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Arts Unagi

Ichibacho/Inohana area

The former Japanese restaurant “Unagi Yasuda,” which closed in 2014, was renovated as an art project base and reopened in a new form, spurred by the Chiba International Art Festival 2025. The space retains the distinctive charm of its former life as a traditional Japanese restaurant.

“Unagi Yasuda” was a long-established Japanese restaurant founded in Chiba Prefecture in 1871. It operated for five generations before closing in 2014.After remaining closed for over a decade, this historic building was renovated by the Iwasawa Bros. , a creative unit born and raised in the same town, as part of their own art project.

The first floor, formerly the kitchen, is occasionally opened as “Chimera Yumono-ten,” where the Iwasawa Bros. showcase their unique creations. The second floor serves as “Arts Unagi,” the community center for the Chiba City Arts Triennale 2025, hosting talk events, networking gatherings, and disseminating information about the art festival.

※Scheduled to open during Chiba City Arts Triennale 2025’s Intensive Exhibition and Presentation (September 19 to November 24, 2025). Outside this period, it will open as needed for events and other occasions.

Address: 9-14 Ichiba-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba
Access
【Rail】4-minute walk from Kencho-mae Station on the Chiba Urban Monorail
【Bus】5-minute walk from “Kencho-mae” bus stop
Stopping Routes (Departing from JR Chiba Station East Exit)
・ Platform 2: Keisei Bus Chiba East bound for “Omiya Danchi via Kamatori Station, Hanawa, Hoshikukidai”

※For inquiries regarding the Chiba City Arts Triennale 2025, please use Contact Form. Please refrain from contacting individual facilities or venues directly.

Projects at This Base

Embody Ephemeral Chiba

Ichibacho/Inohana area

This project embodies “ephemeral matters”in people’s everyday life in the city using clay and turns them into artworks to exhibit by quenching (firing) them on the ground. We will record sceneries and unforgettable matters using clay like a rubbed copy and finally display them as installation. We will use local clay as material and participants can feel connected to nature through craft experience. This will raise awareness of care for themselves, others and the environment. The exhibition is to send a message of local culture and memories to the future and to reconsider present lifestyle from a viewpoint of past and future. Through coordinated artwork production between locals, this workshop aims to build a network of people in the area, which could ease the sense of isolation and create cultural pride. We plan to hold an exhibition in an unused space within the city and the project period is from July to December 2025. A total of three workshops with 15 participants in each session is assumed. [Types of citizen involvement] Workshop, Artwork production, Exhibition viewing

Chimera Amusement Store / Arts Unagi(Eel)

Ichibacho/Inohana area

This art project is set in the former restaurant of the long-established kappo restaurant “Unagi Yasuda”, which was established in Chiba Prefecture in 1871 and closed in 2014. The Iwasawa Bros, a unit of creators born and raised in Ichiba-cho, will reopen the historic building, which had been closed for more than 10 years, in a new look. The first floor of the former kitchen will be operated as “Chimera Amusement Store,” where the Iwasawa Bros will develop unique crafts. The space will serve as a storage of materials collected from the town, a workshop, and a store, where the Iwasawa Bros and their friends will create “Chimera toys” combining various ‘things’ and ‘ideas’ on a day-to-day bases. Visitors can take a peek at the crafting process, participate in workshops held from time to time, and pick up materials and Chimera toys. A mysterious store called “Self: Official Goods for Anything” will be set up, and plans call for the production of “Unofficial of Arts Triennale official Goods” and “Official Chiba Souvenirs” (proposed). The second floor will be used as the “Arts Eel” community center for the Chiba International Art Festival 2025. In a space that retains the atmosphere of a former Japanese-style restaurant, art-related talk events, social gatherings, and information about the Art Triennale are scheduled to be held. [Types of citizen involvement] Workshop, Exhibition viewing

Chi-C-W Club

Ichibacho/Inohana area

Chi-C-W (pronounce as Chi-ku-wa) Club is an interactive workshop event that aims to bring together people with connections to Chiba City through dialogue and to think about their own lifestyles. The name “Chi-C-W Club” means “in Chiba City,” “Create,” and “Wonderful talk in a circle”. This series aims to provide a place where a wide variety of citizens can gather, regardless of affiliation or title, for those who are interested in culture, art, and the city, as well as for those who feel that “art triennale” is far away from their own lives. Using talks by external guests as a starting point, participants will talk about familiar topics and social themes, providing an opportunity to think together about the fun and comfort of their own lives. Through the process of dialogue, we will be friends who create the Chiba Art Triennale together and foster loose ties in the community. [Types of citizen involvement] Workshop

Exhibitions and events at this base

Fun for children No extra fee required No reservation required Quick (max 90 min)

Iwasawa Bros.

Chimera Amusement Store / Arts Unagi(Eel)

The former site of an eel restaurant has been transformed into a unique shop and hub! Craft events and more are held here.

Ichibacho/Inohana area

No extra fee required Proper (90 min to 1 day)

Discussions, and events

What does it mean to create? Why do we need art that goes beyond ‘common sense’?

“Chi-C-W Club” means “in Chiba City,” “Create,” and “Wonderful talk in a circle”. Guest: Hiroshi Fuji

Ichibacho/Inohana area

No extra fee required Proper (90 min to 1 day)

Discussions, and events

What is a “citizen”? Why is “activity” important in our daily lives?

“Chi-C-W Club” means “in Chiba City,” “Create,” and “Wonderful talk in a circle”. Guest: Risei Sato,Kanako Iwanaka

Ichibacho/Inohana area