[Report] 4th Kusatsu Onsen Newcomers’ Night – A Summer of Art

Held on July 15 – The First Summer Experience Event of the Season

The 4th edition of “Newcomers’ Night,” which began in September last year, was held on July 15.

This time, we welcomed 8 first-time participants and 7 returning guests.

Among them were people who had recently moved to Kusatsu or had been living here for a few years, those spending the hot summer months in Kusatsu as part of a two-base lifestyle, and even a university student visiting to research traditional female innkeepers (okami).

Once again, it was a wonderfully unique and diverse group.

It was heartwarming to see new faces joining the community formed through previous Newcomers’ Nights, and to feel the circle of connections growing even wider!

In the spirit of the event’s theme, “A Summer of Art,” we enjoyed a hands-on experience of tarashikomi art — creating original hand fans (uchiwa) using our favorite colors of paint.

The Journey to My Own Shade

Each participant selected three paint colors of their choice, mixed them to create their own unique shade, and then prepared a special solution used for the tarashikomi art technique.

Comments like
“We’re both using blue, but they look completely different!”
“How did you make that color?”
and
“Hmm… what color should I make… let me go take a peek,”
could be heard around the room, as everyone moved about, chatting and sharing ideas.

Despite it being a relaxed, food-and-drinks kind of evening, everyone was so focused on creating their colors that hardly anyone touched their drinks!

A Storm of Cheers! Tarashikomi Art Experience

The climax of the experience was the tarashikomi moment itself.

Participants dropped their colorful liquid mixtures onto their fans and gently spread them across the surface.
No one—not even the person creating it—could predict what kind of pattern would emerge. It was a thrilling, suspenseful moment for everyone.

Some participants even filmed the process, capturing the mesmerizing transformation as the fans came to life with color. The room was filled with excitement and energy!

We received so many joyful comments, like:
“That was such a fun first-time experience!”
“It was so different from what I expected—in a good way!”
“I’m hooked! I want to try it at home now!”

As organizers, we couldn’t be happier to hear such enthusiastic feedback.

Living in Kusatsu, Together as One.

Towards the end of the event, we unveiled the logo created by the coworking space:

“Yuiyui – Coming together, living in Kusatsu.”

This phrase embodies the spirit that locals and newcomers alike—regardless of nationality or background—who love Kusatsu and live here are mutually connected, supporting one another like threads twisted together to build the community of Kusatsu Town. Starting from all of us gathered at Newcomers’ Night, it expresses our hope to establish this as a motto to expand the circle of connections throughout Kusatsu.

With the spirit of “Yuiyui” cherished in our hearts, the coworking space will continue planning many events that foster human connections.

Thanks to everyone’s care for this gathering and the cooperation of each individual, we were able to bring the event to a joyful close.

We sincerely thank all participants.

We will continue to hold these events regularly, so we look forward to your continued support.

New participants are always very welcome! ^^