Preface
Hirono Town is now accepting applications for artists to participate in its Artist-in-Residence (hereinafter referred to as “AIR”) program for fiscal year 2025.
Hirono Town, located in Fukushima Prefecture’s coastal area, suffered significant damage from the tsunami following the Great East Japan Earthquake. The town is also famous for the significant role that J-Village Stadium, located in the northern part of the town, played in the response to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Hirono Town is also blessed with abundant natural beauty, with Iwasawa Surf Point located at the northern end of the town. In 1986, hadrosaurid and tyrannosaurid fossils were discovered, in 2016 an 88-million-year-old metasequoia fossil was discovered, and around 2020, a rare ammonite fossil, the likes of which had rarely been excavated before, was discovered.
However, despite the abundance of attractive tourist attractions scattered throughout Fukushima Prefecture, Hirono Town has struggled to attract attention, making it difficult to promote the region’s appeal. To address this issue, Hirono Town has been implementing an AIR program since 2023, where artists stay and create works while interacting with Hirono residents, focusing on local traditional events and legends. In 2023, the residency program focused on the “Torigoya” festival, a traditional Hirono town ritual held as the Sainokami, and in 2024, it focused on the “Pine Tree of Sunrise” legend, which has been passed down in Hirono town since the Heian period and is associated with Anju and Zushiomaru story.This year’s residency program will focus on the theme of “Takakurayama.”
Artists who have experienced Hirono AIR have gone on to achieve remarkable success. We encourage you to apply.
Eligibility
- Be Japanese nationals, or hold permanent residency in Japan, or hold a Japanese government-issued highly skilled professional visa, or working visa, or student visa, or designated visa, or entrepreneurial visa. In short, artists who has confirmed that they will stay in Japan legally until the end of March next year and is currently living in Tokyo Metropolis, Chiba prefecture, Saitama prefecture, or Kanagawa prefecture.
- Have a current address in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, or Kanagawa prefectures.
- 18 years of age or older at the time of application. Students are welcome to apply.
- Have at least one year of experience as contemporary artist.
- Be able to come to Hirono Town once a month to carry out AIR activities during the residency period.
- Be willing to build good relationships with the residents of Hirono Town, administrative staff, and other artists participating in the residency program during the same period.
- Be able to pledge not to have any ties with anti-social forces.
- Be able to abide by Japanese laws and regulations throughout the entire duration of the residency, and to follow the instructions of the AIR Organizing Committee and the administrator of the venue where the AIR activity is taking place while in Hirono Town.
About Takakurayama (mountain)
Three rivers flow through Hirono Town, from north to south: Kitaza River, Asami River, and Oriki River. Takakurayama is a 122.5m high mountain located between the Asami River and Oriki River. There is a walking trail that makes it easy to climb.
During the Sengoku period, the Iwaki clan, who ruled the area from present-day Iwaki City to Tomioka Town, built a castle on this mountain. However, in 1534, the castle was captured by the Soma clan, who invaded from the north. Takakura Castle was later returned to the Iwaki clan as a result of a peace agreement between the Iwaki and Soma clans. However, it is believed that the Iwaki clan’s disobeying Tokugawa Ieyasu’s orders during the Battle of Sekigahara led to the Iwaki clan’s confiscation of their territory in the Hamadori region and the abandonment of Takakura Castle.
For Hirono AIR in 2025, we are open to proposals for residency projects themed around this mountain, which is deeply connected to the history of Hirono Town.
How to create your research plan in Hirono
- The theme does not necessarily have to be the battle between the Soma and Iwaki clans during the Sengoku period.
- Feel free to use your imagination when planning your artwork, such as exploring the flora and fauna, topography, geology, minerals, legends surrounding Takakurayama, or the memories of the townspeople about Takakurayama.
- Please be sure to prepare both a plan for your research (literature research, interviews, field surveys, etc.) and an explanation of the artwork that will be created based on that research (materials, form, etc.).
- Possible formats for the final work include painting, sculpture, photography, video art, mixed media, textile art, media art, installation, sound art, etc.
Timetable
Thursday, September 25, 2025: Call for applications begins
Friday, October 17, 2025: Application deadline
Monday, October 27, 2025: Artists announced
November 2025: Residency kickoff in Hirono Town (dates will be adjusted after the invited artists are confirmed)
*Please participate in the “Machinaka Marche” held in the town at least once at the end of the month. This is the quickest way to build relationships with the townspeople.
*Please hold at least one workshop for townspeople.
*During the residency period, we will hold workshops to discuss dual residence, including Hirono Town, or relocating to Hirono Town. Dual residence is like establishing a second base (such as a shared studio) in Hirono Town.
Early March 2026: Group Exhibition held in Hirono Town (attendance required)
Mid-March 2026: End of residency (submit all required documents to the secretariat)
Conditions and Requirements
- The 2025 AIR program will run from November 2025 to March 2026.
- Group Exhibition of invited artists will be held in Hirono Town in March 2026 (participation is required).
- Accommodation (single room, up to 25 nights), excluding meals, will be provided. Accommodation will be at Hatago Inn Fukushima Hirono.
- Round-trip transportation costs from your residence to Hirono Station (up to five round trips) will be provided.
- Art production costs (up to ¥50,000, actual costs based on receipts) will be provided.
- The completed work will be donated to Hirono Town. In the case of an editioned work, the first edition will become the property of Hirono Town.
- During the program, participants will be allowed to stay in Hirono Town with their family once (they will be staying in the “trial housing” run by Hirono Town).
- Participants will be required to submit a monthly activity schedule and activity report (template provided) to the secretariat.
- After the Dual Residence/Migration Consideration Workshop, participants will be asked to submit a report summarizing the discussion. This report will be shared with Hirono Town’s migration promotion project. The secretariat will support participants in preparing the report.
Documents
- CV
- Artist Statement
- Portfolio
- Project Proposal
- A brief essay about Hirono Town (content is free, including your experience visiting Hirono Town, your impressions of Hirono Town, and your hopes for the future relationship between you and Hirono Town. Approximately 600-800 words)
Number of artists invited
3
Jury Panel
- Yuko Takahashi (Curator of the “Engawa no Ie” Gallery in Hirono)
- Minori Aoki (Hirono International AIR “TORIGOYA” Project invited artist)
- Futaba Future High School Art Club
- Hirono Town Hall Staff
Notes
- During the program, artists may flexibly adjust the date of their visit to Hirono Town according to their own schedules, but all participants are required to attend the kick-off event and the final group exhibition opening.
- The kick-off event will feature a lecture on Takakurayama, so even those who are not good at Japanese history will be welcome.
- An online information session will be held during the application period. We are also accepting inquiries at any time.
- The screening process will include a score adjustment system for applicants who have been unable to fully pursue artistic activities due to pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare, so even those with the above experiences are welcome to apply.
- Travel within the town will be by foot or rental bicycle (the winter climate in Hirono Town is almost the same as in Tokyo). Please consult the secretariat if there is research that requires the use of a car.
- The organizing committee staff will do their utmost to support artists in ensuring a successful residency, but the program relies on each artist’s proactive research and communication.
- This program aims to enable artists to develop their skills and careers as artists by conducting research and creating art in Hirono. Please understand that this is not a commissioned work program.
Application Form
Please upload your documents to this application form.
Please check twice before uploading!
☑ Is your resume written correctly? Many people make mistakes, especially when it comes to sorting their resume in ascending or descending order, even though they know the correct format, so be sure to check it again.
☑ Is your artist statement written in simple? Complicated sentences won’t get the message across to judges.
☑ Does your portfolio contain the five best pieces of work that will convey to the judges what you want to create in Hirono Town?
☑ Are your residency proposal and essay pasted directly into your application by a generative AI? Remember, sincere words that convey your breath and warmth are your most powerful weapon.
☑ Rename the file to “Hirono AIR2025 Application_YourFullName.docx”.
☑ Finally, erase all notes written in red. Leaving any of these will indicate a lack of administrative ability and result in a significant drop in your score.