Artist Room Sumo at Park Hotel Tokyo-Where Guests Can Feel the Glow of Japanese Sumo Wrestlers

Having the concept “Infinite time and space amid cognizant Japanese beauty”, Park Hotel Tokyo is proceeding to incorporate art into spaces throughout the hotel. Through the “Artist in Hotel” project, the interior of all guestrooms on the 31stfloor are painted by Japanese artists .

The “Artist in Hotel” project, which is a hotel-version of an “Artist in Residence”, took place from December 2012 to July 2017 at Park Hotel Tokyo. In the project, artists resided at the hotel to absorb the atmosphere while partaking of its facilities and services to fashion a standard room into a work of art drawing inspiration from their guest experience. Artists painted directly on the walls and ceiling of the guest rooms as if they were a canvas, as well as affixed original paintings/décor in accordance to “Japanese aesthetics” a theme.

The first room, Artist Room King Sumo, was created by artist Hiroyuki Kimura. Kimura's concept was “a room where guests can feel the glow of sumo wrestlers”. Feeling nervous to start working as the very first artist of the project, Kimura painted sumo wrestlers directly on the walls using sumi ink. Kimura had also incorporated name plates of sumo wrestlers and their home shrine by the window, as well as many stickers of sumo wrestlers throughout the entire room, including the bathroom. All these embellishments became the template of future installations of the subsequent Artist Rooms.”

“Sumo is a traditional Japanese art form, much more than just a sport. Moves and manners in sumo embody various meanings, such as appreciation of nature and a wish for prosperity of people”, said Kimura. He hopes that guests will take this opportunity to experience the sumo room, which is a crystallization of Japanese culture.

The “Artist in Hotel” project was awarded the "Excellence in Field of Domestic and Inbound Travel Award" at the Japan Tourism Awards in 2017 for being a pioneering effort to enhance the allure of Japan. The completion of this programme is just the beginning of our goal to welcome our guests with hospitality in the form of “arrangement”, one of Japan's aesthetic values, expressed through the medium of art.

About Park Hotel Tokyo

Park Hotel Tokyo, opened in 2003, is located on the 25th floor and above in the Shiodome Media Tower. The main entrance begins on the 25th floor where the lobby and reception desk are situated, alongside the restaurants and the bar. The city's view can be enjoyed through the windows behind the reception desk. There are 270 guest rooms, located from the 26th to 34th floors. In 2013, Park Hotel Tokyo put forth a new concept, "Infinite time and space amid cognizant Japanese beauty." In line with the concept, every room on the 31st floor is decorated and converted into an inhabitable permanent art installation called the Artist Rooms, based on the theme "Beauty of Japan." To offer a memorable experience in various parts of the stay, Park Hotel Tokyo will continue to maximize the role of Japanese aesthetics and hospitality.

Source: Park Hotel Tokyo

Contact:

Park Hotel Tokyo Public Relations

Rafael Olivares (New York)

Email: rafael@shibaparkhotel.com

Yuko Matsubara (Tokyo)

Tel: +81-3-6252-1111

Email: matsubara@shibaparkhotel.com