FUJINO’s unique location and environment also meet the creative needs of artists. Back in the days of WWII, well-known Japanese painters such as Tsuguharu Fujita, Toshio Nakanishi, and Genichiro Inokuma were evacuated to FUJINO where they persisted with art making.
This legacy, in addition to restrictions on industrial development due to its natural water resources, helped Fujino avert the development of heavy industries. Instead, a movement to vitalize the community with art took place. This resulted in the birth of “Fujino Furusato Art Village Plan” (1986).
This plan oversaw the construction and management of an art trail which consisted of approximately 30 outdoor sculptures as well as an art and cultural activity facility, also known as the Fujino Workshop for Art. This was followed by the opening of the Fujino Art Village, an art and craft market. This trend has attracted many artists to move to Fujino. Other than their own art making, the artists engage in a variety of local events that activate the community. FUJINO is thus the face of the “art dwelling community.”
