Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Hall’s inaugural exhibition, “HUMAN AND NATURE” by contemporary artist Yuichi Hirako, will be held from September 5th (Saturday) to October 18th (Sunday).

Approximately 300 works will be on display, including a new series being shown for the first time, and a large-scale three-dimensional artwork will appear in the first-floor step plaza.

Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Organizer: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.) will open "Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Hall" on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as a new event hub unique to Hibiya, where culture, arts, entertainment, and business intersect. To commemorate the opening, the first event will be "HUMAN AND NATURE," an exhibition by contemporary artist Yuichi Hirako, who has attracted attention both domestically and internationally, from Saturday, September 5, 2026 to Sunday, October 18, 2026.

■ Urban development aiming for harmony between urban functions, arts and culture, and the natural environment, and the role of the new hall

Tokyo Midtown Hibiya has leveraged its location adjacent to a vast green space to create an urban space where business, arts and culture, and the natural environment are in harmony. To date, it has continuously held events that create cultural value, such as "HIBIYA BLOSSOM," and the theater and film festivals "HIBIYA LIVE FESTIVAL" and "HIBIYA CINEMA FESTIVAL," aiming to provide forward-looking new experiences and new value that stimulates the senses of our customers.
The opening of this hall aims to create a new hub that will serve as a starting point for disseminating culture and business from Hibiya and spreading its effects to the surrounding areas. This exhibition, the first to be held at the hall, was planned because Mr. Hirako's expression, which consistently takes the relationship between human society and nature as its theme, resonates deeply with Hibiya's urban vision of coexisting with abundant greenery and urban vitality. Using the newly renovated event space, which boasts an open hall area of over 1,200 square meters, as a stage, the exhibition will express what lies at the boundary between nature and the city, or between management and coexistence, using the entire space.

■A large-scale installation featuring approximately 300 pieces, including a new series being unveiled for the first time, and a group of mobiles reaching up to approximately 3.5 meters in height.

This exhibition presents an installation that utilizes the entire space, providing viewers with an opportunity to deepen their reflections on the relationship between people and plants, or between cities and nature. The exhibition will feature approximately 300 works in total, including new paintings and sculptures, as well as a series of mobiles, some reaching up to 3.5 meters in length, which will be shown for the first time.
Not only within the exhibition space, but also appearing unexpectedly in the Hibiya district, where the rhythms of the city intertwine, is Hirako's signature motif: "a human-like body with a plant head." Using this humorous presence as an entry point, the exhibition deeply questions the relationship between humans and nature in contemporary society. Within the venue, gently curving wooden structures are sculpted, and the overwhelming collection of works using diverse materials highlights a contrast of unprecedented scale. Through large-scale installations, paintings, and a new series of works being shown for the first time, this exhibition gives viewers the feeling of deeply immersing themselves in the space itself.

■In-house tenants and outdoor installations

Through collaboration with shops within the building and spaces on the premises, this exhibition will expand its concept to include "food" and "products," developing multifaceted collaborations. In addition, a large-scale three-dimensional artwork will be displayed outdoors in the Step Plaza of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya.

Collaboration projects (food and products)

"I'm donut?" x Yuichi Hirako Collaboration Donuts

A special collaboration with the popular fresh donut shop "I'm donut?".
We will be selling donuts in a limited-edition collaboration box featuring an original design created specifically for this project by Yuichi Hirako.

[Sales Location] 6th Floor Hall *Limited quantities available each day [Brand Website URL] https://peaceput.com/brand/im-donut/
[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/imdonut/

"NEUTRALWORKS." x Yuichi Hirako Collaboration T-shirt

Wellness brand "NEUTRALWORKS." T-shirts feature artwork by Yuichi Hirako.
This is a special piece that can only be obtained at this exhibition.

[Sales Location] NEUTRALWORKS. HIBIYA, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, 3F
[Quantity] 50 pieces [Brand website URL] https://www.neutralworks.jp
[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/neutralworks/

Events during the conference (tours, workshops, talks)

Gallery Tour & Autograph Session <br />A guided tour led by Yuichi Hirako and the exhibition's supervisor, Yuji Akimoto, will be held, followed by an autograph session.

[Date and time] Saturday, September 5th
・11:00-11:30 | Gallery Tour (1st session)
[Target audience and fee] Capacity: 20 people / Free of charge, advance reservation required [Location] 6th floor hall

・13:00-14:00 | Autograph session [Location] 6th floor hall

・15:00-15:30 | Gallery Tour (2nd session)
[Target audience and fee] Capacity: 20 people / Free of charge, advance reservation required [Location] 6th floor hall

Workshop & Autograph Session with Yuichi Hirako <br />After viewing the exhibition hall with commentary on the works by Yuichi Hirako, this special workshop will allow participants to create their own unique artwork by combining their own images of people, nature, and plants, as well as the motifs of the works.

[Date and time] Saturday, September 12th
・11:00-12:00 | Children's Workshop [Target Audience/Fee] Ages 5 to junior high school students (preschoolers must be accompanied by a guardian) / Free *Express your creativity on a single sheet of paper [Location] 9F Conference Room 6

・14:00-16:00 | Workshop for Adults [Target Audience/Fee] Capacity: 20 people / Fee: (Ticket price + 3,000 yen) *Blank picture books will be used [Location] 9F Conference Room 6

・17:00-18:00 | Autograph session [Location] 6th floor hall

Talk Session & Autograph Session <br />Yuji Akimoto and Yuichi Hirako will engage in a multifaceted discussion about the concepts behind their works and the role of art in urban environments.

[Date and Time] September 28th (Monday)
・13:00-14:00 | Talk Session (Yuji Akimoto x Yuichi Hirako)
[Target audience/Price] Paid (ticket price + 500 yen)
[Location] 8F Conference Rooms 1 & 2

・17:00-18:00 | Autograph session [Location] 6th floor hall

■Artist Profile
Yuichi Hirako

Born in Okayama in 1982, currently based in Tokyo.
She graduated from Wimbledon College of Art in the UK with a degree in painting in 2006. Her work focuses on the themes of coexistence between plants, nature, and humans, as well as the ambiguities and questions that arise within that relationship.
My discomfort with defining plants controlled by humans, such as houseplants, street trees, and park plants, as "nature" led me to explore the boundary between nature and humanity in modern society through my artwork.
While primarily focused on painting, their expressive methods are diverse, encompassing drawings, sculptures, installations, and sound performances.
He actively presents his work internationally, including in South Korea, Taiwan, the UK, and the US.

<Comment>
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, located in the heart of a highly sophisticated and efficient metropolis. In this setting, I want to express the unavoidable question: "How should we interact with nature and plants in this modern age, which has been optimized by anthropocentrism?"
In many developed countries, while symbolic themes like environmental protection and SDGs are widely touted, isn't the "raw nature" that we should truly be confronting being left behind? Is the nature we seek for healing actually nothing more than a "highly controlled artificial structure" managed for human convenience?
In this exhibition, "HUMAN AND NATURE," we present the contradictions and indistinct boundaries of nature in cities, which have always been incorporated into the blueprint of humankind. By intervening the works at the heart of our highly developed modern society, what will viewers discover? I myself am very much looking forward to this attempt to shake up the contours of the world as defined by society.

■Planning and Supervision Profile
Yuji Akimoto

Artistic Director of GO FOR KOGEI.
Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts, Special Director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Honorary Professor of the National Tainan University of the Arts, and art critic. Born in Tokyo in 1955. Graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. Involved in art projects on Naoshima Island since 1991.
He has held positions such as Artistic Director of Benesse Art Site Naoshima and Director of Chichu Art Museum (2004–2006), Director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (2007–2017), Director and Professor of the Tokyo University of the Arts University Art Museum (2015–2021), and Director of the Nerima Art Museum (2017–2023), and currently serves as the Artistic Director of GO FOR KOGEI.
His major projects and exhibitions include "Standard" and "Naoshima Standard 2" (Naoshima), the "1st–3rd Kanazawa World Craft Triennale" (Kanazawa, Caotun, Taiwan), "Craft Futurism" (Kanazawa, New York, USA), "Yuichi Inoue 1916–1985 — The Liberation of Calligraphy —" (Paris, Albi, France) as an official program of "Japonismes 2018", and "Art as It Is — Those Who Continue to Express Themselves Unseen —" (Tokyo). His publications include "Art Thinking" (2019, President Inc.).

<Comment>
The plant-headed figures depicted by Yuichi Hirako are neither symbols of nature's glory nor figures that criticize human society. They stand between humans and nature, city and forest, reality and imagination, quietly observing the world as "observers." In this exhibition, paintings and sculptures form a single landscape, and viewers share time with the works as they walk through its interior. Rather than telling a story, this exhibition allows you to experience the essence of Yuichi Hirako's creation—creating a landscape.

■Event Overview
[ Title] "HUMAN AND NATURE"
[Exhibition Period] September 5th (Sat) – October 18th (Sun), 2026 *No closing days during the exhibition period [Opening Hours] 11:00 – 20:00 (Last entry 19:30)
[Venue] Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, 6th Floor Hall [Address] 1-1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya

[Admission Fee]
Online tickets: General admission 2,000 yen / University and vocational school students 1,500 yen / Junior and senior high school students 1,000 yen / Elementary school students and younger: Free Same-day tickets: General admission 2,200 yen / University and vocational school students 1,600 yen / Junior and senior high school students 1,100 yen / Elementary school students and younger: Free

[Ticket Sales]
Tickets will go on sale at various ticket agencies starting Wednesday, July 22, 2026 (tentative).
[Tickets available at] MSP Ticket / ArtSticker / ART PASS / Asoview / Lawson Ticket / Peatix

[Organizer] Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. [Supervision and Planning] Yuji Akimoto, Yuichi Hirako Studio
[Accredited] ARTE (Tokyo International Cultural and Arts Festival) Partner Program

*This event will be held as a certified project of the "ARTE (Tokyo International Culture and Arts Festival) Partner Program".
[Official Website] https://www.hibiya.tokyo-midtown.com/humanandnature.yuichihirako/

About Tokyo Midtown Hibiya

Tokyo Midtown Hibiya is a mixed-use complex housing offices, shops, restaurants, a cinema, and other facilities. Leveraging the sophisticated culture of the Hibiya area, known as a hub for film and theater, and its adjacent natural environment of Hibiya Park, it aims to provide forward-thinking new experiences and new value that stimulates the senses of its visitors. https://www.hibiya.tokyo-midtown.com/jp/about/

About the sustainability of the Mitsui Fudosan Group

Based on the "& mark" philosophy of "creating new value through coexistence, co-existence, and co-creation, and continuing to take on challenges to that end," the Mitsui Fudosan Group views "creating social value" and "creating economic value" as two wheels of a car. We believe that creating social value leads to creating economic value, and that this economic value will then enable us to create even greater social value.
When formulating our new group management philosophy in April 2024, we identified six "GROUP MATERIALITY" (priority issues): 1. Contribution to industrial competitiveness, 2. Coexistence with the environment, 3. Health and vitality, 4. Safety and security, 5. Diversity and inclusion, and 6. Compliance and governance. We will address these material issues through our core business and contribute to sustainability.

【reference】
• "Group Long-Term Management Policy" https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/corporate/innovation2030/
• "Group Materiality" https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/esg_csr/approach/materiality
・“& EARTH for Nature” https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/business/development/earth/for-nature/

Furthermore, in April 2025, we formulated the "＆ EARTH for Nature" declaration, a declaration of coexistence with the environment in urban development. This declaration views the "environment" as an integrated whole of nature, people, and communities, and promotes urban development that expands a rich "environment" and connects it to future generations. The five key priorities of this declaration are "protecting and nurturing greenery," "making the most of the appeal of water," "enriching ecosystems," "connecting the aspirations of the community," and "circulating natural resources." The initiatives described in this press release contribute to one of the key priorities of "＆ EARTH for Nature."