NIO-PROJECT

OKAERI / TADAIMA お帰り/ ただいま

(Welcome Home/ We are back!)

We are inviting you on an exciting journey to the hometown of two magnificent Japanese temple guards, nowadays housed in the Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam. These guards, so called Niozo, originate from Yokota, a village in the remote prefecture of Shimane, where once a year, all thousand gods of Japan convene. After a prolonged absence, the guards reappeared in the village in 2018, adorned in Blue tiled suits! This resurfacing was due to a collaborative project, involving hundreds of people from both the Netherlands and Japan.

Currently the guardians are eagerly awaiting their return to their former location in the woods of Okuizumo Yokota on the Iwaya-ji Mountain. October 13th they will be ceremonially placed in the context the temple guards stood for over 700 years. The journey alongside these temple guardians holds as much significance as the destination itself. Read more>>

Getting the BLUE NIO ready for World Stage OSAKA EXPO

Yokota 10 feb. 2025 The Blue Nio have been invited on the largest stage: Osaka World Expo! On Oct. 1st they will welcome you during their first SATELLITE NIO FESTIVAL in the Dutch Pavilion. Get your tickets at expo2025 and join us. We are making preparations on the Nio in the Honmachi Kaikan of Okuizumo Yokota. Feel free to stop by and have a look!

OJIZOSAN HUNT SUCCESSFUL

Okuizumo Yokota 24 Nov. 2024 We have set a record in finding lost Ojizosan. We were able to dig up more than 7 precious ojizosan statues this year. Looking forward to next year and continue our search.

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Iwayaji temple opening

Okuizumo, Yokota, Shimane-ken, Japan 23 Nov. 2023
For the first time in many many many years the Iwaya-ji temple opened its doors to welcome everyone inside! What a joy and special moment it was to hear the sound of the temple after opening its doors. A flood of dragon heads looked down on us in curiosity. And we were in aw!

Issho-ni/ Tomo-ni

Amsterdam-Yokota 23 Nov 2029. Hundreds of participants in both the Netherlands joint hands and contributed to the return of the Nio to their home town: Yokota, Okuizumo, Japan. They did it ‘Issho-ni/ Tomo-ni’, (re-creating Pure Wisdom, together!)