Living in the Countryside: A Japanese Artist Couple
In the quiet countryside of Japan, 78-year-old artist Naoki Takenouchi lives a self-sufficient life while dedicating himself to creation.
By his side is his wife, Reiko, who gently supports his every step. Amid Japan’s rich nature and changing seasons, Naoki continues to give shape to the ideas that arise in his heart each day.
About Naoki Takenouchi
Born in Kagoshima in 1946, Naoki is a visual artist known for his dynamic and immersive works.
Starting from his own woodblock prints, he layers and expands them with handmade washi paper, transforming each piece to interact with the surrounding space.
His installations have taken many forms:
・A collaboration with a fashion designer in New York
・Artworks worn by people roaming the streets of Tokyo and Paris
・A monumental project stretching a 7 km rope across a real river — supported by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs
Though he explores a wide range of mediums, woodblock printing remains at the heart of his expression.
(From Light and Shadow of Woodblock Prints, 2006)