Avenida Paulista, 52
Bela Vista – São Paulo / SP
Tel.: +55 11 3149-5187
Tuesday to Friday | from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays | from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Monday* | CLOSED
Flows – Japan and the water
Surrounded by seas and interlaced with countless rivers and lakes, Japan finds in water not only the basis for daily life, but also the source that inspires its culture, tradition, science, economy, technology, and spirituality. Visit the exhibition and discover the flows!
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Flows - Japan and the water
In Japan, water is regarded not only as a source of life and vital nourishment for nature but also as an essential element in shaping the nation’s society and spirituality.
Japan House São Paulo highlights this element in the exhibition ‘Flows – Japan and the water’, presenting it from multiple perspectives: its role in the development of the economy, urban infrastructure, and the environment; its connection to technological innovation and improvements in water quality and supply; its significance in Japanese spirituality and traditions, and its enduring influence on art.
Exhibition design in the flow of water
Curated by Natasha Barzaghi Geenen, who also serves as the institution’s Cultural Director, the exhibition incorporates the centrifugal movement of water into its design, inviting visitors to explore an environment of flowing curves, textured surfaces, and immersive lighting that evokes the sensation of being submerged within the second floor of JHSP.
the world’s largest underground flood diversion facility
From an infrastructure standpoint, the exhibition features the Tokyo Metropolitan Area Underground Discharge Channel—the world’s largest underground flood diversion facility. The channel was designed to protect parts of the city during the rainy season and typhoons, temporarily storing excess water underground for later pumping, thereby preventing overflow at the surface.
Japan’s waters
Information on the composition of Japan’s waters and their high nutritional value—along with the biodiversity and minerals they contain—is also featured in the exhibition’s informative sections, with special emphasis on the country’s thermal springs, each distinguished by its unique characteristics and properties.
festivals and rituals
Another focus of the exhibition is the celebration of festivals and rituals centered on water. Among them are Uchimizu, in which water is sprinkled over gardens and streets to purify spaces while fulfilling a contemplative and ritual function; Chōzu, purification rite typically performed at the entrances of temples and shrines, where people wash their hands and mouths with running water using a ladle (hishaku); Mizugori/Takigyō, an ancient Buddhist practice of meditating beneath a waterfall to purify and strengthen both body and mind; Mikumari Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of water, symbolizing the sharing and distribution of this vital element, and the Okinami Tairyō Festival, held annually in Anamizu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, where participants pray for safety at sea and good fortune during the fishing season.
exhibition focal points
As focal points, the curator selected three artworks that illuminate the profound connection between Japanese society and water:
1.
The first and oldest of these is an ukiyo-e (image of the floating world, in Japanese) woodblock print created by the artist Hiroshige Utagawa in 1857, as part of a series of 119 prints portraying scenes of the capital, Edo—present-day Tokyo.
This style became renowned for depicting everyday life, landscapes, and Kabuki theater actors through images produced from intricately carved wooden blocks. The woodblock print on display belongs to the collection of the Moreira Salles Institute (IMS).
2.
The contemporary artist Tomoko Sauvage presents ‘Buloklok’, an installation that revisits the concept of the clepsydra—a water clock regarded as the world’s oldest timekeeping device—whose sound patterns evoke the rhythmic breathing of living beings. Shell- and cowrie-shaped sculptures are placed underwater in a large aquarium. A motor generates bubbles, whose movement is recorded by a hydrophone and amplified through speakers.
The work contemplates the fluid nature of time, both empirical and intimate, drawing a parallel to the unique respiratory rates, rhythms, and patterns found in all living beings. Initially created by Sauvage in 2022, the 2025 installation was designed especially for the exhibition at JHSP.
3.
The third featured work is the installation ‘Sans room’, by the artist Shiori Watanabe, who developed an artificial ecosystem of microbial circulation through water. The project presents a hydroponic rice greenhouse linked by tubes to water tanks in a room illuminated by ultraviolet light, evoking a meditation on isolated spaces that may seem empty, yet harbor abundant life within.
“We designed this exhibition specifically to highlight the importance of conscientious resource use, anticipating that such discussions would gain even greater relevance during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in November. Our aim is to broaden these discussions by highlighting the practices and solutions Japan has developed over the years for managing water resources.
In addition to a lot of informative content, the works of art occupy the center of the exhibition and reinforce with poetry the symbolism and importance of water. The expography itself was designed based on the movement of the water drop resonating. We hope this exhibition serves as an invitation to reflection and contemplation,” says curator Natasha.
JHSP Accessible Program
The exhibition is part of the JHSP Accessible program, which provides tactile resources, audio descriptions, videos in Libras (the Brazilian sign language), and content in Japanese, English, and Spanish to enhance accessibility for all visitors.
More INFORMation
Exhibition // Flows – Japan and the Water
#FluxosDoJapão #ÁguaNaJHSP
Period: October 21, 2025, to April 5, 2026
Free admission.
Japan House São Paulo | 2nd floor
Location: Avenida Paulista, 52 – Bela Vista, São Paulo
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm;
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from 10 am to 7 pm.
Japan House São Paulo remains closed on Mondays, without exception, including on holidays.
Parallel events to the exhibition:
Throughout the exhibition period, JHSP will also host lectures, seminars and workshops related to the themes covered in the exhibition.
Avenida Paulista, 52
Bela Vista – São Paulo / SP
Tel.: +55 11 3149-5187
Tuesday to Friday | from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays | from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Monday* | CLOSED
[email protected]
+55 11 3149.5187
