince Shōtoku, the key figure behind the founding of Hōryū-ji.
The temple’s Yumedono (Hall of Dreams) even enshrines a statue said to be modeled after him during his lifetime. It’s truly a sacred place for Prince Shōtoku devotion.

The second work is based on Ususama Myōō (Ucchusma).
While this deity is no longer enshrined at Hōryū-ji today, a ritual bell inscribed with the Five Great Wisdom Kings—including Ususama Myōō, who is not often counted among them—was originally housed at Hōryū-ji and later donated to the Imperial Household in 1878.
That artifact is now preserved in the Hōryū-ji Gallery at the Tokyo National Museum.

Known as a guardian deity of purification (and even affectionately as the “God of Toilets”!), Ususama Myōō is reimagined in my piece “Ususama-chan” as a baby, with many symbolic stories and layers of meaning embedded in the work.

Curious about it? Read more here:
👉 Instagram Link

I’ll be at the venue on November 22.
Although I may step away briefly for ceremonies, I’ll be at Hōryū-ji all day.
If you see me, please don’t hesitate to say hello.
I look forward to welcoming you warmly and sharing this special moment with you.

Hōryū-ji Art Festival 2024

Dates: November 22 (Fri) – November 24 (Sun), 2024
Venue: Hōryū-ji Shōtoku Kaikan Hall
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Organizer: Hōryū-ji Art Festival Executive Committee
Planning & Management: Kokumin Mirai Publishing Co., Ltd.
Supported by: Nara Prefecture, Ikaruga Town Board of Education, Mainichi Newspaper Nara Branch, Nara TV Broadcasting

Please note: The planning and management of this exhibition are handled by Kokumin Mirai Publishing.
For inquiries regarding the exhibition, please contact:
TEL: +81-3-5206-3281 (During the exhibition period: +81-80-2780-3404)

For more details, please visit → LINK