Voices
December 4 [2025]
Genshun Yamanouchi
In the spring of 2025, VS. received a message. The sender was Genshun Yamanouchi. A graduate student at Kyoto City University of Arts, he creates and performs on Urushi（Japanese lacquer）instrument crafting, music composition, performance, production...The multi-talented young artist, Genshun Yamanouchi instruments, expressing a strong desire for an opportunity to exhibit and perform at VS. Further conversation revealed the extraordinary freshness and richness of their activities, the polish of their work, and above all, the immense passion bubbling forth. Recognizing this rare young talent, it was decided to hold a VS. presents concert on December 7th. We spoke with Mr. Yamanouchi just before the performance. This marks a first step toward a new stage, not only for Mr. Yamanouchi himself, but also for VS., which serves as a “cultural apparatus” for generating creativity.
Other VOICES
November 21 [2025]
Cafe LOHE - Kie Mori
“LOHE”, the cafe on the ground floor of VS. Since opening, its “¥10,000 cup of coffee” has consistently grabbed media attention. Distinct from traditional cafes where people drop in for “a quick cup of coffee,” its stance of introducing the world to new ways of enjoying coffee aligns perfectly with VS.'s role as a cultural apparatus. We spoke with barista Kie Mori, who takes charge of everything from the shop's launch to daily flavor adjustments, to unravel the story behind the “¥10,000” price tag.
November 7 [2025]
WeTAIWAN - LIN Kun-Ying
From 2 to 20 August 2025, the project “We TAIWAN” unfolded in Osaka, showcasing Taiwan's latest culture, art, and technology from diverse perspectives. Here at VS., an exhibition titled “Taiwan Spectrum” explored Taiwan's nature, history, culture, and contemporary art through the lens of “color”. The curation was led by LIN Kun-Ying (林昆穎), an artist and creative director known for his work with the art unit “Luxury Logico.” We spoke with him about his aims for the project and the current state of Taiwan's art scene.
July 18 [2025]
Tadao Ando
Having been involved in the development of Umekita for over 20 years and overseen the design of VS., Tadao Ando will finally hold his long-awaited exhibition from spring to summer of 2025. What message will a distinguished architect - renowned both in Japan and abroad for his works centered on the theme of “dialog with nature” - convey from this freshly developed green space? Amid the excitement surrounding the first World Expo in Osaka in half a century, Ando’s gaze is fixed firmly on the future ahead.
March 4 [2025]
Sato Hiroyasu
One of the key elements that characterizes VS. is its sound system that is integrated into the large space. From speaker selection to system creation, the project was led by Mr. Hiroyasu Sato, the representative director of EASTERN SOUND FACTORY Co.,Ltd., a company that imports, manufactures and sells audio equipment. Since 2007, he has been highly acclaimed for his works with the late Mr. Ryuichi Sakamoto, and his aim in acoustic design of VS. was to achieve one ideal that he had inherited from Mr. Sakamoto.
February 11 [2025]
Kensho Tambara vs. Toshihiro Okitsu
The exhibition that will kick off 2025 is the “Building Glasses, Town Glasses Exhibition” by Takenaka Corporation, a leading general construction company in Japan. The aim was to hold an exhibition that would “broadly communicate the appeal of architecture and urban development, and foster the next generation of architectural talent”
August 8 [2024]
Takuya Nomura
vs.
Kenichiro Yamamura
Located directly in front of JR Osaka Station—the largest terminal in western Japan—“Grand Green Osaka” is set to begin welcoming visitors this fall ahead of its full opening. At the heart of its expansive urban park lies a new cultural platform: VS. What exactly is VS.? By exploring the thoughts and perspectives of the people involved in this place, we aim to uncover the significance, social role, and future vision of this new cultural entity.
June 4 [2024]