May 2, 2025
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
The 1.8m long, 3.6m wide painting was created over a period of approximately eight months by 12 third-year students from the Visual Design Course of the Design Science Department at Fukushima Nishi High School, a local prefectural school. = “Kishimizu Bridge” near the Fukushima Nishi IC Tohoku Expressway
The Tohoku Regional Head Office Fukushima Management Office commissioned local high school students studying design to create an art piece that would create a space that would encourage consideration of the “people, cities, and regions” that Expressway will connect, and held a ceremony to celebrate its completion on March 18, 2025.
The project aims to revitalize the local area, beautify the scenery along the railway line, and create experiential opportunities for young people who will lead the next generation. This is the first time that our company has undertaken a mural project in which paintings are turned into panels and displayed on the walls of Expressway abutment.
The three large-scale works, created over a period of eight months, are based on the theme of “Connecting Communities.” These vibrant and colorful works will remain on display for a while, delighting the eyes of the many visitors to the exhibition.
The opening ceremony celebrating the completion of the mural was covered by many mass media outlets in Fukushima Prefecture, providing widespread publicity for our CSR activities!
オープニングセレモニーには福島管理事務所の茅原佑樹所長、福島西高の佐々木理夫校長と生徒たちが出席し、長い月日をかけて完成した作品のお披露目をテープカットで祝いました。
福島管理事務所は、壁画制作を依頼した高校生たちに当社の事業概要を知ってもらうため出前授業やリニューアル工事の現場見学会を実施。その上で展示することとなった原画3点を選出した「プレゼン会」などを行い、このプロジェクト完成のため事務所一丸となって取り組みました。
福島管理事務所の渡邉弘芳上席専門員は、『生徒さんが「自分の作品を多くの人に見てもらえる」、地元の方が「憩いの場が出来た」と喜んでもらえたことが何より嬉しい。今回のように地元の高校生など地域の人々と手を取り合ってひとつの”モノ”を作り上げ、多くの人の”心”に届ける取り組みを今後も行っていきたい』とコメントしています。
▼We are contributing to the following SDGs by “promoting efforts to create new added value and regional cooperation using Expressway ”▼
WACOCA: People, Life, Style.