Every Issue Reborn: Explore Our Archive . Issue 6
Akika Kurata: Faces That Capture the Pulse of Our Time
Akika Kurata is a Japanese artist specializing in watercolors, trained at the University of Tokyo. Her work is characterized by delicate, dreamlike scenes that blend metaphorical symbolism with a profound sense of intimacy and humanity. Kurata explores everyday and universal emotions—from joy and happiness to sadness and hardship—through portraits of young women that capture the complexity of their time and environment. Her paintings stand out for the intensity of her subjects’ gazes, conveying an unforgettable depth and rawness that both move and captivate the viewer.
She has held solo exhibitions at GALLERY ID, Aichi (2015); JIRO MIURA GALLERY, Tokyo (2016, 2018); and Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles (2019). Her work combines the ethereal with the visceral, creating images that invite reflection on memory, identity, and the human experience.
New Faces, New Stories
Akika Kurata: From Cover to the Essence of Her Work in Issue 6
In August 2017, Akika Kurata appeared on the cover of Issue 6 of The Guide Artists Magazine, establishing her presence in the international contemporary art scene. The issue included a feature where she shared her thoughts on portraiture, emotion, and the subtle tensions that define her work.
Based in Tokyo, Kurata specializes in watercolors and trained at the University of Tokyo. Her paintings capture the inner lives of young women, revealing fleeting emotions and intimate moments through dreamlike compositions. Her subjects’ gazes act as windows into quietly profound worlds.
This feature highlights her distinctive artistic voice and introduces her work to an international audience eager to discover new perspectives in contemporary painting.
Inside the Frame
We are pleased to present the Featured Artists of this issue: Akika Kurata, Takuya Mitani, Yuka Sakuma, Maki Hiroko, Yasuto Sasada, Arisa Nakahara, Ayako Yonemitsu, Kimi Kuruhara, Maika Kobayashi, and Artist of the Month: Yousuke Kawashima.
This edition celebrates the diversity, creativity, and vitality of contemporary art, offering readers fresh perspectives, bold narratives, and inspiring ideas. Together, these artists form a dynamic and compelling collection, reflecting the energy, imagination, and talent that define today’s art scene.
Artist of the Month
Artist of the Month
Yousuke Kawashima was born in Japan in 1978. While still in high school, he held his first exhibition, marking the beginning of his artistic career. Kawashima describes the main theme of his work as the depiction of an “Unusual Everyday Life.” In 2004, he completed his studies at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, after which he has participated in numerous exhibitions throughout Japan.
Kawashima draws inspiration from his daily encounters, aware that every individual experiences life differently. He hopes his paintings can serve as a collective tool of communication, highlighting shared experiences and emotions. His work combines a variety of painting and drawing techniques, including oil paint and tempera, often integrated with graphic elements. Stylistically, Kawashima remains committed to realism, translating his observations—sometimes ordinary, sometimes extraordinary—onto the canvas with precision and sensitivity.
YOUSUKE KAWASHIMA . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
Featured Artists
Featured Artists
TAKUYA MITANI . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
YUKA SAKUMA . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
MAKI HIROKO . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
Hiroko Maki was born in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1987. She completed her Master’s Degree at Saga University (Graduate School of Education) in 2011. Since then, Maki has held several notable solo exhibitions, including “To Connect for Not to Break” (Gallery Art Morimoto, Tokyo, 2014), “Gaze into the Abyss” (Gallery Art Morimoto, Tokyo, 2017), “Little Bit of Distortion and Happiness” (Gallery Art Morimoto, Tokyo), and “Japan Art Center 9th Art Grandprix, Award-Winning Artist” (Japan Art Forum, Hyogo, 2019).
In addition to her solo shows, she has participated in numerous group exhibitions throughout Japan. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Bonny Col Art Prize at the 5th Galeria Reino Grand Prize Exhibition (2011) and recognition at the 35th Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize Exhibition (2017).
Maki’s practice explores themes of perception, emotion, and the subtle distortions of everyday life, combining technical skill with a sensitive, introspective approach that engages viewers in contemplative reflection.
YASUTO SASADA . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
Yasuto Sasada is a Japanese artist whose work explores the intersection of life, technology, and the delicate balance between organic and mechanical forms. His paintings convey the concept of reviving living creatures—ranging from tigers and Japanese crested ibis (toki) to crayfish—through the integration of machines, reflecting his vision of life’s resilience and interconnectedness. Using fine 0.3mm pens, Sasada transforms the wear and decay of his tools into subtle tonal variations, creating intricate, sumi-inspired ink effects that evoke both fragility and vitality.
Born in Japan, Sasada has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide. His notable exhibitions include “MIMIC” and “MIMIC II” in Tokyo, Kyoto, and New York City, as well as solo shows at Seibu, Tokyo (2014), TAIGADO, Kyoto (2010), and international showcases such as the International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Buenos Aires (2014). He has collaborated with Yohji Yamamoto in Paris (2014) and has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Lion of St. Mark at Carousel du Louvre, Paris (2013) and honors at international art triennials and competitions.
Sasada’s work is a meditation on impermanence, regeneration, and the poetic possibilities of material transformation, using pen, ink, and painting techniques to explore life’s continuous evolution and the emotional resonance of everyday encounters.
ARISA NAKAHARA . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
ARISA NAKAHARA . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
KIMI KURUHARA . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
KIMI KURUHARA . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
MAIKA KOBAYASHI . THE GUIDE ARTISTS MAGAZINE ISSUE 6
Maika Kobayashi is a Japanese painter and muralist known for her precise, hand-painted acrylic realism. Since her first solo exhibition in New York in 2010, she has developed a diverse practice that includes murals, stage art, brand collaborations, and international projects in New York, London, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam.
In 2018, she founded the performance group “Kooya -KOOYA-”, exploring the fusion of dance, light, and sound to create multidimensional stage worlds. Since 2019, she has focused on muralism with her “National Mural Pilgrimage” project, leaving murals across multiple prefectures in Japan and leading participatory and educational workshops, including multisensory painting experiences for all audiences.
Her work seeks to go beyond the canvas, connecting people and communities while serving as a catalyst for shared experiences, memory, and engagement.
