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Founder / OwnerWahei Aoyama1979 Born in Tokyo, Japan
2001 BA, New York University (USA)
2003 MA, University of Oxford (UK)
Joins Yufuku Gallery
2007 Starts Toku Art
2011 Merges Toku Art and
Yufuku Gallery
2020 Renames gallery to
A Lighthouse called Kanata
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Director of Finance and Gallery OperationsYoriko Takahashi2009 Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
In charge of Japan Operations and Finance, Artist Management
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Gallery DirectorKumiko Sunahara2008 BA, Central Saint Martins (UK)
2011 Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
In charge of Art Fairs such as TEFAF and all International Exhibitions, Artist Management
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Director of Website and PRMaho Fujino2015 Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
In charge of Kanata’s Website and Public Relations, Artist Management
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International ManagerAmi Nakano2018 Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
In charge of Kanata’s Artistic Design and all Publications and Publicity including SNS, Artist Management and Art Fairs
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International ManagerTakeshi Montero2016 BA, Aichi Prefectural University of
the Arts
2018 Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
In charge of Kanata’s Art Logistics and Installation, Artist Management and Art Fairs
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International ManagerYishu Yang2017 BA, Fudan University (China)
2020 MA, The University of Tokyo
(Japan)
Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
In charge of Kanata’s Chinese
Operations, Artist Management
and Art Fairs
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International ManagerJulia de Leon2022 BA, Waseda University (Japan)
Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
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International ManagerAkiho Matsuda2020 BA, Tokyo University of the Arts
(Japan)
2023 MA, Goldsmiths College (UK)
Joins A Lighthouse called Kanata
The Team
About Us
About
the
Gallery![kanata]()
THE KANATA AESTHETIC
Situated in the heart of Tokyo,
A Lighthouse called Kanata was established in 2007 by Wahei Aoyama
to introduce contemporary Japanese art and aesthetics to a global audience.
Focusing on both sculpture and painting,
our artists represent an emerging movement in Japanese aesthetics
wherein beauty, technique and materiality, elements that for centuries
have been essential to our understanding of art,
are reinstated for the 21st century.
Kanata embodies a “Return to Innocence” within contemporary art,
and our artists push the boundaries of their respective materials to brave new heights.
Kanata means “Beyond” or “Far Away”,
a quintessentially Japanese romanticism
imbued by the two characters that comprise it,
“Towards” and “You”.
And why a lighthouse?
A lighthouse symbolizes many ideals that we hold dear.
The night is dark and full of shadows,
and we will continue to shine a light at the vast ocean before us,
hoping to serve as a beacon of hope for not only our artists,
but for future generations.
Our gallery will shine the light of Japanese aesthetics far away and to the beyond.
Such is the meaning of A Lighthouse called Kanata.
Situated in the heart of Tokyo,
A Lighthouse called Kanata was established in 2007 by Wahei Aoyama
to introduce contemporary Japanese art and aesthetics to a global audience.
Focusing on both sculpture and painting,
our artists represent an emerging movement in Japanese aesthetics
wherein beauty, technique and materiality, elements that for centuries
have been essential to our understanding of art,
are reinstated for the 21st century.
Kanata embodies a “Return to Innocence” within contemporary art,
and our artists push the boundaries of their respective materials to brave new heights.
Kanata means “Beyond” or “Far Away”,
a quintessentially Japanese romanticism
imbued by the two characters that comprise it,
“Towards” and “You”.
And why a lighthouse?
A lighthouse symbolizes many ideals that we hold dear.
The night is dark and full of shadows,
and we will continue to shine a light at the vast ocean before us,
hoping to serve as a beacon of hope for not only our artists,
but for future generations.
Our gallery will shine the light of Japanese aesthetics far away and to the beyond.
Such is the meaning of A Lighthouse called Kanata.
Wahei Aoyama
Founder
A Lighthouse called Kanata
Access
- Tokyo
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A Lighthouse called Kanata Kasumicho Terrace 6F,
3-24-20 Nishi-Azabu,
Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 106-0031
11am to 6pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays,
and by Appointment. Closed Sundays,
Mondays and National Holidays.
Approx. 10 minute walk from Roppongi, Nogizaka, and Hiroo stations, on the corner of Nishi-Azabu Crossing between Roppongi Avenue and Gaien-Higashi Avenue.
By Toei Bus from Shibuya station East exit no.51 take RH01 Line or TO-01 Line and get off at “Nishi-Azabu” bus stop.
Kanata can be found on the 6th floor of a tall green/white building located
on the southeast corner of Nishi-Azabu Kosaten (crossing).