Three Neputa-e paintings related to the traditional Kuroishi Neputa Festival hang in front of a community center in Kuroishi, Aomori Prefecture, to pray for an end of the coronavirus outbreak. They were painted by three members of a local group of painters, called Kokushokai.
This summer, the famous, local festival will be canceled due to the spread of the virus.
Following the decision to cancel the festival, the Matsuno Yu Community Center in the city has planned an exhibition of the paintings to cheer up local residents.
Tokiyuki Imai, 45, who is the director of the community center, painted a picture titled "Fudo Myoo." He also invited two members of the Kokushokai to paint. It took about two weeks for Juka Yamaya to paint "Shoki and Amabie" and for Seimei Kodachi to paint "Fudo-son."
Each painting, measuring 1.9 meters by 1.8 meters, is displayed facing Nakamachi Komise Street. On Saturday, passersby stopped and looked at colorful Neputa-e paintings.
"There will be no festival, but when you get close to the picture, you can smell the wax, which is a characteristic of Neputa," Imai said. "We hope everyone will enjoy that feature, along with the picture."
Paintings will be on display until early August and will also be lit up from sunset through 10 p.m.
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