MAFIN 2026 at Daishoin on Miyajima; Four Artists Including Chim↑Pom Reflect on Peace from the Eternal Flame

The contemporary art exhibition “MAFIN 2026 (Miyajima Art Festival in the Narrative 2026)” will be held at Daishoin Temple on Mt. Misen, Miyajima, in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, December 13, 2026. This second edition features four artists and groups: the artist collective Chim↑Pom, Sumi Kanazawa, Hiroko Kubo and Ilya Yelashevich. The theme is “The Eye of Time: A Universal, Eternal Process for Peace.” It is open every day during the exhibition, and admission is free.

Why Daishoin? The Eternal Flame and the Peace Flame

Daishoin stands on Mt. Misen, Miyajima’s sacred mountain, and is said to date back to the time of Kukai. In its precincts, the “Eternal Flame” (Kiezu no Hi) has been passed down for about 1,200 years. This flame also became one of the sources of the Peace Flame in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. MAFIN takes this flame as its starting point and aims to stimulate the imagination through works in a place where time and people’s prayers overlap.

The organizer says that in an age overflowing with information and demanding instant answers, it reframes time spent pausing before questions without answers as “prayer.” It also positions the ferry ride to Miyajima as part of the process of leaving everyday life behind. The exhibition is curated by independent curator Totsuka (戸塚愛美), whose projects include the Saitama International Art Festival 2020.

The first edition, MAFIN 2025, was held at the same temple from April 26 to May 25, 2025, the 80th year since the atomic bombing, with three artists and groups: Kana Kou, Hiroko Kubo and Chim↑Pom. This year’s second edition is held in autumn, when Miyajima is colored by autumn leaves. Supporters include the Miyajima Tourist Association and the executive committee for projects commemorating the 30th anniversary of World Heritage registration.

What can visitors see? Works by the four artists

According to materials released by the organizer on October 1, the works by the four artists are as follows.

• Chim↑Pom, “Good Fire, Bad Fire, Ordinary Fire”: Taking up Daishoin’s Eternal Flame, Hiroshima’s Peace Flame and a fire lit without any context, the work considers the many meanings of fire from the setting of Daishoin. Shown in the Kyakuden (guest hall). The collective, formed in Tokyo in 2005, has made works based on the paper cranes sent to Hiroshima, and in 2014 held a ritual burning of a large number of paper cranes at Daishoin.

• Sumi Kanazawa, “Sora to Sora (Space and Sky)”: An installation of about 100 “newspaper drawings,” in which newspapers are blacked out with graphite. New drawings on the theme of the atomic bombing, which she has made every year from August 6 to 10 since 2019, are also shown. Kanazawa was born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1979 and holds South Korean nationality.

• Hiroko Kubo, “Eyes of the Forest” (2024): A sculpture with multiple eyes is installed at Daishoin. Inspired in part by Kumagusu Minakata’s pursuit of knowledge, it is shown in relation to Daishoin’s surroundings. Kubo, a sculptor born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1987, uses industrial products such as blue tarpaulins as materials.

• Ilya Yelashevich, “Drifting Light”: Gold-leaf figures referencing Christian icons and Buddhist sculpture symbolize spirit and memory. The voids left after the human forms are removed represent traces of those who have been lost, as well as time, memory and absence. Born in Belarus and based in Tokyo, he completed a master’s degree in Japanese-style painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.

The Kyakuden, where Chim↑Pom’s work is shown, cannot be visited on Sunday, November 22 and Tuesday, December 1.

Related event: a dedicatory performance by Meitei

On Sunday, November 22, from 19:30 to 20:30, Meitei will give a dedicatory performance in the Kannon Hall of Daishoin. Meitei is a musician from Onomichi, Hiroshima, based in Kyoto. Known for music on the theme of “Lost Japan” (Shitsu Nihon), he gave a dedicatory performance at Kiyomizu-dera in 2026. Tickets cost 8,000 yen for A seats, 7,000 yen for B seats and 5,000 yen for C seats, and are sold on Peatix.

Access and notes for visitors

From JR Hiroshima Station, it takes about 25 minutes on the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station, or about 70 minutes by Hiroden tram to Hiroden Miyajimaguchi Station. From either station it is a six-minute walk to board the JR West Miyajima Ferry or the Miyajima Matsudai Kisen ferry (about 10 minutes). From Miyajima Pier to Daishoin is a 20- to 30-minute walk. By car, Miyajimaguchi is about 10 minutes from the Hatsukaichi IC when coming from the Okayama or Osaka direction, or from the Ono IC when coming from Kyushu; park there and transfer to the ferry.

Sutras are chanted at Daishoin every day at 8:00 and 13:00, and the organizer asks visitors to remain quiet during that time. In Hiroshima City, the Hiroshima Museum of Art is also holding its exhibition on artists who gathered at cafés.

Overview

Name: MAFIN 2026 (Miyajima Art Festival in the Narrative 2026)
Theme: The Eye of Time: A Universal, Eternal Process for Peace
Dates: Friday, November 20 – Sunday, December 13, 2026 (open every day; the Kyakuden cannot be visited on November 22 and December 1)
Hours: 10:00–17:00
Venue: Daishoin Temple (Miyajima Misen Daihonzan)
Address: 210 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima
Admission: Free (Meitei’s dedicatory performance is paid)
Organizer: Miyajima Art Festival Executive Committee
Support: Miyajima Tourist Association; Executive Committee for the 30th Anniversary of World Heritage Registration
Sponsor: Gene Co., Ltd.
Curation: Totsuka (戸塚愛美)
Official website: https://mafin.jp/
*Information as of October 20, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Main visual for MAFIN 2026 (from a press release by Gene Co., Ltd.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press materials from the Miyajima Art Festival Executive Committee (October 1, 2026) and Gene Co., Ltd. (October 15, 2026) and information on the official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team