ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) opened ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE in the CI Plaza, a commercial facility situated next to ITOCHU’s Tokyo Head Office, in October 2012. The gallery was part of ITOCHU’s social contribution activities, with the aim of developing the future generation through art, contributing to the local community, and promoting both local and international art and culture. Various exhibitions have since been held in the space.

In cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education, the “Tokyo Metropolitan Schools for Special Needs - Art Project Exhibition ‘Coloring the city of Tokyo’” will be held at the ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE, in order to showcase the work of pupils with superior artistic talent who attend Tokyo Metropolitan Schools for Special Needs.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education has been working to promote education in the arts in order to extend the range of artistic abilities of each pupil attending Tokyo Metropolitan Schools for Special Needs. This is the first art project exhibition staged by the Schools, put together out of a desire to communicate the superb talents of the pupils to a wider audience. Works were solicited from pupils attending one of the 57 Tokyo Metropolitan Schools for Special Needs and judged by Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Fine Arts, with 40 pieces selected to be exhibited.

ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE has held numerous exhibitions that support people with disabilities. We hope you will come and see the works of these talented pupils from Tokyo Metropolitan Schools for Special Needs, and that the feelings expressed by every child will touch your heart.

Tokyo Metropolitan Schools for Special Needs Art Project Exhibition “Coloring the city of Tokyo”