Grand Front Osaka will dress its iconic art installation "Ted Hyber -Coool-" in a special summer decoration for the entire month of July 2026. The 3.5-meter green bear sculpture, located at うめきた広場, will appear in a happi coat to coincide with the Umeda Yukata Festival 2026 (梅田ゆかた祭2026) running across the Umeda area.
Ted Hyber -Coool- Gets a Summer Makeover
"Ted Hyber -Coool-" is a large-scale work by French contemporary artist Fabrice Hyber, depicting a green bear standing 3.5 meters tall. Since its installation in 2018 during Grand Front Osaka's 5th anniversary celebrations, it has become a symbol of Umeda and a popular photo spot for visitors. The sculpture has been dressed in seasonal and event-themed decorations on numerous occasions over the years.
For the July 2026 special decoration, the sculpture will be dressed in a happi coat — a traditional Japanese festival coat — to greet visitors during the Umeda Yukata Festival 2026. This year marks the 13th edition of the festival, supported by 47 corporate sponsors and 132 facilities and shops participating across the Umeda area.
Decoration period: July 1 (Wednesday) – July 31 (Friday), 2026
Location: Grand Front Osaka, うめきた広場 water feature (4-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka)
Note: The decoration design shown is a rendering; actual installation may differ.
Collaboration Campaign with Umeda Yukata Festival 2026
During the Umeda Yukata Festival at the Grand Front Osaka venue, food and drink stalls will be set up at うめきた広場. Guests who purchase drinks or food from participating stalls will receive an original "Ted Hyber -Coool-" sticker as a gift.
Dates: July 10 (Friday) and 11 (Saturday), from approximately 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Grand Front Osaka, うめきた広場
One sticker per transaction, while supplies last.
Umeda Yukata Festival 2026 Overview
The 13th Umeda Yukata Festival 2026 (第13回 梅田ゆかた祭2026) runs from July 10 (Friday) to July 31 (Friday), 2026, across five venues in the Umeda area, with the aim of bringing together workers, residents, and visitors in Japan's largest commercial district in western Japan.
Venues: Grand Front Osaka / Hankyu / Osaka Station City / ONthe UMEDA / Diamond-West Umeda area
Organizer: Umeda Yukata Festival Executive Committee (Umeda Area Management Liaison Council, City of Osaka, Mash Co., Ltd.)
Official website: https://umeda-connect.jp/yukata/matsuri2026/
Events at Grand Front Osaka
Umeda Bon Odori (Bon Dance)
Traditional and contemporary-style bon odori (Japanese bon dances) open to everyone will take place on the yagura stage at うめきた広場.
Dates: July 10 (Friday) and 11 (Saturday), 6:00 PM – approximately 8:30 PM
Location: うめきた広場
Admission: Free
Produced in cooperation with the Osaka Minyou Instructors Federation and the Dance Instructors Association, with community support from the Umeda Higashi Rengo Shinko Chokai and the Kita Ward Women's Community Association.
Umeda Water-Sprinkling Campaign (Uchimizu Daisakusen)
A traditional Japanese summer practice of sprinkling water to cool the streets will be held at two locations with the call of "Cool down, Umeda!" The custom is preserved as an eco-friendly urban comfort initiative for future generations.
Date: July 11 (Saturday), from approximately 4:20 PM
Location: うめきた広場
Admission: Free
(Hankyu venue at the south side of MBS Mainichi Broadcasting will be held on July 12 (Sunday) from approximately 4:00 PM.)
Umeda Ennichi (Summer Street Festival)
The venue at うめきた広場 transforms into a summer festival ground with live performances on the yagura stage, food stalls, and activities.
Dates: July 10 (Friday) and 11 (Saturday), 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: うめきた広場
Performance stage highlights:
- Traditional taiko drumming by 柴島高校 Wadaiko Club
- Live music by MUSIC BUSKER
- Gospel performances by students from Osaka School of Music
Kids area: The modular play equipment "mopps" lets children create their own play experiences. Children's ennichi games are also planned.
Additional festival programming across the Umeda area includes "Yukata de Omekashi" (dress-up in yukata) events, "Yukata de Omotenashi" (yukata hospitality) initiatives, festival-exclusive services at participating shops, yagura-style tenugui (hand towel) displays, and a stamp rally.
Note: Event content is subject to change or cancellation due to weather without prior notice. Photos used in promotional materials are from past editions of the festival.
About Ted Hyber -Coool- and Its Creator
"Ted Hyber -Coool-" arrived at Grand Front Osaka in April 2018 for the shopping center's 5th anniversary event "GRAND FRONT OSAKA GRAND THANKS! 5th Anniversary ART SCRAMBLE 'GRAND ART FES'." Now entering its 9th year watching over the neighborhood, the sculpture (W4,250 × D3,320 × H3,500mm) has become an enduring landmark.
The bear motif — a recurring figure in the work of French artist Fabrice Hyber — is particularly close to the artist's heart. The green color reflects Hyber's ongoing exploration of the relationship between nature and humanity, making the bear a kind of alter ego. The sculpture's role at うめきた広場 is to bring a sense of waterside enjoyment to everyone who passes by.
Fabrice Hyber is one of France's most prominent contemporary artists. In 1997, he represented France at the 47th Venice Biennale, transforming the French Pavilion into a functioning TV station and incorporating all events of the biennale into his work — an approach that made him the youngest artist at the time to win the Golden Lion. In 2000, he created "La Transformation du temps" (The Transformation of Time) for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, centered on environmental themes. He has shown work in Japan as well, including a solo exhibition at Watari-um Museum of Art in Tokyo in 2001, set design and costumes for choreographer Angelin Preljocaj's ballet Les 4 saisons at the New National Theatre Tokyo in 2005, and participation in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in 2006.
