OKAMOTO Taro《Mitsumeau Ai》《Rio Chan》Let's visit art spots known by those in the know in Suita City!

On display in the public open space on the second floor of Duskin's headquarters《Mitsumeau Ai》

OKAMOTO Taro's "Tower of the Sun" in the Expo '70 Memorial Park is well-known as a piece of his artwork, but in fact, there is a public artwork in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, that is also well-known to those who know about it.These are two artworks《Mitsumeau Ai》(means Love stare at each other) and《Rio chan》.

Both artworks can be viewed in the Esaka area in the southwestern part of Suita City. Both works were commissioned by OKAMOTO Taro by Duskin Co Ltd.

"Mitsumeau Ai" is displayed on the terrace of the open space on the second floor of Duskin's head office in Suita City, Osaka, and is open to the public free from 5:00 to 23:00, making it an attractive place for anyone to stop by. "Rio-chan" is located in Toyotsu Park, in front (west) of Duskin's head office.

"Rio-chan" installed in Toyotsu Park

"Mitsumeau Ai" was created on the occasion of the construction of Duskin's head office building in 1990. It is a ceramic wall painting measuring 8 meters in height by 4.5 meters in width, and is covered with Shigaraki porcelain pieces. The work features a pair of eyeballs evoking a man and a woman, and the artist's message on the piece is, " want to be able to look closely at people and the community and be able to see them again." and "walk alongside local companies".

Information board at the entrance is a landmark.

"Rio-chan" was created in 1983 as a signboard for 「Carnival Plaza」, an entertainment-type restaurant in Yoshino-cho, Suita City, which was once operated by Duskin. It is a large work measuring approximately 5 meters in length and width, with a distinctive sun-like face. The name of the work was not decided from the beginning, but the citizens later gave it the nickname "Rio-chan".

The restaurant was closed in 2007, but was given to Suita City after it was exhibited in the "'07 EXPO '07 My Expo" exhibition held at the Suita City Museum that same year. After that, it was installed in Shikinzan Park where the museum is located for a while, but was relocated to Toyotsu Park in 2011.

The two artworks are located very close to each other and can be viewed at the same time.

Including the two artworks introduced here and "Tower of the Sun," a total of three pieces by OKAMOTO Taro are still in existence in Suita City. We hope you will visit the site and feel the energy of the artworks.

Related Articles："Tower of the Sun," the symbol of the 1970 Osaka World Expo. Visit the "Tree of Life," which is the "bloodstream" of the tower that has been reborn for the first time in about half a century.

Address	《Mitsumeau Ai》 1-33 Toyotsu-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka 《Rio chan》 7 Toyotsu-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka
Access from the nearest station	A short walk from Exit 5 of Esaka Station on the Kita-Osaka Kyuko Line of the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line
Notes	《Mitsumeau Ai》 Located in a public open space on the second floor of Duskin's head office 《Rio chan》Located in Toyotsu Park in front (west side) of Duskin's head office
Reference website	Duskinhttps://www.duskin.co.jp/company/location/ ※You can refer to the access to the location. No information about the artwork is available.