Myoshinji Temple, Kyoto, to Host Mystery-Solving, Immersive, Experience-Based Art Event Answers to a 600-year-old riddle hidden in a national treasure are recruiting in a crowdfunding

i-October, Inc. (Headquarters: Kyoto, Japan; Representative: Tunanori Iwase), a video production company, will hold an exhibition by the world's only light carving artist, Fu Yurukawa, from December 15 to 25, 2025. Visitors can enjoy an unprecedented art experience by solving the riddle of the Zen question and answer painted on the national treasure "Hyonenzu," which lies in Myoshinji Temple in Kyoto, and by immersing themselves in the blue-white light of the work in the darkened venue. The "answers to the Zen questions" are being sought through crowdfunding for the event from August 20 to October 10, 2025.

Hands-on Art

[ Hands-on art is popular among children and adults alike ]

Hands-on art is very popular. There are many types of art that can be enjoyed with all five senses, such as using scents and sounds, and digital art that allows you to draw your own picture and have it projected on the wall. It is attracting attention as a new form of art that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults, by actually touching it, moving it, and experiencing the space itself. In an age where people can easily experience simulated art through their smartphones, the reason for the popularity of interactive art is that it can only be experienced by actually visiting it.

[ Immerse yourself in the light and solve the riddle of a 600-year-old Zen question and answer ]

From December 15 to 25, 2025, an interactive exhibition will be held at Myoshinji Taizoin Temple in Kyoto, the main temple of the Myoshinji School of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. In this hands-on experience, visitors will answer Zen questions and answers depicted in the 600-year-old national treasure "Hyonenzu," which lies in Myoshinji Temple, and their answers will become part of the artwork. The "Hyonenzu" is a national treasure that depicts the question, "How do you catch a slimy catfish with a gourd? This national treasure depicts the question, "How do you catch a slimy catfish with a gourd? (It is said to have been painted before 1415 (Oei 22), and was created by Nyotai, a Buddhist monk, at the order of Ashikaga Yoshimochi, a shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate. The work displayed in Tazoin Temple is a replica, now in the Kyoto National Museum). The event will also select 31 answers to the question, as there were 31 answers given 600 years ago by Zen monks of the time, and these answers will be newly engraved on the artwork displayed at Myoshinji Temple. The answers to the questions will be sought through crowdfunding (August 20-October 10).

The creator of the artwork is artist Fu Yurukawa, who creates artworks using an original technique he invented called "Hikaribori" (trademark registration). Hikaribori is a work completed using Styrofoam, a foam insulation material used for the inside of building walls, and LED lighting that illuminates it from behind. The surface of the insulation is scraped with a metal brush or melted with a soldering iron to create uneven surfaces. Because the work uses light, it is exhibited in a dark place, and the viewer feels as if he or she is being absorbed by the work, which emits a fantastic blue light, creating a sense of immersion.

The Zen question and answer "Hyonenzu," a National Treasure painted 600 years ago.

Immersive experience of light in Myoshinji-Taizoin Temple, Kyoto

A scene from a previous event

Visitors looking at the work up close

[ Collaboration of traditional temple, national treasure and new art ]

Fu Yurukawa's "Hikaribori" works have been introduced on TV, newspapers, and radio, and have attracted a lot of attention. The exhibition held at Sogo Museum of Art in Yokohama in April this year attracted approximately 19,000 visitors. At this event, visitors can choose to participate in a workshop where they can experience "Hikaribori", visit Yurukawafu's studio, and experience light carving production as part of the crowdfunding return.

< Comments from Mr. Fu Yurukawa >

"Hikaribori" was born from the discovery of a technique to make unevenness by digging out insulation material, a building material that usually does not see the light of day, and using it as a painting material. This technique creates a sense of transparency and depth that is not possible with paints. We are excited about this collaboration between a historic temple and a national treasure.

< Comments from the event organizer, Tunanori Iwase, representative of i-October Inc. >

I was so impressed when I saw the "Hikaribori" work for the first time that I immediately sought out and contacted Mr. Yurukawa. We held an event last year to encourage more people to see "Hikaribori". We thought that light carving is better in a place where people can experience space together rather than on an inorganic wall, so we were particular about the location this time as well. We hope visitors will enjoy the overwhelming sense of immersion and solving the riddles.

Mr. Fu Yurukawa, who creates works using the world's only technique called "Hikaribori".

Event organizer / Representative of i-October Inc. : Tunanori Iwase

《 Light and Time Beyond ~ Fu Yurukawa Kyoto Exhibition 2025 in Myoshinji Tazo-in Temple~ 》

Period : Monday, December 15 - Thursday, December 25, 2025

Time : from after sunset

Place : Myoshinji Tekzoin (35 Hanazono Myoshinji-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)

《 Crowdfunding Details 》

Crowdfunding name : You answer the mystery of 600 years ago! Immersive experience of light in Myoshinji-Tsuzoin, Kyoto

Period : August 20, 2025 (Wed) - October 10, 2025 (Fri)

Return details : 2 event tickets + right to answer Zen questions / 4,600 yen

　　　　　　　 1 event ticket + "Hikaribori" workshop + right to answer Zen questions / 10,000 yen

　　　　　　　 Workshop tour + commemorative photo + "Hikaribori" production experience + right to answer Zen questions / 30,000 yen, etc.

URL : https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/854278

【Company Profile】

Company name : i-October Co.

Address : 62-13 Okazaki Tenno-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8335, Japan

Mail : info@ecolon-kyoto.jp

Business description : Video production, event planning and management

URL : https://www.ecolon-kyoto.jp