Local News

The Marumitsu art gallery in Kitakyushu, which for 45 years has provided an exhibition site free of charge to artists regardless of their professional status, closed on December 31. During that time it presented more than 2,000 exhibits by individual artists. The small gallery currently occupies the second floor of the optician’s shop operated by the 76-year-old owner, who decided to retire due to the difficulty of competing with mass merchandisers in the industry.