ASAMA KUZANBO, a private villa resort in Kita-Karuizawa, Gunma, launched its Artist-in-Residence Program in November 2025. Backed by the Kita-Karuizawa Tourism Association, the program invites artists for an extended creative stay at the resort, with the natural landscape of Kita-Karuizawa serving as a source of inspiration.
The inaugural resident is Yugo Kohrogi, a painter with an extensive international profile who is scheduled to stay at the resort from April through May 2026.
Background: Art and Nature in Kita-Karuizawa
The Kita-Karuizawa and Karuizawa area has historically been a hub for artists and cultural figures, with multiple museums and creative studios throughout the region. ASAMA KUZANBO itself was developed with art integrated into its architecture and interiors, under the supervision of internationally recognized designer Junko Koshino.
The Artist-in-Residence Program builds on this cultural environment, aiming to create new connections between the natural setting and contemporary creative practice.
Yugo Kohrogi, "Rise" (上る), 2025, oil on canvas, h.1455 × w.1120mm
2026 Program and Artist Selection
Applications for the 2026 program were accepted from November to December 2025 and drew interest from a range of artists including illustrators, sculptors, and installation artists. Yugo Kohrogi was selected from among them.
Kohrogi has participated in artist-in-residence programs in Spain and Bulgaria, has works held in the Takahashi Ryutaro Collection — one of Japan's most significant contemporary art collections — and has served as a lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts. His stated wish to "immerse in nature and take on landscape painting" aligned with what ASAMA KUZANBO envisioned for the program.
A Month in the Spring Landscape
From April through May 2026, Kohrogi will use the Deluxe Suite "Cassiopeia" as his atelier for approximately one month. The suite underwent a partial bedroom renovation in March 2026.
The Deluxe Suite "Cassiopeia" (partially renovated in March 2026)
During his stay, Kohrogi plans to focus on color research and closely observe the subtle changes in Kita-Karuizawa's spring — the snow gradually clearing from Mt. Asama, the emerging greens of new vegetation, and the strengthening spring light. A public exhibition and workshop are planned following the residency period.
Art Exhibition: April 29 – May 5
An exhibition of works created during the residency will be held at the resort's restaurant "Tenkū Dining" from April 29 (Wednesday, public holiday) through May 5 (Tuesday, public holiday), 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Alongside completed paintings, visitors can also view color sketches and notes from the creative process, offering a closer look at how the works came together.
Workshop: "Painting Mt. Asama, Light, and Wind with All Five Senses"
An oil painting workshop led by Kohrogi is scheduled on the opening day of the exhibition.
| Date | April 29 (Wednesday, public holiday), 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
| Capacity | 10 participants (reservation required, first-come-first-served) |
| Age | Elementary school age and above (younger children may join with a parent) |
| Fee | ¥2,000 (includes canvas, materials, fresh doughnuts, and coffee) |
| What to bring | Apron, clothes that can get dirty |
| Reservations | https://kuzanbo-mini-fiesta.square.site/ |
The workshop is designed to be approachable for beginners, with guidance on the joys and possibilities of oil painting.
Artist Profile
Yugo Kohrogi — Painter, born in Kumamoto in 1982. Completed graduate studies at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts.
Kohrogi's work focuses on the flickering quality of light, the shifting nature of color, and the act of perception itself, drawing out subtle beauty from everyday scenes and the natural world. He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions across Japan. In 2025, he held solo exhibitions at Seiriki Art Museum (Fukuoka) titled "Longing for What Passes" and at Kyoto Tsutaya Gallery titled "Fluctus," and received the Excellence Award at the Fukuoka Art Award.
Website: https://www.oguy.jp/ | Instagram: @yugokohrogi
"I am looking forward to seeing how the experience of staying and creating at ASAMA KUZANBO will change my work and sensibility. I will focus my research particularly on color, paying close attention to subtle shifts in nature and the nuances within. Drawing on the sensations that arise from engaging with this place's unique culture and people, I hope to convey the appeal of Kita-Karuizawa through my work."
5th Anniversary Year
ASAMA KUZANBO marks its 5th anniversary on April 26, 2026 (Sunday). The theme for this anniversary year is "The sky, the mountain, and five senses alive at Asama — and beyond." Throughout 2026, the resort plans to offer experiences centered on the nature and changing seasons of Kita-Karuizawa.
