Reunion Statue

2022
Pine, Plaster, Glass, Acrylic
Konjiki Yasha (Authored by Mikihiko Nagata) × Shinichi Kaneko × Oketo

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of "Konjiki Yasha Shuhen" by Mikihiko Nagata, a sculpture titled "Reunion Statue" was installed in Oketo Town, Hokkaido, the setting of the play. This statue was created on-site with the assistance of the local craft brand "Okecraft." 

Collaborators:

Chairman of Oketo Town Tourism Cooperation: Katsushi Nishijima

Director of NPO Oketo Poppo Art Museum: Akio Hosokawa

Technical Support & Production, Cooperative Association Woody House Oketo: Masato Tachibana

Oketo Town Forestry and Woodworking Museum (One Company) Oketo Forestry Culture Promotion Association: Hirofumi Fukui

Technical Support & Production, Okecraft: Takakazu Iwato

Calligraphy on Plaque: Yuga Ishibashi

Plaque Processing: Takashi Kaneko

Supply of Paint: Masao Koga

"The Continuation of Konjiki Yasha," "Oketo," "Reunion Statue"

Set in Atami, "Konjiki Yasha" is a representative unfinished novel from the Meiji era, left incomplete due to the death of Ozaki Koyo. Subsequently, a sequel was written by Mikihiko Nagata from Taisho 6 to Taisho 11, and the story unfolds in the town of Oketo. Kanichi and Omiya overcome a dramatic farewell in Atami to reunite in Oketo.

The "Reunion Statue" was created on-site with the technical collaboration of Shinichi Kaneko, an artist, and Okecraft, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Oketo Poppo Art Museum. The sculpture is designed to represent the scenes of "loneliness," "misunderstanding," and "reunion" between Kanichi and Omiya from different perspectives.

© KANEKO SHINICHI