Eight days in the underground of Ginza where scenery and cats blend together, by Sohei Inaba, Ryusei Ono, Yusuke Tachikawa, Hiroyuki Nakatsugawa, Saki Matsumura, and Yoshifumi.
From Thursday, August 20th to Wednesday, August 26th, 2026, for seven days, the exhibition "Scenery and Cats," featuring works by six unique artists, will be held at YOHAKU, the underground gallery of the Ginza Apollo Showakan in Ginza, Tokyo. The exhibition showcases landscapes and cats playfully blending together in a cool and refreshing atmosphere. Admission to this exhibition is free.
Highlights of the exhibition
This exhibition brings together six elite artists: Sohei Inaba, Ryusei Ono, Yusuke Tachikawa, Hiroyuki Nakatsugawa, Saki Matsumura, and Yoshifumi (in alphabetical order).
In the secluded white gallery "YOHAKU" nestled beneath Ginza, please come and experience how six different worlds harmonize and engage in dialogue.
Artist Introduction (in alphabetical order)
Sohei Inaba
Sculptor Sohei Inaba carves out the supple forms of life from the very presence of wood and stone.
"I resonate with the idea that even if something appears to deviate from common sense, if it is true, it is beautiful."
The cats he has created, as he says, not only have beautiful fur texture and bone structure,
It captures even their capricious breathing and the hints of their intentions lurking beneath their fur, bringing them to life in three dimensions.
Sohei Inaba
| A definite form is born from the struggle between substance and space. My goal in my creative work is to explore the form of the "ego" that resides in the unconscious realm, shaped by pre-existing predispositions. The act of creating itself is an instinctive human activity that has continued uninterrupted since primitive times. In carrying on diverse styles and sensibilities into contemporary expression, I hope to discover my own individuality. We continue our daily explorations with the aim of creating serene and essential "forms" in places where matter and space intersect, transcending the boundaries of individual domains. |
Onoryusei
Onori Ryusei says he wants to create works that allow viewers to recall their own precious memories and the cherished moments of everyday life. With the theme of "how much information can be stripped away from what humans can perceive," he carefully captures the casual scenes and moments of everyday life, and the warmth of the emotions contained within them, and weaves them into his works. One of the charms of his works is their texture. They feel smooth and comfortable in the palm of your hand. Each cat is different in weight and feel. Literally, you will never encounter two works that are the same. May you find your destined cat.
Onoryusei
| My work is based on themes such as "the time we have here and now" and "the small joys of everyday life." I want to create, touch, preserve, and hold in tangible form those fleeting moments and invisible fluctuations of emotion that pass by day after day. |
Yusuke Tachikawa
Yusuke Tachikawa views the nighttime of modern cities as part of the "original landscape," depicting "nights that pierce the hearts" of people living in the present. Rather than simply depicting cityscapes, he portrays the changes that occur during the night, the perspective of "light that embraces good and evil, beauty and ugliness," and the "light that illuminates people's hearts."
The nighttime landscapes emerging from the darkness seem to reflect a warmth that breathes within them, a stark contrast to the silence. Standing before the contrast between the heavy, dense darkness and the delicate yet powerful light—like bubbles that irregularly rise to the surface no matter how much you try to push them to the bottom of the water—you will be enveloped in a strange feeling, as if you are being drawn into the night. His canvases vividly unleash the unfathomable brilliance that the night holds.
Yusuke Tachikawa
| The nighttime cityscape may now be a primal landscape for those of us living in the present. Beautiful, despite feeling a sense of immorality. And facing this gentle world of light, it is a "light that illuminates the heart" that stays close to the people living in the present. I want to become a painter who can depict such things. |
Hiroyuki Nakatsugawa
Nagano's clear air and mountains, and the water that flows with a refreshing coolness even in the height of summer—painter Hiroyuki Nakatsugawa, drawing on his rich natural experiences, explores a multifaceted world where ever-changing natural landscapes deeply intertwine, drawing on his depictions of "changing time and light."
His unique painting technique involves skillfully controlling the texture of the paints to depict and reconstruct a timeline on the canvas. The way the paintings change expression as the viewer moves through them is like witnessing the very nature of the ever-changing world. Standing before works where time and light are fixed, we are drawn into the profound and infinite abyss of light.
Hiroyuki Nakatsugawa
| At the root of our culture lies the concept of impermanence (that everything is in flux). If this concept was created within a different sense of time than that of the present day, I would like to consider what we have forgotten within our civilization. |
Matsumura Saki
Drawing on his experience growing up in a ski resort town, he creates works that evoke the texture of the earth, the lines of skiing, and layers of interwoven colors and shapes, inviting viewers into imaginary landscapes. This exhibition showcases his landscape paintings from the "Mountain" and "Moon Phases" series. "Mountain" is a work that experientially depicts his hometown ski resort, inspired by Cézanne's Mont Sainte-Victoire. He superimposes the history of skiing, the development of ski resorts, and the history of Western painting that influenced him onto the landscape. "Moon Phases" began with the rise in land prices in his hometown, and he creates his own small-scale landscapes by layering paint. These are small, diorama-like landscapes that can also be viewed from a macro or micro perspective. The series of works offers different perspectives on landscapes.
Matsumura Saki
| I like to incorporate contrasting elements into my paintings, such as having two surfaces in one image: one with raised paint and another with a flat, printed surface. I find it fascinating how they exist in such a delicate balance, constantly clashing with each other. |
Yoshifumi
Yoshifumi creates art based on the theme of the relationship between life and emotions.
Inspired by cats, beings that have walked alongside humans throughout history, quietly observing their contradictions and emotions,
It depicts a world where opposing forces coexist.
Emotions and life are inseparable.
Conflict and harmony, imperfection and beauty, transience and strength. I believe that the essence of "living" resides in this constantly fluctuating balance.
Yoshifumi
| Through vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes, the artist expresses the energy emanating from life and the beauty of existence. Through the existence of cats, the film depicts a world where opposing elements such as conflict and harmony, order and chaos, transience and strength coexist. |
Ginza Apollo Showakan YOHAKU Special Exhibition "Scenery and Cats" – Exhibition Overview
Exhibition name: Ginza Apollo Showakan YOHAKU Special Exhibition "Scenery and Cats"
Date: August 20th (Thursday) – August 26th (Wednesday), 2026
Hours: 12:00 – 19:00 (until 17:00 on the last day only)
Admission: Free Venue: YOHAKU (Gallery space in Ginza, Tokyo)
Address: 4-12-20 B1, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
Access: 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Higashi-Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Toei Asakusa Line (near Kabuki-za Theatre)
Ginza Apollo Showakan YOHAKU
Ginza Apollo Showakan's "YOHAKU" is a "blank space" for artists. We hope it will be the best possible blank space for the artwork. We also value the "space" that allows viewers to deeply engage with the artwork and for the artist's thoughts to spread into the viewer's heart.
Regardless of genre, we widely open our doors to solo and group exhibitions, creating an environment that makes it easy for art students and young artists to take on challenges.
Ginza Apollo Showa Museum
The Ginza Apollo Showa-kan is a valuable building constructed during the reconstruction period following the Great Kanto Earthquake, and has witnessed the transformation of the Ginza district over the years.
In Ginza, a district constantly undergoing demolition and reconstruction, this space, which retains the charm of the early Showa era while being reborn with modern technology, offers a unique experience where nostalgia and modernity blend seamlessly.
Although YOHAKU is located on the first basement floor, it is surprisingly bright and spacious, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle above ground. It's a pleasant space with a quiet and clean atmosphere.
Access to Ginza Apollo Showakan YOHAKU
Exterior view of Ginza Apollo Showa-kan
• Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line/Toei Asakusa Line "Higashi-Ginza Station": 1 minute walk from Exit 3 • Tokyo Metro Ginza Line/Marunouchi Line "Ginza Station": 5 minute walk from Exit A7 • JR "Yurakucho Station": 10 minute walk from the Central Exit, right at Miharabashi intersection *The venue is located on the B1 floor of "Ginza Apollo Showa-kan".
[Ginza Apollo Showakan YOHAKU] Press Release
<Related articles from the past>
[Ginza Wako] "Four-Petaled Flower Fragrance II: Glass, Lacquer, Metal, Wood" will be held from September 10th (Thursday).