"HACHI-8 PROJECT 2026," an urban culture event themed around Hachiko, a symbol of Shibuya, will be held for the first time from August 7th to 9th at Seibu Shibuya (Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku) and the Dogenzaka area.

This project was launched on August 8th, 2026, a day with three "8"s in a row. It aims to reinterpret the cultural value of Hachiko, the loyal dog, as a "meeting place" and "gathering place for people," in a modern way, and to connect the city with people, people with people, and people with culture through art.

The theme for this inaugural event is "ART." 88 artists, selected by eight curators, will participate, exhibiting works themed around "Hachiko" created specifically for the project, as well as their individual pieces.

The main venue is on the 2nd floor of Building A at Seibu Shibuya. A wide range of artists from both Japan and abroad will participate, including painters, illustrators, sculptors, designers, and photographers. Among them are Shiriagari Kotobuki, Shimoda Masakatsu, Shirane Yutampo, Ito Keiji, Hiro Sugiyama, Omura Yukino, Okuda Yuta, and Romero Britto. There will also be a special exhibition by Jasper Wong and stylist Mita Shinichi, who will also serve as curator.

On August 7th, a talk show will be held at the main venue of Seibu Shibuya. There will be a total of eight sessions starting at 11:00 AM, and Mitsuru Kuramoto, a broadcast writer and art producer, will be the moderator.

Guests involved in art, including Hiromi Yamaguchi, Yoshio Suzuki, Masamichi Toyama, Yuji Yamashita, Jun Fukuda, Shigeo Goto, and Miwa Kutsuna, are scheduled to appear. In the second half, with themes such as "Dressing Up in the City, Exploring Art" and "The Future of Shibuya Culture as Seen from the City of Hachiko," local stakeholders will exchange opinions on urban development in Shibuya, the future of art, and how to further develop the city's culture through Hachiko.

On August 8th, 2026, in conjunction with the 7th Shibuya Bon Odori Festival, a special exhibition and live painting will be held in the Dogenzaka area. Eight Hachiko-themed works by artists selected by the curator will be displayed on easels throughout the streets of Dogenzaka.

At the Dogenzaka venue, there will also be a live painting session by Osaka-born pop artist Masao Hatayama. Hatayama, who works under the concept of "making the world happy with pop art," will complete a work of art right in front of the attendees. The session is scheduled to take place from around 6 PM on the 8th until the end of the event.

This project emphasizes not only viewing artworks in a single venue, but also the experience of visitors encountering art by chance while walking and exploring the streets of Shibuya. The artworks will be displayed primarily at Seibu Shibuya store, as well as at satellite venues throughout Shibuya Ward.

Some of the exhibited works will be sold or auctioned at the end of August through the art sales and auction service "THE Future Vintage." A portion of the proceeds will be used for conservation activities in Shibuya, including the Hachiko statue, and for giving back to the local community.

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