madaraki kyouji
Painting the Fading Beauty in Stillness - Madaraki
In a quiet corner of Yokohama,
a solitary painter takes up his brush once more.
His name is Madaraki.
Though he speaks little of his age or background,
his works speak volumes - capturing a nostalgic,
almost aching sense of “Japan’s collective memory.”
A Second Life Born from Rehabilitation
In 2017, after undergoing cervical decompression surgery,
Madaraki left his longtime position in the design department of a major automotive company.
What began as watercolor painting for hand rehabilitation gradually transformed into something far deeper -
a pure “joy of living.”
He began painting in earnest in the autumn of 2020. In 2021,
during the stillness of the global pandemic,
he entered his first open exhibition at the Sogo Gallery in Yokohama and received the Encouragement Award.
That marked the beginning of his journey.
As exhibitions were repeatedly canceled due to the pandemic,
he turned to Instagram, where his work unexpectedly resonated
with many and attracted warm responses from around the world. After society reopened in 2023,
he began curating his own exhibitions and participating in shows once more.
By 2024, his art had grown to award-winning quality. Today, he continues to paint steadily -
joyfully, quietly, and with unwavering passion.
Capturing a “Vanishing Japan”
Madaraki’s art is driven by a clear purpose:
“To preserve the fading beauty of Japan’s traditional culture and natural landscapes through watercolor,
and share it with the world.”
From Kyoto to Nara to Gifu, he travels across Japan,
capturing disappearing scenes and landscapes as the seasons change -
not as mere scenery, but with a deep yearning to preserve their beauty for the future.
In recent years, his work has transcended cultural boundaries,
deeply resonating with viewers abroad who feel the essence of Japan in his paintings.
A Journey Etched in Awards
2021 - Encouragement Award, Sogo Gallery Open Exhibition, Yokohama
2023 - 1st Place Popular Vote, Artisans Kitakamakura “Spring Bloom” Exhibition
2024 - Semi-Grand Prix, Art Journey Across Japan - Kanagawa Edition
2024 & 2025 - Excellence Awards, Kanagawa Artists Association Exhibitions, among many others
These are more than just a list of honors - they are proof that each painting has touched someone’s heart.
Painting Not Beauty, but Prayer
What Madaraki paints is more than mere landscapes.
His works are memories of Japan that may one day disappear - primordial images that sleep deep within our hearts.
“Beautiful things fade quietly. If nothing else, I want to preserve their presence on paper.”
This prayer-like sentiment lives within every brushstroke of his watercolor paintings.
Introduction from MANTARAY
We, MANTARAY, are the official representatives of watercolor artist Kyouji Madaraki.
In August 2021, amid the global pandemic, he made a sudden debut at an open exhibition
at a Yokohama department store gallery -
receiving the Encouragement Award with his very first submission.
Since then, most of his exhibited works have gone on to win Excellence Awards,
and since 2024, he has been invited to numerous curated exhibitions. Today,
he continues to create with unshakable passion.
There is one message that Madaraki strives to convey through his art:
“To capture the fading beauty of Japan’s traditions and nature in watercolor,
and share its splendor with the world.”
This belief is at the very core of his creative practice.
The Future of “MANTARAY”
We at MANTARAY are more than just artist representatives.
We are a brand collective dedicated to a philosophy of relentless forward momentum - s
eeking bold expressions and disruptive ideas that transcend conventional boundaries.
Through art, culture, design, and thought, we aim to ignite new waves within the global art scene.
Madaraki’s work marks the first step - a signal flare of what is to come from MANTARAY.
Together with our artists, we will continue to challenge society with new values and aesthetics,
expanding the possibilities of Japanese culture and beauty.
