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[Nishinari・Kamagasaki（西成・釜ヶ崎）] Discover Art and Community at Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025

  • Writer: kumiko ishigaki
    kumiko ishigaki
  • Jul 12
  • 5 min read
NISHINARI YOSHIO（西尾美也＋kioku手芸館「たんす」）
NISHINARI YOSHIO（西尾美也＋kioku手芸館「たんす」）

Starting April 11, the “Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025” launches its next edition.

First held in 2022, this festival aligns with the Osaka-Kansai Expo and centers on the theme of social impact, aiming to promote the arts, revitalize the economy, and shed light on key societal issues. Running for 186 days (April 11–October 13), it will present a wide range of exhibitions and events across the Kansai region.

This article highlights featured programs in the Nishinari・Kamagasaki（西成・釜ヶ崎）area—an important cultural and social site in Osaka.

*Note: This ticket does not grant entry to the Osaka-Kansai Expo.


Three Distinct Art Projects in Nishinari・Kamagasaki（西成・釜ヶ崎）


Kamagasaki, part of Osaka’s Nishinari Ward（西成区）, has long been known as a day laborers’ town, especially during Japan’s postwar economic boom. Today, the area continues to undergo transformation—marked by aging demographics, rising poverty, increasing numbers of foreign residents, and urban redevelopment.


Since the festival’s inception in 2022, it has paid close attention to socially engaged art practices rooted in this neighborhood.



One project is the Kamagasaki University of the Arts（釜ヶ崎芸術大学）, founded in 2012 by artist and poet Kanayo Ueda（上田假奈代）, who has worked in the area for over 20 years. Another is NISHINARI YOSHIO, a collaborative fashion initiative launched by artist Miya Nishio（西尾美也）and local senior women through the craft group kioku手芸館「たんす」. Both have exhibited at the festival multiple times and continue to develop meaningful relationships with the community.

In addition, a new project titled Kissa Atari-ya（喫茶あたりや） curated by Production Zomia, will transform the 100-year-old Sannō Harmonica Row House（山王ハモニカ長屋） into a café-gallery space, promoting cultural exchange and creative dialogue.


Event Details

Kamagasaki University of the Arts（釜ヶ崎芸術大学）


“Akiramen-hende: Kamagasaki Art Center”

  • Dates: April 11 (Fri) – October 13 (Mon), 2025

  • Hours: 13:00 – 19:00 (Last entry: 30 mins before closing)

  • Closed: Mondays (open on holidays, closed the following Tuesday)

  • Special Open Days: July 21 & 22

  • Free entry

Venues:

  • Guest House & Café Garden Kamagasaki University of the Arts（大阪市西成区太子2丁目3-3）

  • Semba Excel Building（大阪市中央区久太郎町3丁目2−11）


NISHINARI YOSHIO（西尾美也＋kioku手芸館「たんす」）


Dates: April 11 – October 13, 2025(Open only on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays outside the specified periods)

  • Hours: 10:00 – 20:00 (Last entry: 30 mins before closing)

  • Closed: Mondays (open on holidays, closed the following Tuesday)

  • Special Open Days: July 21 & 22

  • Free entry

Venue: kioku手芸館「たんす」（大阪市西成区山王1丁目11-5, former Suzuki Tansu Shop）🔗 [Official Website]



Production Zomia – Kissa Atari-ya（喫茶あたりや）



  • Dates: April 11 – October 13, 2025April 11 & 12: Preview (invited guests & advance ticket holders only)

  • Hours: 13:00 – 19:00 (Last entry: 30 mins before closing)

  • Closed: Mondays (open on holidays, closed the following Tuesday)

  • Special Open Days: July 21 & 22

  • Admission requires Exhibition Passport or Opening Pass

Venue: Former Udon Shop in Sannō Harmonica Row House（大阪市西成区山王1丁目4-14）




Access: All venues are within walking distance of Dōbutsuen-mae Station（動物園前駅） on the Osaka Metro Midosuji and Sakaisuji Lines (Exit 2).Semba Excel Building is a 4-minute walk from Honmachi Station（本町駅） Exit 11 or 8-minute walk from Sakaisuji-Hommachi Station（堺筋本町駅） Exit 10.



Highlights from Each Project

Kamagasaki University of the Arts（釜ヶ崎芸術大学）

Titled “Akiramen-hende: Kamagasaki Art Center,” this exhibition features works by locals, organizers, and travelers connected through the University’s past activities. It spans two locations: the main site in Nishinari and an additional space in Semba.

The Nishinari site, usually a guesthouse, will be open to the public. Highlights include “The Poet’s Room – Write with Shuntarō Tanikawa” and “Our Sweet Home”, a collaborative work by artist Yasumasa Morimura and former day laborer Noriyuki Sakashita. This intimate venue merges the experiences of daily life with artistic expression.



NISHINARI YOSHIO（西尾美也＋kioku手芸館「たんす」）

This long-term project tackles the issue of community succession in Nishinari. While the area once thrived with day laborers, it is now experiencing cultural shifts with the arrival of new residents, including immigrants from China and Vietnam. Yet, interactions between long-term and newer residents remain limited.

Through fashion-based workshops, NISHINARI YOSHIO facilitates creative dialogue across cultural lines. By co-creating garments, the project explores how differences in culture and lifestyle can become sources of new expression. The exhibition showcases past research and collaborative processes.



Kissa Atari-ya（喫茶あたりや）

A temporary café-gallery open only during the festival period, Kissa Atari-ya is curated by Production Zomia, an international artist-curator collective. Taking inspiration from the mountain region of Zomia in Southeast Asia, the group focuses on decentralization, memory, and cultural resilience.

The space will serve as an Artist-in-Residence hub, with three visiting artists creating new works on-site. The ground floor will function as a relaxed gathering space for locals and visitors to connect over tea and conversation.

This venue invites reflection on the past and speculation about the future—making it more than just an exhibition space.

Artists-in-Residence:

  • Saul Chan Htoo Sang（ソウチャン・トゥーサン） – April to late May

  • Wu Chi-Yu／吳其育（ウー・チーユー） – Mid July to mid August

  • Linh San（リン・サン） – Mid August to October



Join an Art Tour

Two special tours offer deeper insights into Kamagasaki’s art and culture.

Nishinari Art Tour

Led by Kanayo Ueda, this walking tour guides participants through Nishinari’s art spaces and cultural sites.

  • Dates:April 12, April 26, May 3, May 24, June 14, July 19, July 26, August 9, August 23, September 13, September 27, October 4, October 11

  • Time: 14:00–16:00 (Meet at 13:50)

  • Meeting Point: Kamagasaki University of the Arts (Cocoroom)

  • Fee: ¥2,000 (cash only, includes tea & snacks)Note: Canceled if fewer than 5 participants. Please bring water, sunshade, or a hat as needed.

Cocoroom Tour

A guided tour of the Cocoroom guesthouse—one of the festival’s key venues.

Explore spaces normally reserved for guests, including the garden, well, rooftop, and even rooms featured in “The Poet’s Room” and “Our Sweet Home.”

  • Available daily except on closed days

  • Times: 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 18:30

  • Fee: Free / No reservation required



Strolling Around Nishinari（西成）

If you’re visiting Nishinari for the festival, be sure to enjoy the neighborhood beyond the exhibitions.

● Shinsekai & Tsūtenkaku AreaJust north of Nishinari, Shinsekai retains retro Osaka charm. Climb the iconic Tsūtenkaku（通天閣） for a sweeping city view, and sample kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) at local restaurants.

● Abeno Harukas & Tennōji AreaAbout a 15-minute walk from Dōbutsuen-mae Station, Abeno Harukas（あべのハルカス） is the tallest building in Kansai. Enjoy the view from its observation deck, or explore the Harukas Museum and nearby attractions like Tennōji Park and the historic Shitennō-ji Temple（四天王寺）.

From nostalgic alleyways to emerging culture spots, Nishinari offers a dynamic mix of past and future—perfect for those who enjoy discovering the city on foot.




 
 
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