Shunkado Co., Ltd. (head office: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture; President: Takahiro Yamazaki; hereafter "Shunkado") is holding the "Midnight Prowl of the Mischievous Cat" art exhibition for nine days, from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 27, 2026, at POP UP STORE KANDA, located diagonally across from SWEETS BANK. Through the artwork of "the mischievous cat Maron," created by artist Takahiro Watanabe — who blends solid Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) technique with an Italian sense of color — visitors can enjoy the charm and depth of Japanese chestnuts (waguri).
SWEETS BANK opened in 2021 under the concept of "Let's build up delicious memories," as a place connecting people and the community. It has continued to create opportunities to encounter local culture and locally active artists through art, with past exhibitions including "Kibori no Konno Exhibition," "Anonymous Exhibition IN HAMAMATSU," and "Step In, Taste It: Art Exhibition." Through this exhibition, Shunkado aims to create a place where Hamamatsu residents and children can experience art, enjoy interacting with the works and their creator, and spend an enriching time.
Takahiro Watanabe
Profile: Takahiro Watanabe
- Born in Tokyo; relocated to Hamamatsu City in 2023.
- Graduated from the Department of Japanese-style Painting (Nihonga), Faculty of Art and Design, Musashino Art University; completed the Nihonga course at the same university's Graduate School of Art and Design.
- Also studied at L'Associazione Culturale Lignarius in Rome, Italy.
- An artist who creates work blending solid Nihonga technique with an Italian sense of color.
- In addition to flat-panel works, active in a wide range of pursuits including collaborations with other industries, mural painting, and live art.
The model for Maron in this exhibition is "Chloe," a stray cat Watanabe met after moving to Hamamatsu. He overlaps his own experience of starting a new life in Hamamatsu with Chloe's experience of living as a stray cat in a new place, expressing it as one of the themes of his work.
Event Overview
"Midnight Prowl of the Mischievous Cat"
- Dates: September 19 (Sat) to 27 (Sun), 2026, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Venue: Shunkado POP UP STORE KANDA (diagonally across from SWEETS BANK), 553 Kanda-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Admission: Free
Shunkado POP UP STORE KANDA
