I finally made it to Shigechan Land❗️ Driving from the Ashoro direction, I spotted a cluster of striking red buildings amid the seemingly endless green scenery. Ohh, it's Shigechan Land❗️ I wouldn't quite call it a hidden wilderness, but this private museum of sculptural artist Shigenari Onishi (commonly known as Shigechan) is in a remote area, far from both the nearest city and the airport. This year marks its 25th anniversary, but it doesn't seem to be actively promoting itself, so perhaps it's a niche facility known only to those in the know. I learned of its existence about 15 years ago and longed to "go someday," but work and changes in my circumstances kept me so busy that I never found an opportunity to visit and eventually forgot about it. But while putting together the eastern Hokkaido trip I planned this time, the memory came crashing back like a thunderclap, and my long-held wish finally came true😊 Now, I had imagined there wouldn't be many people making the trip all the way here, but when I arrived at noon, there were no other visitors, and I had the place to myself. I went to the ticket booth at the entrance, but nobody was inside. As I looked around, someone came jauntily from the back calling "Welcooome." Ah, it's Shigechan himself❗️ I had known beforehand that he personally checks the tickets. But after all the feelings about the Land that had built up over the years, when the person who created it and is still actively making work appears, of course you go "Ah❗️". I bought a ticket and eagerly took my time viewing the works inside the Land. An overwhelming collection of works that makes it hard to believe admission is 700円. Each hut has displays arranged roughly by theme, with cute ones, puzzling ones, huge ones, tiny ones, everywhere you look. It may seem miscellaneous, but I felt the arrangement was ideal for the world evoked by the works. Perhaps this is Shigechan Land's slogan: 【Babies laugh, old women pray.】 That's what is written on the ticket, and I think it's a wonderful line that succinctly captures the works of Shigechan Land. There are objects that make even adults laugh, and quiet objects that you can't help feeling awe toward. All I can do is bow my head to Shigechan's endless ideas and ability to bring them into being😊 It's easy to imagine these powerful works, which also evoke the primitive, animism, and shamanism, dividing people's tastes, but those who like them will surely be feverish with the desire to return just a few days after leaving the Land. So many works await that even staying from opening to closing wouldn't be enough, and although it probably depends on how busy it is, you can also chat freely with Shigechan himself and spend a fulfilling time😊 Lots of souvenirs too❗️

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It's been a while since I encountered art that felt as though it grabbed me by the collar. This collection of works, born of a distinctive sensibility and overwhelming individuality, drags you into the creator's world without question. Apparently, the artist originally worked in Tokyo for more than 30 years as an illustrator, creating cover illustrations for Akiko Yano and Ryuichi Sakamoto, before discovering three-dimensional art and beginning work here 25 years ago, continuing to the present. Each individual item is what you might call junk, so to people uninterested in art it may feel like a heap of garbage. But for those who can understand that some people can use their sensibility to turn these things into art that touches the heart, I think this collection will stay with them. Apparently, the entrance sign resembling the sort of "private curiosity museum" often found in rural areas was also "deliberately aiming for that." I had to concede: they got me.

+3

Shigechan Land for the first time in 2 years♪ I got to see my favorite works again, and there were new ones that caught my heart too, so I was very satisfied. It was also fun finding things that had changed from 2 years ago. Shigechan happily takes photos with me every time. He answered my questions too. I'm very grateful. So happy.

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My first visit. There were all sorts of strange and cute works, and every one was interesting! I wanted to read more of the works with explanatory text!! The explanations were entertaining and I loved them!! I'd like to visit again😙

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One phrase says it all: what an incredible world❗️ Apparently some people say they don't want to pay admission for an amateur's work, but this person is actually famous. Maybe not so much now,,, but he has designed record covers for Ryuichi Sakamoto and won awards overseas. It's so distinctive that some exhibits made me a little scared when viewing them alone。。 The grounds are spacious, so time flies by. He also designed the Kumayaki at the roadside station〜 A little There are also characters resembling Ko◯-sensei and Mi◯ from manga, but surely he drew his first, so it must be a coincidence.

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