【English】Setouchi Triennale 2025 starts!
The Spring Session of the Setouchi Triennale 2025 has finally begun. It’s the long-awaited art festival.
Even though the opening day was a weekday, around 70 people participated. Many Koebi volunteers joined especially for the opening. On the first weekend, company and organization volunteers also took part, bringing the total close to 100 participants.
Before 7 a.m., Koebi volunteers and company/organization volunteers gather at the colorful twin poles of Mr. Ohmaki’s artwork in Takamatsu Port.
Volunteers pick up the daily Koebi newsletter, and those without name tags create one. (If you forgot your name tag, please make a new one.)
Volunteers check if their names are on the whiteboard, then split into island groups. Staff members take attendance.
At 7:10 a.m., the morning meeting begins.
Important notices, types of passports, and how to count visitors are explained daily, since many people are joining for the first time. Updates on events and tours are also shared. This meeting is an essential start to the day—being late is not allowed.
On the opening day, General Director Fram Kitagawa said, “Hospitality means thinking and acting from the guest’s point of view.”
Koebi volunteers are always on the frontlines of the festival. A cheerful greeting is the basic rule of the Koebi team.
Many visitors come from overseas, and it’s natural to feel nervous at reception. Even if you can’t speak the same language, your smile, greeting, and welcoming attitude are what matter most.
After the meeting, volunteers break into island teams and get detailed explanations about reception duties and island rules from their assigned staff. This is the Megijima team—the island with the most Koebi volunteers. They take the regular ferry “Meon” to get there.
This is the Teshima team. Volunteers working at the reception and the Shima Kitchen take a small chartered boat to reach Teshima.
This time, there’s a new item: a scanning smartphone.
When a guest comes to the artwork site, greet them with a “Hello” and ask, “Do you have your Triennale Passport?”
As shown in the photo, people with digital passports will show their QR code on the screen.
For paper passports, the QR code is inside the front cover.
Use the special smartphone to scan QR codes from both digital and paper passports. We no longer count visitors manually using tally marks.
It may seem difficult at first, but don’t worry—the support staff will help you every step of the way.
Koebi volunteers also gather at Uno Port. Whether heading to Teshima or staying in the Uno area, they work just like the others departing from Takamatsu.
Here’s a look at the morning meeting at Uno Port.
Here’s how the reception area for artworks looks at Uno Port.
It’s been almost a week since the festival opened, and many visitors have arrived from both Japan and abroad.
Golden Week is coming up, and actually, we don’t have enough Koebi volunteers to help with artwork receptions.
Being at reception lets you enjoy the excitement of seeing guest reactions up close and meeting all kinds of people.
Come join us! If you haven’t made plans for Golden Week yet, why not try volunteering at artwork reception, even just for a day?
We look forward to your application!
