About that person and Kesennuma.

The Miyagi Arts Center, which opened in Kesennuma in September 2023, is a private art museum where the world-renowned artist couple, Eitoshi Miura and Tini Miura, exhibit their works and collections.
Naganen, originally from Tome City, met Tini while studying abroad, and they have continued their work in various places overseas. The couple moved to Kesennuma when the museum opened, and we asked them about their work so far and their impressions of Kesennuma.

Overseas activities

The two have lived and worked in various parts of the world, including London and New York.
During his time as a student in Tokyo, Naganen came across a book made with marbled paper, which prompted him to move to Europe after graduation. It was at that time that he met Tini. Tini, who was studying art and bookbinding techniques at an art university, and Naganen hit it off, and since then, the two have been working together on creative projects as partners both in private and in public.

The book designs that Tini creates are different from the book designs that are generally available, and are one-of-a-kind bindings created for official royal documents or for requests from museums and collectors.
Tini's books are lavishly bound in vibrant colored leather and with gold and platinum leaf, and the books themselves become valuable works of art.
"There are some incredible books out there," Naganen says, and some of the books that Tini has worked on are worth billions of yen.

Tini has also been involved in the production of Nobel Prize certificates, and designed the certificate for Yasunari Kawabata.
Through this work, we can get a glimpse of the Miura couple's brilliant friendships with world-renowned novelists, artists, and royal families.

Works that can only be seen here

Also on display are rare collections owned by Naganen, who is also a collector, such as past Olympic posters, the world's smallest book, and a miniature version of the Bible.
The Miyagi Performing Arts Center is home to works that are displayed in art galleries and museums around the world, as well as works that can only be seen here in the world. Nagatoshi says, "I would like to exhibit my collection little by little from now on."

Seaside towns Kiel and Kesennuma

After traveling around the world, the two moved to Nagatoshi's hometown of Tome in 2017. They then moved to Kesennuma in search of a new artistic base.
For the opening of this space, Tini created a large-scale mural called "The Creation of the World," an 11-meter-long work inspired by the nature of Kesennuma. The vivid colors and composition of the work convey Tini's unchanging, powerful creative drive.

He says that when he comes to Kesennuma, he is sometimes reminded of his hometown, the German port city of Kiel.
"The World Sailing Boat Meeting period is a lot of fun and lively," says Tini.
He also likes seafood, and when he tried sea urchin for the first time in Kesennuma this summer, he was surprised by its fresh, rich flavor, and ate several of them. He also told us that in addition to fish, the Otani potatoes he received as a gift were also very delicious.

"Everything about Kesennuma is wonderful, the food, the people, everything about it," said the couple.
The two of them, who came to this place by chance, are creating a hub for art and culture and making new encounters there.

For more information about the Miyagi Performing Arts Center, please click here.

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