MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTER
July 3–5, 2026 

---

Hiroshi Arikado

有角博

Hiroshi Arikado is a Japanese painter and a member of the Japan-Europe Palace Art Association.
His works have been exhibited not only throughout Japan but also internationally.
Using watercolor and pastel with remarkable sensitivity, he captures the warmth and beauty of Japan’s landscapes.

---

 Early Winter at Mount Yakushi 

 初冬の薬師岳 

Artist’s Statement

During the winter season, this mountain is clearly visible from my home.
Though majestic in scale, it embraces both grandeur and gentleness, revealing a beauty that is at once powerful and serene.

 Mount Tateyama at Sunset 

 夕焼け立山 

Artist’s Statement

Mount Tateyama is a familiar presence in my daily life throughout the year.
Yet when the mountain is illuminated by the colors of the setting sun, its appearance becomes truly extraordinary, revealing a beauty that never fails to inspire.

Message from the Artist

I would be delighted if the sense of wonder and emotion I feel when looking upon these landscapes could reach people living in countries far from Japan.

---

Japan-Europe Palace Art Association Commentary

The paintings of Hiroshi Arikado reveal the beauty inherent in the Japanese landscape through a refined sense of color and a masterful command of representation.
The scenes he depicts are far more than faithful reproductions of nature; they emerge as poetic inner landscapes, distilled through the gaze of an artist who has spent years engaging deeply with the places he portrays.
The delicate gradations achieved through watercolor capture subtle shifts of light and atmosphere, conveying both the grandeur of the mountains and the quiet rhythms of the changing seasons.
In Early Winter at Mount Yakushi, the snow-capped peak radiates a dignified serenity, while Mount Tateyama at Sunset reveals the ever-changing expressions of nature as the mountain is transformed by the glow of the evening sky. These works communicate not only the splendor of the landscape itself but also the profound joy of living in harmony with nature on a daily basis.
Underlying Arikado’s artistic vision is a distinctly Japanese aesthetic sensibility—one that contemplates nature with attentiveness, empathy, and reverence.
His restrained palette and crystalline atmosphere imbue even distant mountain forms and subtle movements of air with a lyrical quality, drawing viewers into the depth of the landscape.
Through his work, a deep appreciation for the seasons and a profound respect for the natural world are brought vividly to life, revealing the rich emotional resonance that lies at the heart of Japan’s cultural landscape.