Eisei Bunko Museum houses a wide range of Japanese ceramics in its collection. Yatsushiro ware, (also known as Koda ware or Hirayama ware) was first produced in Koda, Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture by a pottery called Sonkai (Agano Kizo), who was invited by Hosokawa Tadaoki, the 2nd head of the Hosokawa family. Yatsushiro ware is known for its decorative technique in which a design is inlaid with clay on the ceramic body, and it was a popular gift for the shogun’s envoys as the product of the official kiln patronized by the Kumamoto clan.

Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966) was a potter who was active from the Taisho to Showa periods. His early works following the style of ancient Chinese ceramics attracted attention, and he learned much from the Chinese ceramic collection of Hosokawa Moritatsu (1883-1970), the founder of the Eisei Bunko Museum. Kanjiro later became a member of the ‘Mingei movement’, which led to a significant change in his style.

We present Yatsushiro ware and the works by Kawai Kanjiro for the first time in about 20 years in this exhibition. Please take the opportunity to visit our museum and discover their charms.

Ryonaimeishozukan (Important Cultural Property Designated by Kumamoto Prefecture) is a set of 15 handscrolls depicting famous places, beautiful waterfalls, and riverside sceneries mainly in the Kumamoto domain, painted by Yano Yoshikatsu (1760-1821) and Eto Yoshiyuki (1761-1823), who served the Kumamoto clan as official painters. It is regarded as a pioneering example of “Shaseizukan” (handscrolls of sketches from life). With a height of approximately 60 centimeters and a total length of 400 meters, Ryonaimeishozukan is an exceptionally energetic and large-scale work of handscrolls. It was made by order of Hosokawa Narishige (1759-1835), the eighth head of the clan, who was known for his love of paintings. This exhibition presents the finest scenes selected from the fourteen surviving volumes to introduce the outstandingly lively depiction of the landscape. We hope the viewers enjoy the picturesque landscapes with abundant water and greenery and feel like traveling around Kumamoto.

‘Bunbo’ refers to a study where Chinese scholars composed poetry and read books. They equipped the rooms with various stationeries that reflected their high culture and intelligence. Brush, paper, ink stone, and ink stick were regarded as the most important tools, and were collectively called ‘Bunboshiho (Four Treasures of the Study)’. Hosokawa Moritatsu (1883-1970), the founder of Eisei Bunko Museum, was one of the connoisseurs who were fascinated by Bunboshiho. Moritatsu, known for his rich collection of swords and Zen and modern Japanese paintings, later extended his interest to Chinese porcelain and Buddhist statues and collected Chinese stationeries. In the “Opening Exhibition of Eisei Bunko Museum” held in 1972, numerous stationeries were displayed from Moritatsu’s Chinese art collection, which indicates that the Hosokawa family set a high value on them. We have researched the Chinese stationeries in the Eisei Bunko collection and sought to present their charms in this exhibition.

The second-floor exhibition rooms feature smoking utensils such as tobacco cases. Tobacco cases were used to contain shredded tobacco. When smoking became common in the Edo period, a style convenient for carrying was developed. Please enjoy the exquisite decoration using various techniques and unique materials.

“Black Cat” (Important Cultural Property) is known as a late masterpiece of Hishida Shunso, who died young at the age of 36. Hosokawa Moritatsu (1883-1970), the founder of Eisei Bunko Museum, was one of the first to appreciate Hishida Shunso and other painters of his time and actively collected their works. “Black Cat” is the most popular work in Moritatsu’s modern Japanese painting collection.

An intensive conservation of the painting was carried out thanks to crowdfunding support and financial assistance from the national government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Bunkyo Ward. Celebrating the completion of the conservation, this exhibition, though for a limited period, features all four works by Hishida Shunso in the Eisei Bunko collection including “Black Cat” and “Fallen Leaves” (Important Cultural Property) together with fine works by leading modern Japanese painters such as Yokoyama Taikan, Shimomura Kanzan, and Kaburaki Kiyokata. Two calligraphic works, designated as Important Cultural Property, by Chinese Zen priests, Seisetsu Shocho and Soseki Bonki are exhibited for the first time after their conservation.

The exhibition “Deities in Stone” held from January to April 2019 was well received by visitors. We are pleased to bring back the exhibition which presented the entire collection of Oriental sculptures in Eisei Bunko Museum with some changes in the exhibits.

Hosokawa Moritatsu (1883-1970), the founder of Eisei Bunko Museum, developed an early interest in Chinese classical literature and started collecting Oriental arts when he traveled around Europe. He collected not only Chinese antiquities and ceramics but also gilt bronze and stone Chinese Buddhist statues and sculptures from India and Southeast Asia. Especially noteworthy is the Chinese sculpture collection from the Northern Wei to the Tang Dynasty, which contains many precious works representing these eras. Many of these sculptures originally belonged to Hayasaki Kokichi (1874-1956), a pioneer in collecting Chinese art and introducing them to modern Japan.

This exhibition introduces Chinese sculptures designated as Important Cultural Properties, such as “Seated Bodhisattva in Meditation pose” and “Seated Buddha”, along with various Indian sculptures displayed for the first time in seven years.