- ROOTOTE × Tokyo Contemporary -
Tagboat has been a driving force in the Japanese contemporary art scene for 23 years.
Building on its proven curation expertise, Tagboat is launching a new art fair: "Tokyo Contemporary." To celebrate this special opening, ROOTOTE GALLERY_EDITION is releasing a limited-edition collaboration tote bag infused with the spirit of the participating artists.
A unique experience that brings artworks out of the gallery and into your everyday life. Carry the inspiration you find at the fair in your own hands.
■ Online Sale Period
Oct 2 (Fri) 12:00 - Oct 31 (Sat) 12:00
■ Event Schedule
Oct 2 (Fri) 16:00 - 20:00
Oct 3 (Sat) 11:00 - 19:00
Oct 4 (Sun) 11:00 - 17:00
■ Venue
Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-Kan, 2F Exhibition Hall
Tokyo Port City Takeshiba, 1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
■ Admission
1,500 JPY (Re-entry permitted during the event)
※ Free for those with a disability certificate, plus one companion.
※ Free for students with a valid student ID.
※ Free for elementary school students and younger.
■ Organizer
tagboat Inc.
Special Website: http://tagboat.co.jp/
■ Online Sale Period
Oct 2 (Fri) 12:00 - Oct 31 (Sat) 12:00
■ Participating Artists (in alphabetical order)
Tsukue Akimoto, KOTOKO, Chihiro Kudo, Kaeru Tsukino, Mayumi Tsuzuki, Riko Hoshino, Jasmine Fulford, Liisa
Tsukue Akimoto (Desk)
Manga artist and illustrator.
Based in Tokyo, Akimoto has been expanding activities both domestically and internationally in recent years, including solo exhibitions in Seoul, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Taipei, and participating as an invited artist in art fairs in Bangkok and Shanghai.
Instagram: @tsukueakimoto
KOTOKO
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 2001, currently based in Tokyo.
With a spirit of looking at the world from an askew, playful perspective, KOTOKO depicts a reality slightly shifted from the norm with a humorous and goofy touch. Influenced by the Showa-era manga owned by her mother and aunt, she aims to create works that shake the viewer's brain, focusing on scenes where the absurdity and coldness of humanity coexist.
Primarily working with acrylic gouache and markers, she paints with vivid, expressive colors. In addition to canvas works, she creates on various materials such as illustration boards and fabrics. In recent years, she has expanded her practice by participating in art fairs like Art Fair Beppu and Different Kyomachibori, as well as creating wall art for the Pentel × Mural Rookies Project.
Active and energetic, she focuses on the theme of free-spirited play that knows no rules.
Instagram: @sooooziki
Chihiro Kudo
There is a mysterious allure to Chihiro Kudo's paintings.
Her work, which is somewhat reminiscent of Yoshitomo Nara's touch and technique, possesses a unique painterly charm.
Originally from Aomori, Kudo completed her graduate studies at Nagoya University of the Arts before being selected for the Sompo Japan FACE Exhibition and the Tagboat Award. Her talent is such that she received the Chairman's Award at Nagoya University of the Arts.
The female figures she draws express a perfect balance of strangeness and cuteness within a heartwarming atmosphere.
Looking at her paintings for a while leaves one feeling healed, while also sensing an indescribable touch of malice.
Kudo's popularity at Tagboat is such that her works often sell out almost immediately.
There is no doubt she is an artist who will lead the Japanese art scene.
As a collector, this is definitely a piece you want to own while the price is still accessible.
Instagram: @chihirokudo
Kaeru Tsukino
Began drawing at age 46 while working as a corporate employee; retired at 56 to become an independent artist.
Kaeru Tsukino's work consists of original digital illustrations stacked like a shadow box, coated with transparent resin, and finished like nail art.
Featuring a digital sensibility combined with the analog feel of handcrafted layering—at once futuristic yet nostalgic, craft-like yet painterly—please take a look at these one-of-a-kind art pieces.
Instagram: @tsukino_kaeru
Mayumi Tsuzuki
Born in Tokyo in 1966. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Industrial, Interior and Craft Design (Interior Design Major) in 1988. She creates oil paintings and lithograph prints, focusing on solo exhibitions and art fairs while also handling client work. She engages in various creative activities, such as making "Fabric Trophies"—animal wall hangings made of cloth. While depicting casual everyday scenes and people, she expresses the ambiguity of memory and the afterimages of emotion. She explores the coexistence of duality—light and shadow, peacefulness yet restlessness, intimacy and distance—aiming to create works that overlap with the individual memories of the viewer.
Instagram: @tsuzuki_mayumi
Riko Hoshino
A "born performer" who sublimates the very act of living into expression.
She does not limit herself to a specific field, freely traversing all media including contemporary art, music composition, songwriting, vocals, piano performance, DJing, acting, and video production and direction. Furthermore, with overwhelming athletic ability and core strength cultivated through ballroom dancing, pole dancing, and rhythmic gymnastics, she thoroughly trains her own body as a material for expression, engaging in multi-faceted performance.
In her world, "Eros," "Grotesque," and "Romantic" coexist in exquisite balance. Through the poison and pain found at the depths of sensuality, as well as pure prayer, she violently shakes the viewer's ethical standards and unconscious prejudices.
While her visuals are at first glance filled with the real heat and energy of the city, her essence contains a poignant awareness of the structural distortions of modern society, particularly women's identity and sexual exploitation in male-centered societies, and professional discrimination.
Easily crossing the existing boundaries of art and entertainment, she is garnering immense attention as a comprehensive performer who challenges society sharply.
Instagram: @rikohoshino420
Jasmine Fulford
Entered Musashino Art University, Department of Painting (Oil Painting Major).
Transferred to the Printmaking Department in her third year and graduated after two years.
Immediately moved to the UK and completed an MA in Fine Art at UAL Central Saint Martins.
Moved her base from Kanagawa to Nagano Prefecture in 2025, and while handling various materials centered around painting, she consistently creates works based on the theme of "What can we truly believe in?"
Instagram: @jasminefulford
Liisa
Using landscapes as a motif, she creates work using the perception of "looking at the background" as a clue.
1999 Born in Hungary (Chinese nationality)
2001 Moved to Rome, Italy
2018 Arrived in Japan
2023 Graduated from Kyoto Seika University, Faculty of Manga
2026 Completed Master's degree at Tokyo University of the Arts
Instagram: @liisa_saaaa
Colors: Off-White, Ivory, Black
Size: Width 40 × Height 39 × Depth 9cm / Handle 57cm
Material: Cotton Canvas
Pockets: 1 exterior, 2 interior
Price: 4,400 JPY (Tax included)
Click here for the product list ⇒ ⇒
I want to make the Japanese contemporary art scene more vibrant and more open.
Tagboat's challenge began with the event "Independent Tokyo" in 2008. Discovering young artists, supporting their activities, and delivering their work to collectors. That passion continues to evolve today.
In 2017, we opened a gallery space and expanded the roster of artists we represent.
Then, in 2021, leveraging our experience in event operation, we launched "tagboat Art Fair" as our first independent gallery art fair. We have been pioneering the world's first initiative combining online and real-world elements, selling the works of over 1,000 artists we represent.
However, we are aiming for even more.
"Can't we introduce truly valuable contemporary art from a broader perspective, beyond just the artists represented by Tagboat?"
This question led to the creation of an open art fair called "Tokyo Contemporary / tagboat."
Tokyo Contemporary / tagboat is not a conventional fair structured by gallery exhibition requests, but a new type of art fair where Tagboat curates artists from its own unique perspective. The mission Tagboat aims to achieve through this fair is to build a platform that increases the value of artists and expands the number of artists who can make a living through their work.
At the same time, we intend to intentionally break the customs and conventions that remain in the Japanese art world and spread the standard customer-first approach that is normal in other industries to this one as well.
Please look forward to new challenges in contemporary art spreading from Tokyo Contemporary / tagboat.