OREANDA-NEWS. ITOCHU Corporation opened ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE in the CI Plaza, a commercial facility adjacent to ITOCHU's Tokyo headquarters, in October 2012, with the objective of training future generations, contributing to the local community, and promoting arts and culture in Japan and abroad through the medium of art as part of ITOCHU's social contribution activities. Since that time, various exhibitions have been held at the facility.

To mark the first anniversary of the facility's opening in October 2013, ITOCHU will hold an art competition "Fantasy Art Grand Prix Exhibition" together with Zokyudo Gallery Kyoto. The event seeks to create opportunities for young artists aged up to 35 years who represent the next generation of the art world, with 210 applications having been received up to July 31. One hundred entries will be selected by Ms. Wakako Ohara (Chief Executive, Ohara School of Ikebana), which will be released for public viewing at exhibitions in Kanto and Kansai from October. The themes of the works are "fantasy and narrative" and "challenge," and the selected entries will be auctioned at the exhibition. One Grand Prix winner (not included in the auction) will be awarded a purchase price of 200,000 yen and the right to hold a solo exhibition, while a Sponsor's Prize and a prize of 100,000 yen to the artist who receives the most bids will also be awarded.

The key concept of these awards are intended to revitalize the art world as a whole. ITOCHU hopes that you will come and see the new talent that will soon shine in the world of art in Japan.