Where: Iiyama Cultural Hall Natura - Big Hall
*Sign-up not needed, free seating

Speaker: Takashi Kadokura
Note: Lecture is conducted in Japanese only.

BRICs Economic Research Institute President Takashi Kadokura is an economist that has appeared on various TV shows. In these uncertain times, why not learn easy-to-understand economics from Mr. Kadokura?

Where: Iiyama City Furusato Hall (Click HERE to open in Google Maps)
Who: Iiyama City Residents ages 6 and above (adults are welcome!)
Capacity: 20 people (Please call 0269-67-2030 to sign up)
Fee: 300 yen
RSVP deadline: Jul 6 (Sun)
Note: Sign-up and the workshop are conducted in Japanese only.

The Japanese paper used will be Uchiyama paper, which is a nationally designated traditional craft of Japan. Create your own lampshade while feeling the warmth of Uchiyama paper!

Where: In front of Kosuge Shrine Hall (Click HERE to open in Google Maps)

Kosuge’s Hashiramatsu Event is a nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property. Formerly held every year, this event has been held once every three years since 1968. Two children between the ages of 5 and 7 (matsumiko) will purify themselves the day before, stay overnight at the Kosuge Inner Shrine, and participate in a divination-like event on the day.

On that day, two pillars made of branches, representing “peace and tranquility” and “good harvest” respectively, will be set up in front of the shrine hall. After performing some rituals, the matsumiko will race to light the grass at the top of the pillars with the help of young men. After lighting the fire, they will climb down the pillar and race to a special rock, and whoever arrives first “wins.” It will be a peaceful year if the child who climbed the “peace and tranquility” pillar arrived first, and vice versa.

Find out for yourself to see whether this year will be peaceful or will have good harvest!

Where: Iiyama City Art Museum (Click HERE to open in Google Maps)
Hours: 9:30~17:00 (last entry at 16:30) (Closed on Mon, or Tue if Mon is a public holiday)
Admission: 600 yen (adult), 400 yen (elementary and junior high school students

Special Artist Talk “Your Mountains, My Mountains”
Guests: fuyuji, Saki Matsumura
Date and Time: July 5 (Sat) 14:00~15:30
Place: Iiyama City Art Museum Lobby
Theme: The two guests made opposite moves in order to create art - fuyuji moved to Iiyama City from Kyoto and Matsumura moved to Kyoto from Nozawaonsen Village. During this talk, they will discuss about the nature they have seen and how it has influenced their work.

Fuyuji is an artist living in the Mizuho area of Iiyama City. His works depict an extraordinary and highly abstract spiritual world while incorporating figurative forms. In recent years, under the theme of “coexistence of human and nature,” his work has dynamically evolved, with the shapes of his canvases changing from rectangular to irregular and the colors becoming more vivid and bright.

Where: Iiyama City Furusato Hall (Click HERE to open in Google Maps)
Hours: 9:00~17:00 (last entry at 16:30) (Closed on Mon, or next weekday if Mon is a public holiday)
Admission: 200 yen (adult), 100 yen (junior high school student or under)
            *Free entry for elementary and junior high school students of Iiyama City

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the selection of “Kosuge Village and Mt. Kosuge Cultural Landscape” in Mizuho, Iiyama City as a National Important Cultural Landscape, the charm of Kosuge, and Iiyama City’s Cultural landscape initiatives will be introduced during this exhibition.