Over 200 Self-Portraits by Children and Adults Who "Looked at Themselves" Collected in Suzu and Wajima, Disaster-Stricken Areas of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake: "Noto Self-Portrait Classroom Exhibition 2024-2026"

General Incorporated Association UNVEILLIGHT (Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture) will hold the "Noto Self-Portrait Classroom Exhibition 2024-2026," featuring works created in the self-portrait workshop "Fuku-chan Sensei's Self-Portrait Classroom in Noto," led by Creative Director/Art Director Takahito Fukui (Fuku-chan Sensei). The workshop, aimed at elementary and junior high school students to adults, was held after the earthquake. The exhibition will take place from July 14 (Wed) to September 4 (Fri) at Iroha Shoten (Iida Town, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture), a symbolic presence in the recovery efforts.

"Fuku-chan Sensei's Self-Portrait Classroom in Noto" began in August 2024, shortly after the earthquake, with the support of Matex Corporation (Toshima Ward, Tokyo; President: Koji Matsumoto). The workshop was conducted 20 times until August 2026 at elementary and junior high schools in Suzu City, children's support classes, after-school care clubs in Wajima City, and other locations. Over 200 self-portraits will fill the entire space at the exhibition.

Self-portraits to be displayed at the exhibition (partial)

The desire was to look at "myself here and now" and be told "It's okay." With this sentiment, a total of 20 self-portrait workshops were held in Suzu City and Wajima City after the earthquake.

"Fuku-chan Sensei's Self-Portrait Classroom in Noto" was born from Takahito Fukui's (creative director/art director) own experience of being saved by creating self-portraits during his student and working years. While the heart cannot be seen, one can see their own face. Through observation, one can understand unspoken feelings. By drawing, one can say, "It's okay." Fukui's belief is that self-portraits are "a means of self-counseling."

In "Fuku-chan Sensei's Self-Portrait Classroom," participants were told, "There is absolutely no need to draw well. Just try to observe your face," before they began drawing. A total of 20 self-portrait workshops were conducted. Within each artwork, the "self of this moment in 2024-2026" captured by the children and adults of the disaster-stricken areas comes to life.

"Mental Recovery" Revealed by Comparing Self-Portraits Drawn at Different Times

After the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, self-portrait workshops were held twice a year, in summer and winter, from August 2024 to August 2026. While activities were limited to Suzu City in 2024-2025, the scope expanded to include Wajima City in 2025-2026. The reason for conducting multiple workshops with intervals of approximately six months was the belief that "by comparing multiple works, one can observe changes in the mind."

Some individuals' drawings have become more powerful, perhaps by choosing drawing materials that allow for strong lines, while others' drawings show increased observational skills, capturing fine details. Regarding facial expressions, some people have developed gentler expressions, while others exude confidence. These might be actual changes in their expressions, or perhaps the changes in their hearts are reflected more vividly in their self-portraits than in photographs. Furthermore, these changes do not progress uniformly over these two years; they involve fluctuations, with strength sometimes increasing and sometimes gentleness increasing, progressing slowly. This exhibition affirms all the changes that have occurred in the lives of each individual in the disaster-stricken areas.

"Noto Self-Portrait Classroom Exhibition 2024-2026" Overview

[Location] Iroha Shoten (14-10 Iida Town, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture)

[Dates] July 14, 2026 (Tue) - September 4, 2026 (Fri)

"Self-Portrait Classroom" Overview

August 2024

Workshops held at 4 elementary and junior high schools in Suzu City.

February 2025

Second workshops held at 3 elementary and junior high schools in Suzu City.

Open class held at Iroha Shoten, a bookstore in Suzu City.

Self-portrait workshop for adults held at a community center in Suzu City.

March 2025

"Noto Self-Portrait Classroom Exhibition 2024-2025" held at Iroha Shoten (Suzu).

"Noto Self-Portrait Classroom Exhibition 2024-2025" held at HIRAKU IKEBUKURO (Tokyo).

August 2025

Conducted at 1 elementary and junior high school in Suzu City, children's after-school classes in Suzu City, and after-school care clubs in Wajima City.

Open class held at Iroha Shoten, a bookstore in Suzu City.

Self-portrait workshop for adults held at a community center in Suzu City.

December 2025

Conducted at children's after-school classes in Suzu City and after-school care clubs in Wajima City.

February 2026

Conducted at 1 elementary and junior high school in Suzu City.

Open class held at Iroha Shoten, a bookstore in Suzu City.

Self-portrait workshop for adults held at a community center in Suzu City.

July 2026

Conducted at 1 elementary and junior high school in Suzu City.

"Fuku-chan Sensei's Self-Portrait Classroom Exhibition 2024-2026" held at Iroha Shoten (Suzu).

Takahito Fukui (Fuku-chan Sensei)

Creative Director / Art Director. Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, Department of Commercial Design. Joined Dentsu Inc. After going independent, served as visiting professor at Business School of Graduate Studies and Kyoto University of Art and Design. From 2026, will be a professor at Ritsumeikan University, Faculty of Design and Art. A total producer integrating creative direction, strategic PR, public relations, and art direction in brand strategy. Based on his own experience of being saved by self-portraits during his student days, he conducts "Fuku-chan Sensei's Self-Portrait Classroom" in disaster-stricken areas and elsewhere.

Matex Corporation

Founded in 1928. A "specialized window trading company" that develops wholesale business of building materials centered on windows, with the Kanto region as its market. With the vision of "Changing Japan Through Windows," they work to solve the challenges of people's lives, communities, and society through windows. They value opening up the future of society together with the next generation and communities, and engage in initiatives such as the "Matex Social Award." They have also obtained "B Corp" certification, an international certification that evaluates companies based on their social and environmental impact.

They support "Fuku-chan Sensei's Self-Portrait Classroom" and have been sending employees to assist in workshop operations every summer and winter since August 2024.

https://www.matex-glass.co.jp

General Incorporated Association UNVEILLIGHT

A general incorporated association registered in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, to deepen the activities of the self-portrait classroom by creators based in Tokyo, and to continue supporting children and disaster-stricken areas in Noto.

Location: 15-20-1 Iida Town, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture 927-1214 OKNO to Bridge