Welcome to The Big Draw Japan!
*** BIG DRAW JAPAN 2025 DETAILS BELOW | Big Draw 2025 JP 日本語版 PDF ***
Proud of having started the very first Big Draw event here in Japan in 2017. Since then, our cross-cultural, UK-Japan Big Draw won us and our partners, Hilary Baker in Ruskin Land Bewdley, a Big Draw award, we’ve brought together drawing and music to celebrate creativity for well-being with musician, Anneliese Nakahara-Knight, and we’ve celebrated 200 years of the life and work of John Ruskin through The Big Draw Kyoto and an event in collaboration with the RSA (Royal Society of Arts).
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Big Draw Japan 2025
Big Draw’s Back… All Right!
Due to the pandemic, closely followed by an unexpected expansion to our team (Ollie and Jojo Kato arrived in 2020 and 2022) we haven’t been able to conduct a Big Draw Japan event – or any event quite frankly! – recently, BUT we..
Brought the Big Draw back to Tokyo for 2025!
Sunday 9th November 2025
11am-1pm
Tokyo: Shimokitazawa, Eau Vent Soleil
Tickets: ¥ 2000
* Email To Register * :
info@divyamariekato.com
Pics coming in, with full review to follow – for now, BIG love to all who braved the rain and brought the sun – we loved seeing and being with you! Team Kato x
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Come join our award-winning, Big Draw Japan team to enjoy a creative day all about DRAWING 🙂
This year we’ll be celebrating the theme: Drawn Together and 25 years of The Big Draw festival.
You’ll create an individual piece to take home and a large-scale collaborative art piece, featured in an exclusive time lapse art video – all welcome!
THE BIG DRAW
To find out more about The Big Draw and the wonderful work they do championing drawing, visit their website here and leaf through this fabulous PDF highlighting all The Big Draw has achieved so far.
DIVYA MARIE KATO
To find out more about your host, artist/teacher Divya Marie Kato, her 20+ years work in art education and about drawing classes in Tokyo, discover her online home here (I mean, you’re already here so take a walk around!)
Get a feel for this event from a look back at past events below – we hope to see you soon!
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To find out more about this amazing festival of drawing, visit The Big Draw website.
Meanwhile, read on below to find out more about The Big Draw Japan and what we’ve got up to so far!
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The Big Draw Japan
Championing and celebrating ideas born from the scratch of pencil on paper.
The Big Draw Drawing Festival 2019:
Our award winning, annual drawing event returns to Japan, as part of Japan-UK Season Of Culture, in TWO locations in Japan!
The Big Draw Kyoto 2019 | September 22nd 2019 | event recap & Video Here
The Big Draw Tokyo 2019 | OCTOBER 27TH 2019 | EVENT RECAP & video HERE
Taking part in the world’s largest drawing festival in Japan!
In 2017, we brought The Big Draw (the world’s largest drawing festival) to Japan for the first time!
In 2018, we collaborated with artist Hilary Baker and our partners in Ruskin Land, Bewdley in a simultaneous, bilateral, UK-Japan art event across countries, cultures and time zones and won a Big Draw prize!
See what we got up to here!
And this year, we explored the 2019 Big Draw theme DRAWN TO LIFE in both Tokyo and Kyoto as part of Japan-UK Season Of Culture!
THE BIG DRAW KYOTO 2019 | SEPTEMBER 22ND 2019 | KYOTO BOTANICAL GARDENS
Thank you Kyoto! Event Recap & Video Here
THE BIG DRAW TOKYO 2019 | OCTOBER 27TH 2019 | YOYOGI PARK TOKYO *FULLY BOOKED*
Thank you Tokyo: Event Recap & Video Here
The Big Draw Tokyo 2019
Sunday 27th October 2018
Yoyogi Park Tokyo 3pm-6pm
Meeting Point: Sangubashi Gate (by the car park, see map below)
The Big Draw Tokyo 2019’s Exciting Collaboration!
We have lots of fun in store exploring this year’s Big Draw theme – DRAWN TO LIFE – through a combination of drawing and music!
One Dot, One Beat!
Artist Divya Marie Kato, Atelier Kato Tokyo, will help you discover the secrets of drawing and the best part is… you just have to start with one line!
Musician Anneliese Nakahara-Knight, ALBA Music Together, will help you discover the secrets of rhythm and the best part is… you just have to start with one beat!
This Art Story Time Book Will Get You In The Spirit:
The Noisy Paint Box – All About Kandinsky As A Kid!
All Welcome!
The event is open to anyone who loves to draw, as well as those who think they can’t!
It’s an opportunity to join a global community in celebration of the universal language of drawing. Bring nothing but a willingness to create, connect and celebrate!
200 Years Of Ruskin
This collaboration will also draw on inspiration from John Ruskin, in celebration of his bicentenary.
Video!
Be part of our Big Draw Japan video and let’s inspire others to discover the many benefits the arts provide for our health and well being.
About The Big Draw
2019’s Big Draw Theme Is DRAWN TO LIFE
The Big Draw Festival takes place every year in October and, since its launch in October 2000, this annual, international celebration of drawing, which brings people together under the banner ‘drawing is a universal language’, takes place in over 25 countries, involves over 1000 events and has encouraged over 4 million people back to the drawing board.
World Records
It has notched up two world records – for the longest drawing in the world (one kilometre) and the greatest number of people drawing simultaneously (over 7,000).
The first Big Draw Festival in 2000 attracted 180 partner organisations. Since then, the number has risen to over 1,000, with over 400,000 people participating each year.
What began as a one day celebration of drawing in October 2000 in the UK, is now an annual month long festival of drawing across the world.
Big Draw Patrons
Patrons include Quentin Blake, Andrew Marr, Bob & Roberta Smith RA, Lord Foster of Thames Bank, David Hockney OM CH, Sir Roger Penrose OM, Gerald Scarfe CBE, Posy Simmonds MBE and Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell.
Arts education charity, The Big Draw, the driving force behind the festival, believes that ‘everyone can draw’.
They also promote drawing as a universal language that has the power to change lives and unite people of any age, background, race, or religion from around the globe.
Kate Mason, Director of The Big Draw:
“As always, The Big Draw Festival is for anyone who loves to draw, as well as those who think they can’t!
For 31 days in over 25 countries, The Big Draw Festival will bring together hundreds of thousands of people to learn, experiment and bring ideas to life through drawing…
…an opportunity for individuals, organisations and countries to join a global community in celebration of the universal language of drawing.”
THE BIG DRAW TOKYO 2019 | OCTOBER 27TH 2019 | YOYOGI PARK TOKYO
*** EVENT FULLY BOOKED ***
Information: Event Listing On The Big Draw Website
Email: info@divyamariekato.com
With: Your name, number of guests
Bring:
Sketchbooks and favourite drawing materials (optional, materials provided)
Drinks/Snacks (there is a park shop)
Toilets & Water Fountains Available
Clothes suitable for the park
Bug Spray/Sun Screen
¥1000 (*** exact change please! ***)
Family, friends and a willingness to create!
See you there! Divya x
Contact: Divya Marie Kato | Masahiro Kato | info@divyamariekato.com
Register: info@divyamariekato.com
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Past Events:
The Big Draw 2022: Come Back To Colour
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The Big Draw 2021: Make The Change
The Big Draw theme was ‘Make The Change’ and CARE UK was an official sponsor – there was fantastic work created by care home residents up and down the country!
