The Kawabe Yūwa Artists Village Project

 

 
 
The Kawabe Yūwa Chamber of Commerce is launching a project titled “Community Development Through Art.” The initiative aims to promote networking among artists in the Kawabe and Yūwa regions while sharing information about special classes in local elementary and junior high schools and trial lessons in artist studios. The project also seeks to expand the population of visitors and promote cultural exchange.
 
3 Highlights of the Kawabe Yūwa Area
We will introduce the remarkable people and things in Kawabe Yūwa.
 
1.Artist
2.Spring water
3.Nature
 
1. Artists
The Kawabe Yūwa region is home to many fascinating artists including Daisaku Sōma.
Mr. Sōma has held solo exhibitions and participated in exhibitions in various locations including Akita Prefecture, Ginza in Tokyo, Nagano, and Khabarovsk in Russia. He decided to set up his studio in Kawabe Yūwa, seeking a peaceful environment that would allow him to draw inspiration from the natural surroundings and immerse himself in his work.

Mr. Sōma often ventures into nature to create his art, capturing the essence of the places that inspire him. The peaceful environment of Kawabe Yūwa, coupled with its good access to Akita Airport and the old Akita City, makes it an ideal location for his creative process.
 
His mentor is an Impressionist painter, so he follows the Impressionist style, but his works also reflect feelings deeper than the five senses in his works.
Mountains and oceans, deep forests, and grassland hills…
“Sometimes I feel the landscape calls me to paint it,” he says, describing his connection to the area.
Visit “Kawabe Yūwa” where Mr. Sōma gets inspiration for his art.
 

The studio, housed in a renovated traditional house in Kawabe Yūwa, showcases a variety of works. You can even purchase these unique, one-of-a-kind pieces on-site.
 

Kawabe Yūwa is often referred to as the “Craft Area,” as many artists live and work here. In a local square, a sign created with local elementary school children reads “くらふとえりあ” (Craft Area) in colorful Japanese characters, and it stands as a symbol of the community.
 

2. Spring Water

Maruyama Spring Village (Maruyama Yūsui no Sato)
Located at the base of the mountain near Maruyama town, this spring is surrounded by a small park created by volunteers and is a beloved local spot.



Toshima Spring (Toshima Shimizu)
At the end of a cherry tree-lined tunnel in Toshima, clear water springs up just before the entrance to the Nanamagari Airport Industrial Park.
 

Ishinomaki Spring (Ishinomaki no Shimizu)
Famous for the haiku by poet Rogetsu Ishii, who wrote “The spring overflows and flows into the great river.” This spring is known for its refreshing taste and has long been used as drinking water by the local community. Though no longer used as drinking water due to the spread of public water systems, it still serves restaurants and tea ceremonies, with some people coming from outside the town to collect the water. 

Seseragi Village Spring (Seseragi no Sato Shimizu)
Located further along the path past the Funoshino Falls, this spring collects water flowing from upstream and is regularly cleaned by the Tonobuchi Club.

3. Nature

Soya Gorge (Sōyakyō)
Located along the upper Iwami River, Soya Gorge is a renowned scenic spot, with a massive precipice that stretches 300 meters on both sides. The gorge is especially famous for its vibrant autumn foliage and is listed as one of Akita’s Thirty Scenic Views. Beyond the gorge lies Iwami Gorge, and Omata River with breathtaking views like the Tōnobuchi Falls and the three-tiered Funoshino Falls.
Visit Soya Gorge in autumn to experience its stunning beauty, which can only be seen during that time of year.