ITADORI Remedy

Japanese knotweed, introduced to Europe in the 19th century by Philipp Franz von Siebold, is now widely despised for its aggressive spread and is heavily targeted for removal in places like the Netherlands. In Japan, however, it is known as ITADORI—ITA meaning pain and DORI meaning remove—traditionally used for pain relief and appreciated as a seasonal food, coexisting more naturally within the ecosystem.

ITADORI Remedy consists of four monologue-style advertisements performed by a Japanese woman, addressing forms of pain such as overwork, intra-Asian prejudice, and mixed-race identity. The fourth advertisement uses behind-the-scenes documentary footage from the first three, exposing the complexity of how judgments are formed, and—through the fictional metaphor of “ITADORI Cream”—questions how society defines judgment, suffering, and relief.
 

Concept, Research and Development: Kumi Hiroi 

Curator: Alice Smit (Zone2Source) Actress:Yuki Homma, Camera and Sound Recording: Yoshiya Hirayama, Sound and Music advise: Bram Kneest Special thanks to: Natsuko Kageyama, ROY, Mayu-chan, C.J. (Chris) van Dijk, Scientist, Plant and Environment at Wageningen Plant Research and Teams at Zone2Source