Mito City in Ibaraki Prefecture hardly seems the place to stage an international fashion exhibition, but Art Tower Mito (ATM), in celebration of its 10th anniversary, has done just that.

Local residents have recently been entertained with catwalk shows by top Paris fashion house Hermes, John Bartlett of New York and, slightly closer to home, Hanae Mori, who presented her spring/summer 2000 haute couture collection.

"Seeing, Wearing, Transcending -- Two Centuries Moved by Fashion" is the title of ATM's program, which is set to close on June 4. One of the final events is a fashion show by Japanese designer Masahiro Nakagawa May 27, when his label, 20471120, will be presented. ATM is also the location for a major retrospective of works by Hanae Mori, which will run until the final day.