[Part 1] The world of wall art by "RoamCouch" - Anpachi-cho, Gifu Prefecture, into an art town. 

Giving back to the local community. 
Painting murals for free "Emotional Bridge Project"

Since 2014, he has started the "Emotional Bridge Project" to draw murals free of charge in local Anpachi-cho, not only overseas, but also in order to liven up Anpachi-cho. You can see Ogawa's paintings all over town.

Ogawa: “There are many artists from overseas who are working on activities to revitalize their regions through art.

When I wondered if there was anything I could do, I wanted to return to the town where I was born and raised to give back. I was thinking about moving my base overseas at that time, but I decided to return to my hometown, build a house, and move my base of operations to Gifu."

Murals painted for the first time in Anpachi-cho

Ogawa: “There are many cases around the world where street art has brought back vitality to towns that were originally sluggish and unsafe, such as Europe and the Kakaako district in Hawaii. I thought I could do the same.

At first, when I found a place that seemed to allow me to paint, I negotiated directly and asked for it. Before long, I was asked to paint more, and now I can see 14 works, mainly in Anpachi. ”

Ogawa: "One time when I was working, an elderly man spoke to me. He said, 'Are you the one who painted this?' He had a file of my works and clippings from magazines, which he had carefully collected. At that moment, I realized that although I had started this activity on my own, there were people who were paying attention to it.

Recently, high school students in town have been taking pictures of my works with their smartphones, and more people ask me, 'Where are you going to paint next?'  I am also very happy to see that more people are touring my works by bicycle and posting pictures of them."

A mural painted at Ogawa's alma mater.

Ogawa: "I am sure that what someone started alone will gradually gain the support of others who will take up the idea. The Emotional Bridge Project is still a little known entity, but I hope that someday it will catch the attention of many people and become a catalyst for attracting tourism and leading people to their dreams. For that reason, I would like to continue this activity in the future. I want to convey through my activities that dreams can come true if you keep challenging yourself, which is exactly what happened to me at one point when I was unable to work due to a physical breakdown."

The name "RoamCouch "* reflects Mr. Ogawa's wish that his work will provide a relaxing, slightly mysterious, and differently colored view of the world, even without being incredibly moving or life-changing.

* Literal translation: Wandering chair

True to his words, every work is beautiful, and somehow mysterious and somehow calming. First of all, please take a look at Mr. Ogawa's work, focusing on his work in Anpachi-cho!

In the next issue, we will report on our actual tour of the murals!