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. A number of exhibitions have since been held in the space.

ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE will hold an exhibition of works by Ms. Shoko Kanazawa, a calligrapher, called “Prayer for Peace.”
This May, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima, a city that was devastated by an atomic bomb in World War II, the first incumbent president to do so. In addition, a peace festival was held in Rio de Janeiro in September. It can be said that 2016 would be the year for people around the world to pin their hopes on peace.
Through energetic activities all over Japan, while having Down syndrome, Ms. Kanazawa expresses her feelings and hopes in her calligraphy works under the theme “prayer for peace”. We very much hope that many people will come and view her works.