Rintaro Hara + Yu Hara Interactive Art "Summer Kids Like Bees. Urban Kids Like Balls." at Shibuya Hikarie

An interactive art event titled "Summer Kids Like Bees. Urban Kids Like Balls." by Rintaro Hara and Yu Hara is being held at Shibuya Hikarie's 8th-floor event spaces, 8/COURT and 8/CUBE, located at 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

This event is part of SHIBUYA WANDERING CRAFT 2026's "Creating Our Place - Stay and Ground Yourself-" exhibition, transforming the spaces into a playground through art. Visitors can engage with unique and interactive works such as "Shibuya Figure-Eight Sugoroku," which incorporates Shibuya's local culture, "Marimba Ping Pong," a musical table tennis game, and "Logos Garden," where visitors combine words written on building blocks to create surreal sentences. A self-workshop called "Sticky Bug Collection," where participants attach colored paper cutouts of insects and animals to a white tree, is also featured, offering creative activities for families and friends.

The event's title, "Summer Kids Like Bees," alludes to the waggle dance bees use to communicate the direction and distance of flowers, symbolizing inter-human communication. "Urban Kids Like Balls" expresses the desire for children to move freely like balls. The artists convey a strong message about the decreasing opportunities for children to play freely in urban environments due to factors like intense summer heat and restrictions on ball games in parks. They aim to provide a space at Shibuya Hikarie's 8th floor where children can fully engage and play through art, reflecting the historical significance of "play" in art movements like Dadaism and Surrealism.

Rintaro Hara, an installation artist, and Yu Hara, a painter, collaborate as an artist unit. They are known for creating playground-themed interactive works suitable for all ages. Their extensive experience includes participation in major art festivals such as the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale and the Setouchi Triennale.

Admission to this event is free, making it accessible to many. However, please note that some artworks in 8/COURT may be temporarily inaccessible during specific SHIBUYA WANDERING CRAFT 2026 related events, particularly on August 22nd (Sat) from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM and August 23rd (Sun) from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. It is recommended to check the official website for the latest information.

Event Information

• Title: Rintaro Hara + Yu Hara Interactive Art "Summer Kids Like Bees. Urban Kids Like Balls."
• Venue: Shibuya Hikarie 8F 8/COURT, 8/CUBE
• Address: 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• Dates: August 22, 2026 (Sat) - August 30, 2026 (Sun)
• Time: 11:00 - 20:00 (until 17:00 on August 30)
• Admission: Free
• Notes: Some artworks in 8/COURT may be inaccessible during certain SHIBUYA WANDERING CRAFT 2026 events (especially Aug 22, 3 PM-8 PM and Aug 23, 12 PM-6 PM, scheduled).

Access

• Nearest Station: JR Shibuya Station / Tokyo Metro Shibuya Station