A special spring lobby exhibition is underway at Hotel Granvia Wakayama (Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture) from February 25 through mid-March 2026. Now in its fifth year of collaboration with the Kudoyama Town Residents Club, the hotel's first-floor lobby has been transformed with an array of historical dolls and traditional spring artworks.
The centerpiece of the display is "Daisuke Yume Juushi," a striking ensemble of warrior dolls crafted by sculptors Aritsune and Kiyoko Niiyama, a husband-and-wife duo based in Kudoyama. Four newly added "brother warriors" join the existing cast this year, making the arrangement more impressive than ever. Alongside them, hina (traditional princess) dolls on loan from local households and charming scarecrows created by the Kudoyama Town Residents Club fill the lobby with the color and warmth of spring. A dedicated photo spot where visitors can pose with the scarecrow dolls is also available.
"Daisuke Yume Juushi" – Background and Story
The central theme of this work is Sanada Daisuke, the son of the legendary warlord Sanada Yukimura, who was born in Kudoyama during his father's more than 14-year residency in the area. Daisuke fought alongside his father at the age of 14 and is said to have taken his own life upon hearing of his father's death.
Having heard many people — both locals and visitors to Kudoyama — express their sympathy for Daisuke's short but steadfast life, the artists were moved to give shape to his spirit and created these dolls. This year, brother warrior figures have been newly added, making Daisuke's dream world livelier than ever.
Note: There are various historical accounts regarding Sanada Daisuke.
About the Artists
Aritsune Niiyama (husband)
Born in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Graduated from Kobe Design University.
Kiyoko Niiyama (wife)
Born in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture.
The couple live in Kudoyama, Wakayama, and are known for their collaborative creative process — nurturing ideas through conversation and turning them into tangible artworks. Kiyoko primarily handles concepts and production support, while Aritsune focuses on the doll-making itself.
Past Exhibitions:
- 2017–2021: Kudoyama Art Week (Wakayama)
- 2021, 2023, 2025: Kudoyama Arts Festival 2021/2023/2025 (Wakayama)
- 2023–2025: Doll Festa IV, V, VI (Nagano)
- 2025: "Thirty-Tier Display of One Thousand Hina Dolls" – "Rabbit Hina Dolls" on loan / Museum of World Folk Dolls (Nagano)
- 2026: "Thirty-Tier Display of One Thousand Hina Dolls" – "Divine Horse Hina Dolls" on display / Museum of World Folk Dolls (Nagano)
Straw Horses by the Kudoyama Town Residents Club
In honor of the Year of the Horse, the Kudoyama Town Residents Club crafted around 20 straw horses for the lobby display. Each horse is adorned with shide (zigzag paper streamers) created under the guidance of the head priest of Nibu Kanshōfu Shrine, with wishes for a good year woven into every piece.
The Kudoyama Town Residents Club operates under the belief that it is the local residents who bring a community to life. Their signature event, the machiya doll tour (18th edition), takes place each spring when residents display hina dolls and children's day dolls in front of their machiya (traditional townhouses). The hotel's lobby exhibition also serves as a preview and an invitation for visitors to experience the full event in Kudoyama Town.
The 18th machiya doll tour is scheduled from April 1 (Wednesday) through May 5 (Tuesday) in Kudoyama Town.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition Period: February 25, 2026 (Wednesday) – mid-March 2026
Location: Hotel Granvia Wakayama, 1F Lobby (Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture)
