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Yokohama, Japan by Jun KimJapan has a culture of unique art projects springing up in local areas, and in cities, to stimulate the exchanges of culture andinteraction between different kinds of artists and art-lovers. It has been particularly noticeable recently, with a number of suchevents all around the country.One of the more remarkable events happened this past June, in Yokohama city, and was called “KAIR Exhibition: Kamiyamavs. Noge.”The host group was called “Hana * Hana” and they produced this exhibition, in the Noge area of Yokohama, to be the culminationof their “Kamiyama Artist in Residence.” This event started in about 1996, with the purpose of building up excitement for artin the community in Kamiyama-cho in Tokushima, Shikoku. It succeeded beyond expectation, and has since become one of thedefining elements of the city.Since its beginning, “Kamiyama Artist in Residence” has invited many artists, not only from Japan but also from all over theworld, to the area. The most recent Yokohama exhibition was a celebration of what they had achieved in that time.The most noteworthy thing about what has become a kind of institution is that it started out, originally, in one small country townin Japan. This is an indication of how art is everywhere in the country – you just need to look for it.The aim of the founders to bring cultural exchange to their tiny area has now borne fruit in the new culture that it has encouragedin other, often larger areas.111 ARTisSpectrum