ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) opened ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE in the CI Plaza, and is co-sponsoring ART BATTLES TOKYO, Japan’s first art performance event. This is also an event for commemorating the 4th anniversary of ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE.

ITOCHU opened ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE for the purpose of the growth of next generations, community contribution and promoting art and culture within and outside Japan through art as part of its social contribution activities. It has attracted a total of more than 150,000 visitors to date. To commemorate the 4th anniversary of ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE on October 26, Japan’s first ART BATTLES, which have been held in seven countries around the world so far, including France and Spain as well as New York, USA, will be held at ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE in the CI Plaza on October 28, 2016.

ART BATTLES TOKYO is intended to provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy art that is shared beyond language barriers in a manner that is closer and more familiar to them, as well as to introduce future-generation artists widely to the general public. At the event, several artists will compete against one another in an art performance involving creating works simultaneously within a limited period of time. The competition will involve eight participating artists selected through applications that were open to the public. Among the judges are PESU-ART, who has won the ART BATTLES held in New York five times, and designer Junko Koshino.

A variety of events for the growth of next-generation artists have been held at ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE. ITOCHU will co-sponsor the right for the competition winner to hold a solo exhibition at ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE so that future-generation artists participating in this event can achieve further leaps in the future. ITOCHU will continue to hold events under the theme of achieving the solution of social issues through art.

ART BATTLES is an art performance competition that commenced in New York in 2001. The event is popular due to its high-level impact and the entertainment provided by the participating artists, who compete to finish live paintings within a limited period of time. The events held to date include an MTV-sponsored competition and competitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. More than 2500 audiences have been gathered for each event. In addition, the event enjoys strong popularity in the art scenes around the world in seven countries, including the United States, the UK, France and Spain.

All participating artists create works on canvas using acrylic paint simultaneously within a limited time, sixty minutes. How enthusiastic and energized the audience becomes will be also considered by judges for the determination of the winner.

Won a national Double Dutch competition and was a semi-finalist in an international Double Dutch competition. She currently appears in numerous media events as a member of the professional Double Dutch team “REG-STYLE,” as well as acting as a judge and competition moderator. She also participates in a broad range of activities as a model and a regular radio personality.

The following eight participants were selected from among the candidates nominated in applications that were open to the public.