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The artist Kimura takes the Japanese national sport of sumo, which is one of his main topics, as a motif and constructs his Artist Room with careful attention to detail and with boundless humor.
There is always a feeling of tension in doing a “one-shot” painting directly on the walls of a hotel guestroom, but from this we expect a new and valuable experience to emerge.
Staff’s recommendation of Artist Room
What image comes to your mind when you hear the room “Sumo”?
I would like to introduce you to Artist Room King Sumo that was inspired by the Japanese national and traditional sport. This room was the first Artist Room created by an artist at Park Hotel Tokyo. Surprisingly, the origin of sumo is over 2000 years old. Sumo did and still does relate to the people and culture in Japan. It is not just a sport. It has the roles of being historical, cultural, spiritual, and competitional. It holds a very special meaning for Japanese people. Although I have never watched a sumo match, I have seen sumo wrestlers on the street by chance. They had an aura and their way of walking was powerful and majestic. I hope to watch a sumo match at Ryogoku Kokugikan someday. The artist Hiroyuki Kimura thinks sumo expresses appreciation to nature and people’s prosperity. He draws by sketching the daily sumo training, and by experiencing all aspects of sumo himself. This has led to his artwork being rich in humor. The sumo wrestlers look like they are on the verge of moving. The sumo wrestlers in the room were drawn in 3 black colors designed with beautiful curved lines by using a traditional writing brush. One of my favorite points is in the bathroom, the colorful sumo wrestlers. It shows the manner of sumo wrestlers entering the ring. I hope Artist Room King Sumo will inspire you to find the charms of sumo!
Room #3123 | Completion Date: December 2012
Not only do we wish to supply superb rooms of art for our guests but also we wish those rooms to reflect Japan in some form. Our first AIH room encapsulates that through its subject, Sumo. Sumo is a Japanese national sport, but it is more than just that – it has a very special significance for all Japanese.
For example, the ceremonial leg raising and stomping before each sumo bout is believed to crush evil spirits in the ground beneath so that the earth becomes fruitful.
Leg raising and stomping on the ground also holds a meaning of success in the production of crops, and settling down with a family.
The traditional custom where a Japanese wrestler holds a baby to pray for its healthy development is still a popular pastime.
This ceremony, where the baby is held by a wrestler who symbolizes health and prosperity, aims to ensure the fruitfulness of children and grandchildren.
As most all the actions and customs involved in sumo have deep meanings, sumo matches can be regarded not only as competitive sport, but also as ceremonies to pray for human development.
Sumoembodies the wisdom which ancient Japanese people needed to sustain themselves in health under harsh natural conditions.
This is why sumo was practiced, purifying the precious Earth with water and salt, and compacting the ground, so that they could live in good health forever.
Sumo is the Japanese way of saying “thank you” to nature, and wishing for human prosperity.
Kimura claims, “I create these artworks by sketching daily exercises, practicing sumo myself, and involving myself spiritually in the sumo rituals as much as possible.
I wish to express all the fervent emotions found in sumo, the crystallization of Japanese culture, in paintings and terracotta.
I hope that you too will feel the brilliance of the wrestlers in the ring.”
Hiroyuki Kimura
Male artist born in Tokyo, 1975.
A graduate from the Tama College of Art who fell in love with the beauty of sumo.
The early mornings of the sumo training regime and the long hours of the sumo tournaments do not deter him from his daily sketches of the curious world of sumo.
Kimura does not see sumo as a sport but characterizes it more as a Japanese art linked deeply to tradition and religion.
