Hello friends,
We have some great news to share.
Kensuke Takahashi’s Yaoyorozu｜八百万 exhibition at Empire Seven Studios has officially sold out.
All of the hand-painted canvases have found homes, and we couldn’t be happier to see the work continue its journey into private collections. Seeing people connect with the work, and ultimately decide to live with it, is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do here at E7S.
That said, the exhibition isn’t over just yet.
Yaoyorozu｜八百万 will remain on view at Empire Seven Studios through November 29, and as always, our exhibitions are free and open to the public, unless otherwise posted.
For those of you who have been following Kensuke’s work, we still have traditionally handmade Japanese scrolls available, along with a few of the limited edition prints of Kensuke’s 2025 San Jose Walls mural.
The scrolls are particularly special to us, and rather than trying to explain why, we thought it would be better to let Kensuke tell you himself.
A Note from Kensuke Takahashi
KAKEJIKU — Art in Motion
Kakejiku, or Japanese hanging scrolls, are a traditional Japanese art form designed to change with time, place, and season.
Unlike a framed painting that remains fixed on a wall, a Kakejiku can be rolled, carried, stored, and replaced—allowing art to become part of the changing atmosphere of a space.
In Japan, paintings and calligraphy have traditionally been changed according to the season: blossoms in spring, cool landscapes in summer, autumn colors, or quiet winter scenes. In this way, Kakejiku became more than a method of displaying art. They became a way of bringing nature, time, and emotion into a room.
Each scroll is carefully constructed by skilled craftsmen. Special Japanese paper is mounted with layers of backing and carefully selected fabric, finished with wooden scroll rods and cords. This combination of craftsmanship makes the work lightweight, durable, and capable of being rolled away and preserved for generations.
At the heart of Kakejiku is the Japanese appreciation of ma—the beauty of space, balance, and what is left intentionally unfilled.
This philosophy connects Kakejiku with many ideas found in contemporary art and design: minimalism, composition, materiality, and the relationship between artwork and its surrounding space. But perhaps the most unique quality of Kakejiku is its mobility.
Art does not have to stay in one place. It can travel. It can change. It can wait. And it can return.
I see Kakejiku as a bridge between traditional Japanese culture and contemporary art—a format that allows an artwork to exist not only as an image, but as an experience within a space.
A quiet form of art, carrying stories across time.
Kakejiku is a Japanese tradition in motion.
— Kensuke Takahashi
The Kakejiku scrolls are available through Empire Seven Studios and will be printed in demand. Made to order and will take up to 2 months to receive. ORDER YOUR SCROLL HERE
We also still have a small number of the limited edition prints of Kensuke’s 2025 San Jose Walls mural available. ORDER YOUR PRINT HERE
Whether you’re a collector, an admirer of Kensuke’s work, or simply curious to see what all the excitement is about, come spend some time with the exhibition.
We’d love to see you.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Kensuke, this exhibition, and Empire Seven Studios. We’re incredibly grateful to be able to bring artists like Kensuke back to San Jose and continue creating a place where artists and our community can share the same space.
See you at the gallery,
Juan Carlos
Empire Seven Studios
