We would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Yayoi Kusama.

For many years, her works have been cherished by countless visitors amid the natural landscape of the Setouchi region, including Pumpkin, installed on the pier outside Benesse House Museum in 1994, and Narcissus Garden, unveiled in 2022. Today, these works have become iconic symbols of the scenery of Naoshima.

Through her art, she offered people new perspectives and profound inspiration, drawing visitors from across Japan and around the world to this special place. The presence of her works is deeply intertwined with the landscape and collective memory of Naoshima, and they have become indispensable to the story and identity of the island.

We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to care for her works here and to provide visitors from around the world with opportunities to encounter and engage with her art.

We will continue to preserve her works and the spirit embodied within them with great care, ensuring that they are passed on to future generations.

With the deepest respect for her extraordinary artistic achievements over many decades, we sincerely pray for the peaceful repose of her soul.

Benesse Art Site Naoshima

It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the passing of Yayoi Kusama, and we extend our deepest condolences.

Yayoi Kusama made an extraordinary and lasting contribution to the world of contemporary art. Her works, which have touched people across the world, have always been imbued with a profound sense of love.

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to exhibit Pumpkin at our 1994 exhibition "Out of Bounds," in what was then the early days of Benesse Art Site Naoshima. Standing at the tip of the pier, it has since become a symbol of the island itself. Red Pumpkin, installed by Naoshima Town at Miyanoura Port, the island's gateway, has welcomed visitors from around the world ever since. And in 2022, Narcissus Garden was unveiled. Each of these works lives on together with the island's landscape, shaping views found nowhere else on earth, and each has become an irreplaceable masterpiece for us.

The generosity of spirit and deep attentiveness to people and nature that shine through in her art will stay with us for years to come, continuing to move everyone who comes to Naoshima.

We extend our deepest gratitude for her kindness, generosity, and dedication throughout her lifetime, and offer our heartfelt prayers for her eternal peace.

Soichiro Fukutake
Fukutake Foundation Honorary Chairman
Benesse Group Honorary Adviser