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What is HYPHEN
“Why the Expressions of Teenagers Should Already Reach the World”
This project is made up of Japanese artists who are in high school or younger.
Rather than waiting to be “trained” by professionals or adults, the act of questioning, creating, and expressing on their own is itself the message.
Mission
HYPHEN’s mission is to provide a platform where young Japanese artists—high school students and younger—can express themselves freely and authentically. We believe that expression should not wait for adulthood or professional validation. By questioning, creating, and sharing their own voices, young people can already contribute to the global conversation.
Through dance, painting, photography, music, design, and performance, HYPHEN creates a space that transcends genres and disciplines. It is a place where diversity of ideas and identities is celebrated, and where collaboration is valued as much as individual creativity. By connecting across languages and cultures, we aim to empower young talent to see their own art not only as personal expression but also as part of a larger, international dialogue.
Vision
Our vision is to create a future in which the next generation of artists takes an active role in shaping culture and society—beginning right now. We imagine a world where young voices are not seen as “incomplete” or “preparatory,” but as powerful and necessary contributions to the present. The honesty, energy, and originality found in youth expression can inspire communities and open new pathways for cultural exchange.
HYPHEN positions itself as both a platform and an experiment: a demonstration that young creators can build their own stage, without waiting for systems, institutions, or authority to provide it. By taking initiative today, these artists lay the foundation for tomorrow’s cultural and social movements. Our vision is not about waiting for the future—it is about beginning here and now, with courage, imagination, and connection.