We put up advertising posters at each train station of JR Kyushu and distributed leaflets. The advertisements were also placed in railway magazines, complimentary papers, and holiday magazines. The first theme given for the project was “Leaves” and the other themes were “Leaves,” “Flowers,” and “Fish.” We also advertised the application for participants on TV.

We held a two-day event to invite applications at the concourse in Hakata Station. Many people attanded and soon filled the entire hall. “Leaf” created by each individual was unique, having a fascinating illustration. Our event staff had a thoroughly enjoyable time. *For the second event, the theme was “Stars and Insects.” We also advertised applications in China, Thailand, and Malaysia in collaboration with EON Co., Ltd.

We discussed with everyone how to locate a tree drawn by Mr. Senjyu. “Let’s place this drawing here,” “ What about that piece”?—the discussion went on. By carefully arranging each paticipant’s work, the tile art came into exixtence.

The submitted drawings were transfered onto the Arita ware using tracing paper. Unwanted sections were removed with a utility knife. The decorated tiles were systematically placed onto shelves waiting to be fired in the kiln. This was a task in which no mistakes could be allowed to occur at any step. Craftsmen handled each tile by hand.

300–350 crafted tiles were fired at once in the kiln. The temperature reached an astonishing 1160°C. We were excited to see how the tiles would turn out.

After the twenty-hour waiting time, cooling process took place inside the kiln. Now came the time to take out all the finished pieces. It was a moment of feeding life into the ceramics. The yellow tracing paper melted away to reveal a beautiful illustration.

While arranging the finished work of tile art in exact order, we checked for any cracks or imperfections that may be present. The photograph shows the tile art planned to be installed at the new ticket barrier on the third floor of JR Hakata City. The collection of each individual’s ideas enabled the enormous tile art work to be completed.

Mr. Senjyu and Mr. Mitooka make a visit Mr. Senjyu and Mr. Mitooka visited Arita to check the juxtaposition of artworks. They meticulously checked each piece of work.

We installed the tile art on the wall over the fourth floor stairwell at JR Hakata City. The crafted tiles from the Arita factory were transported to another factory in Tokushima where the pieces were sorted in several panels before the installation took place. We will complete the installation on the wall of the new third-floor ticket barrier, on the first-floor pillar, and over the wall on the ninth-floor hall by taking every care not to damage any artwork.