RoamCouch / Ryo Ogawa is a street artist living in Anpachi-cho, Gifu Prefecture. The beautiful and romantic works created by Ryo Ogawa are highly acclaimed not only in Japan, but all over the world.

Since 2014, Mr. Ogawa has been working on a mural painting project called the "Emotional Bridge Project" for free, mainly in his hometown of Anpachi, Gifu Prefecture.

In this second part, we actually visited the works centered on Anpachicho's works!

▼ Click here for the previous article
[Part 1] The world of wall art by "RoamCouch" - Anpachi-cho, Gifu Prefecture, into an art town. 

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What is Street artist "RoamCouch"?

First, I would like to explain Mr. Ogawa's background.

Born in Anpachi-cho, Gifu prefecture in 1976. Started artist activities under the name of RoamCouch after being seriously ill. He has participated in group exhibitions around the world, and held his first solo exhibition “A Beautiful Life” in New York in 2014 and his first solo exhibition “Memories” in Japan in 2017.

In 2019, he participated in the art event “Pow!wow!Hawaii” on Oahu, Hawaii.

The project Mr. Ogawa has been working on since 2014 is the "Emotional Bridge Project." With the desire to give back to the town where he was born and raised, he paints murals free of charge, mainly in Anpachi-cho, in order to liven up the town.

There are currently 14 works available for viewing. Now, we would like to pick up a few of them and go around!

Try the mural tour by bicycle!

In recent years, it has become popular among bicycle enthusiasts to tour the murals by bicycle. So, this time, we decided to ride our bikes around Anpachi-cho, focusing on the works of art!

Unfortunately it was raining in the morning, but it stopped somehow. You can pedal your bike while enjoying the rural scenery.

"RAINBOW INC. / BROOKLYN BRIDGE" 2014

The first thing that arrived was "RAINBOW INC. / BROOKLYN BRIDGE" drawn on the Anpachi Juki's container. This is the first work that Mr. Ogawa painted in the "Emotional Bridge Project".

A colorful rainbow is pouring down on the streets of Brooklyn, which looks like a scene from a movie.

Being able to touch directly like this is something that can only be done with wall art.

"LONDON CALLING" 2015

"Yellow Magic Orchestra" 2017 Collaboration work with Japanese street artist "Pits".

Two other artworks have been painted on containers at Anpachi Juki. This work, "Yellow Magic Orchestra," has been featured in many media, so many of you may have seen it before! We're sure that many of you have seen this work before.

It is also a valuable collaboration work with Japanese street artist "Pits"!

<Place where you can see the work>
[Anpachi Juki]
259 Higashiyui, Anpachi-cho, Anpachi-gun, Gifu Prefecture

"WE ARE THE WORLD" 2015

Next, we headed to Mr. Ogawa's alma mater, Musubu Elementary School. The mural "WE ARE THE WORLD" was painted at his alma mater. Please note that the location is not inside the school, but in the disaster prevention warehouse entered from the southwest corner.

When I see children and animals smiling and laughing, I feel a mysterious power.
Next to the mural, Mr. Ogawa also added the following message.

"Do what you love most. Challenge the world with what you love."

It is hoped that children will be able to think about the future by having art close to them.

<Place where you can see the work>

[Musubu Elementary School]
1065 Nishi-musubu, Anpachi-cho, Anpachi-gun, Gifu Prefecture

"Armored Pure"

Once again, when we were running through the rural scenery, a colorful work jumped into our eyes. Gradually, when we see a container, we wonder if Mr. Ogawa's work is painted. (laughs)

This work eliminates the landscape and depicts a girl holding a cute bear and colorful tags.

<Place where you can see the work>
[OKUDA GARDEN]
Higashi-musubu, Anpachi-cho, Anpachi-gun, Gifu Prefecture

"Rain Caller"

New for 2019: "Rain Caller". It is painted on the wall of the pot-baked sweet potato shop "Koshin". This series of stamps has been a firm favorite among fans. Rain, which has a gloomy image, can be made to feel positive if it is colorful.

It is also recommended to see the works with a delicious baked sweet potato in hand.

<Place where you can see the work>
[Tsuboyaki Potato Koshin]
472 Sunomata, Sunomata Town, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture

"MIDNIGHT RECITAL / Yasou"

"MIDNIGHT RECITAL / Yasou" appears in one corner of the shrine. I feel that the imbalance that makes it hard to believe that it was painted on a shrine building adds to the appeal of the work.

When we look at Ogawa's work, we feel the excitement of traveling somewhere.

<Place where you can see the work>
1524 Sunomata-cho, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture