Beautiful Women and Kimono

Ukiyo-e are paintings that capture the trends of the time, and an important genre within ukiyo-e are “bijin-ga”, which portray beautiful women in the latest fashions. The appearance of the kimono depicted in ukiyo-e represents the aesthetic sense back then, and also determines the impression created by the work. The Edo period, when ukiyo-e flourished, was an era when social stability and industrial development in various regions grew and fashion culture blossomed.

While various clothing, accessories, techniques, and designs were developed, ukiyo-e artists depicted these attractive items in their paintings, and as a result, excellent bijin-ga which captured the trends of the time were produced.

In this exhibition, we will introduce about 130 works from the early Edo period to the early Showa period. The changing fashions and styles of kimono over time and auspicious patterns and designs that had been beloved since ancient times as well as the history of bijin-ga will be presented. You will be able to feel the richness of Japanese culture from the portraits of women wearing patterns which each have their own history and story.

A Lot of Excellent Works of Bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) 

This exhibition introduces ukiyo-e paintings and prints that depict beautiful women spanning approximately 250 years, and features a large number of outstanding works by leading artists of the time, such as Suzuki Harunobu, Kitagawa Utamaro and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Many beautiful and precious masterpieces are a must-see. Please do not miss them.

Wearing Patterns and Stories

Kimonos have many kinds of different patterns. Even if the motif appears simple, the patterns sometimes represent an auspicious meaning, sometimes are based on classic tales such as “The Tales of Genji” or “The Tales of Ise”, and sometimes associated with popular kabuki actors. This exhibition also delves into the meanings of the patterns, and introduces how the women depicted in ukiyo-e enjoyed not only the beauty of the patterns, but also the stories behind them.

Men in Fashion

Men in the Edo period were as passionate about dressing as they are today. Ukiyo-e often depicted men’s preferences for fashion items such as unique coordinates of a dark-colored kimono and a red sash called “Harakiri (belly-breaking) belt,” and imported leather tobacco pouches with gold patterns. In this exhibition, you can enjoy highly individual men’s fashions such as beautifully dressed boys, sophisticated men, and chivalrous men in wild yukatas.

Enjoy Dressing – Sophisticated, Gorgeous and Cute!

People in the Edo period wore distinct clothing depending on their status, age, and occupation. Ukiyo-e also depicts the different charms of each kind of fashion style: high-ranking courtesans wearing elaborate kimonos with gorgeous hair ornaments, towns girls coordinated in their kimono with floral patterns and bright colors, and geisha using stylish accessories such as hairpins and half collars. It may be fun to learn the techniques of how to dress from their styles

Admission

Adult	800 yen
University and High school students	600 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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Utagawa Hiroshige -Traveling Mountains and Seas

Exploring Breathtaking Scenery in Japan with Hiroshige

As a leading painter of landscapes, the ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) gained popularity among the general public at the end of the Edo period. As well as the famous landmarks in Edo, Hiroshige was also active in depicting natural scenes of mountains and the sea in various places. He had focused on famous places along the Tōkaidō Road which is far from Edo since his youth, but from around his 40s especially, it is known that he traveled to various places such as Kōshū and Bōsō; it is thought that since then his experience of capturing nature while travelling is reflected in his works.

Mountains and the sea are the key themes, and this exhibition will show a wide variety of works, from well-known masterpieces to the works rarely exhibited, including all of the 20 drawings in the series “Wrestling Match Between the Mountains and Sea ” which Hiroshige produced in his later years, “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji“ and “Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces”.

This exhibition will also introduce the process of producing these works as well as the famous places that Hiroshige actually visited, and the places he depicted based on the illustrations from existing geography books. We will also discover through these works the various forms of religious beliefs rooted in the mountains and the sea of each place, such as shrines built on the steep mountains and the large torii gates on the sea. This exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about Hiroshige’s works while enjoying the breathtaking scenery depicted in his ukiyo-e paintings, just as if they were traveling.

1　All 20 works of ” Wrestling Match Between the Mountains and Sea”, one of the Hiroshige’s masterpieces that depicts the beauty of Japan’s mountains and seas, will be exhibited

In his later years, Utagawa Hiroshige produced a number of works featuring landscapes of various provinces in Japan, especially mountains and seas. Among them, the series ” Wrestling Match Between the Mountains and Sea” is one of his best-known series and he completed publishing it just before his death from cholera in September 1858. This exhibition features all 20 works of this series into which Hiroshige poured his last energy, as well as “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” and ” Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”, which he painted in his later years. This is also the first experience of presenting the entire series in one exhibition. In addition, ” Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces ” and many other landscapes pictures by Hiroshige will be introduced.

2　Did Hiroshige see the actual scenery? – Thinking about the process of creation

Hiroshige traveled around various provinces during his lifetime. In his travels to Kōshū and Bōsō Province, he kept a diary and sketches, and his works after returning to Edo are believed to be based on his experiences during the travel. On the other hand, Hiroshige often referred to illustrations in existing geographical books such as Fuchigami Kyokkō’s “Noted Landscapes” and Tani Bunchō’s “The Book of Famous Mountains”.  In this exhibition, we will study Hiroshige’s ingenuity to create beautiful landscape prints through his works and materials.

3　Introducing various beliefs rooted in great nature

In Hiroshige’s landscape pictures, we can often find the precincts of shrines and temples. Great nature such as steep mountains and capes often became objects of worship since ancient times. This exhibition introduces various beliefs of the Edo period, including the Fuji and Oyama faiths, through Hiroshige’s works.

Admission

Adult	800 yen
University and High school students	600 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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Woodblock Prints Exhibition of Paul Jacoulet

aul Jacoulet (1896-1960) was a French artist born in Paris. Since his father started to teach French in Japan, he moved to Japan at the age of 3 and remained there until his death at 64. At 38, in 1934, he published a distinctive series of woodblock prints depicting people in the South Seas Islands and Asia. During the early Showa era (1926-1989), a popular genre of collaborative woodblock prints called “shin-hanga” emerged, involving painters, carvers, and printers. Jacoulet’s vividly colored woodblock prints, portraying individuals of all ages from various countries, stand out as unique examples within the new prints of that time. This exhibition showcases the complete range of Jacoulet’s new prints.

本展の見どころ

First-Ever Exhibition of All 162 Prints by Jacoulet in Tokyo

This exhibition will showcase a comprehensive collection of 162 prints by Jacoulet, divided into two separate terms. It marks the first occasion for all 162 works to be presented together in Tokyo.

Vibrantly Colored Portrayals of People from the South Seas Islands and Asia

Jacoulet’s colorful prints vividly depict individuals from Micronesia’s Saipan and Yap islands, as well as various regions in Asia, including Japan, the Ainu, Korea, China, and Manchuria. His artworks showcase a harmonious blend of vibrant colors, such as red, light blue, yellow, and purple, and offers a refreshing surprise to those accustomed to the digital color palettes today.

Jacoulet’s Prints Stand Out in the World of “Shin-hanga”

The term “shin-hanga” refers to woodblock prints created during the Taishō and Shōwa Eras through collaborative efforts of artists, carvers, and printers. While publishers typically played a leading role in ukiyo-e print production, Jacoulet took charge of directing the carvers and printers himself, pursuing his own unique artistic style. His works gained recognition after World War II, with positive reception from General MacArthur and other American military personnel stationed in Japan. Additionally, Jacoulet carved his own path in terms of distribution, setting himself apart from other shin-hanga artists.

Jacoulet’s Place in the Lineage of Ukiyo-e during the Edo Period

Having grown up in Japan, Jacoulet was intimately familiar with traditional Japanese culture, including ukiyo-e, kabuki plays, and gidayū ballad dramas. From a young age, he collected and reproduced ukiyo-e prints, immersing himself in their artistry. During his teenage years, he studied Japanese painting under Ikeda Terukata and his wife Shōen, who were students of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s original pupil. Inspired by the works of Kitagawa Utamaro, Jacoulet specialized in depicting beautiful women. It can be said that Jacoulet was a part of the lineage of ukiyo-e artists during the Edo period.

Admission

Adult	1000 yen
University and High school students	700 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

開館日カレンダー

Cats in Ukiyo-e

Cats All Over – Life in Edo with Cats

Among the various animals that appear in ukiyo-e, cats were the most popular subject. They were not only depicted as pets but also as monsters or personified, dancing and attending schools. Chronicles of a life of a female cat and amulets as mice repellent were produced as well. This exhibition will present various works of cats, including masterpieces by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Hiroshige and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, as well as “Omocha-e” (toy paintings) for children. Please enjoy the charming cats in ukiyo-e; thay are adorable, humorous, and sometimes mysterious.

Best Cats Exhibition Ever? – Kuniyoshi’s Masterpieces Gather Here

Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicted many charming cats in ukiyo-e. During the first term, all 5 works in the series “Cats forming characters” that are particularly popular among Kuniyoshi’s works will be on display. The second term will present the valuable masterpieces “Sonomama Juguchi Myokaiko Gojusannbiki” (fifty-three cats personified as the post-towns between Tokyo and Kyoto) and “Tatoe-zukushi No Uchi” (personified cat idioms) together. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Kuniyoshi’s masterpieces gathered in this exhibition.

Enjoy the Cat Stories

Manga featuring cats are popular today, but even during the Edo period, stories, novels, and kabuki with cats were extremely popular. You will see pictures of monster cats, old cats that behold the secret of martial arts and stories including that of “Okoma” and “Otama,” who lead chaotic lives as cats, avenging their mother’s death and seizing their position to serve for the palace. Please enjoy the cat stories that were endeared by Edo people.

Cats in trend – multi-media art attempted by Kuniyoshi

In 1841, Kuniyoshi produced a round fan picture “Neko-no Hyakumenso” (the many faces of cats) depicting cats as actual kabuki actor’s faces. When it became popular, a kabuki play that featured these fan pictures was performed. Around this time, Kuniyoshi also produced pictures of acrobatic performers personified as cats and illustrations for the novel “Oborozuki Neko No Soushi” (Story of the Hazy Moon Cat). This exhibition takes you back to the time when ukiyo-e of cats where in their highest popularity, by featuring many works produced in 1841 and 1842, when Kuniyoshi concentrated on producing personified pictures of cats.

Playing with Cats – World of Toy Pictures

“Omocha-e” (toy pictures) is ukiyo-e for children, largely produced from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era. Most of them depict a world inhabited solely by cats, and we can tell that cats were also adored by children. Cats in the public bath, eating soba noodles and going out on a rickshaw ride – about 40 toy pictures will be on display in this exhibition. Why don’t we play with them and enjoy their adorable world together?

Admission

Adult	1200 yen
University and High school students	800 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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Hiroshige’s Ojisan Encyclopedia

Smiling, Working and Traveling -Various Ojisan by Utagawa Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) is one of the most famous ukiyo-e artists who created many masterpieces of landscapes. When you look closely, you often find charming figures inhabiting these landscapes. These middle-aged men (“Ojisan” in Japanese) are the focus of this exhibition. They smile innocently, work hard, enjoy fine foods, and sometimes panic. The more attention you pay to Hiroshige’s Ojisan, the more you realize that they have their own personalities and charms.

By experiencing Hiroshige’s masterpieces paying close attention to these Ojisan, they will leave you a fresh impression. This exhibition introduces you to a new charm of Hiroshige’s work through masterpieces such as “Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Hoeidō Edition)” to those that are rarely exhibited.

※This exhibition is inspired by the concept of “Ojisan Encyclopedia” and “Ojisan Encyclopedia Returns” held at Hiroshige Museum of Art Ena, newly composed with the collections of Ota Memorial Museum of Art.

1　Discovering a new Charm of Hiroshige’ work through Ojisan

In the works of Utagawa Hiroshige, various Ojisan (middle-aged men) with their own personality often appear. They are usually depicted as supporting characters of the landscape. However, if you look closely, you can see that their faces, expressions, and clothing are carefully articulated. Such detail allows us to understand their status and occupation, and sometimes even imagine the drama that each character is going through. As you pay attention to these Ojisan, you will enjoy the masterpieces you already know with more depth and color.

2　Ojisan everywhere! 150 Works from Masterpieces to Rarities by Hiroshige

The main characters in the 150 works on display during the period of this exhibition are all Ojisan. The exhibition introduces of Hiroshige’s masterpieces such as “Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Hoeidō Edition)” and “Sixty-nine Stations of Kisokaidō Road,” as well as works that are rarely exhibited, all united under the theme of Ojisan!

3　Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and Kiyochika -Ojisan Depicted by Popular Ukiyo-e Artists

Hiroshige was not the only artist who depicted various Ojisan. In this exhibition, we introduce Ojisan drawn by various ukiyo-e masters, such as Katsushika Hokusai, Keisai Eisen, Utagawa Kuniyoshi and Kobayashi Kiyochika. Please enjoy the differences in style and personality given to the Ojisan by each artist.

Admission

Adult	800 yen
University and High school students	600 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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China in Ukiyo-e

Discovering the Unexpected Relationship between Ukiyo-e and Chinese Culture

Ukiyo-e depicted a large number of Chinese people, including the heroes of “Three Kingdoms” and “Water Margin,” hermits, and ancient Chinese women. In addition, some of the Japanese flower-and-bird paintings are accompanied by Chinese poems, which shows how familiar the people of the Edo period were with Chinese culture. On the other hand, works that replaced the hermits with women or parodied the exploits of the great masters were also popular.

During the Edo period, Japan was closed to the outside world for a long period of time, but classical Chinese literature and folklore were well-established in education, and people were curious about the latest Chinese culture. Ukiyo-e artists also worked on all kinds of themes from China, and even created many other works based on them.

This exhibition introduces ukiyo-e from the Edo and Meiji periods that show the influence of Chinese culture in three parts. In the first part, we will look at works from the 18th century, when samurai warriors were also involved in the production of ukiyo-e. The second part will focus on works in the 19th century, which reflect the tastes of citizens, and in the third part, works depicted in the form of parodies will be featured. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be able to discover the unexpected connections between ukiyo-e and China.

“Three Kingdoms” and “Water Margin” Boom Began from the Edo Period.

Even today, the Chinese stories “Three Kingdoms” and “Water Margin” are popular in video games and manga, but it was actually in the Edo period that these stories were translated and adapted.

The stories were also depicted in ukiyo-e. Especially, Utagawa Kuniyoshi played an important role in expanding the world of these stories. He created the popular series “One Hundred and Eight Heroes from the Water Margin” with 74 prints, and the series “Popular History of the Three Kingdoms” series which depicts heroes on large paper.

A Great Arrangement in Ukiyo-e Style – Heroes Swapped Gender!?

Rearranging various subjects is one of the characteristics of ukiyo-e. For example, the figures of heroes were sometimes depicted as humorous caricatures, or sometimes in the figures of townswomen, so that people enjoy the gap between the hero and the character. These works of parody show how people of the time were familiar with Chinese themes.

“China” Depicted by Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi

Many works by leading ukiyo-e artists of each era will also be introduced. These include Harunobu, who transferred Chinese subjects into Japanese scenes; Hokusai, who painted all kinds of subjects of Chinese origin; Kuniyoshi, who represented the heroes from “Water Margin” as characters popular with the Edo people; Hiroshige, who added Chinese poetry to his “kachō-ga (bird-and-flower pictures); and Yoshitoshi, who drew classical Chinese subjects in the Meiji era. We hope that you will enjoy the transition in the way Chinese culture was incorporated in each of works.

Admission

Adult	800 yen
University and High school students	600 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

Calendar

Darkness and Light -Kiyochika, Yasuji and Ryuson

In 1876, Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) depicted an unprecedented view of Tokyo by incorporating Western techniques such as oil painting, lithography, and photography into ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Kiyochika’s “Kōsenga” (light-ray paintings), which beautifully captured changes in light and shadow, such as gas lamps shining in the dark at night and the sky at sunset with brilliant red, became very popular. Ukiyo-e artists such as Inoue Yasuji (1864-89) and Ogura Ryūson (date of birth and death unknown) followed after Kiyochika. Although the popularity of ray painting lasted only five years, it developed new possibilities for woodblock prints, and it should be regarded as the forerunner of the genre of “shin-hanga” (new prints) in the Taisho and Showa eras that have been the focus of much attention in recent years. This exhibition introduces 200 works by Kobayashi Kiyochika and Inoue Yasuji, as well as Ogura Ryūson, whose works have rarely been introduced to the public. Please enjoy the colors of darkness and light which are only possible through the use of woodblock prints. All exhibits will be changed between the first and second exhibition terms.

Highlight of the exhibition

1　200 works that tell the whole story of the “Kōsenga” (light-ray paintings) of Kiyochika, Yasuji and Ryūson will be exhibited.※The exhibits will be changed between the first term and the second term.

2　A rare opportunity to focus on Inoue Yasuji, an ukiyo-e artist who died very young, and Ogura Ryūson, a mysterious artist.

3　Comparative display of rare types of works, such as “suri-chigai” (different print editions) which used the same wood blocks but changed colors substantially, and “nisu-biki” (varnishing), which coats the print with varnish.

Introduction of the Artists

Kobayashi Kiyochika（1847～1915）

Kobayashi Kiyochika is one of the representative ukiyo-e artists in the Meiji era. He was known to have learned photography and oil painting, and his unique style of painting expressively captured light and shadow is called “Kōsen-ga” (light-ray paintings), which became extremely popular. As a side note, Kiyochika quit producing Kōsen-ga after 1881, and developed a different style of picture, such as old-style landscapes, historical pictures and war pictures.

Inoue Yasuji（1864～89）

Inoue Yasuji was a pupil of Kobayashi Kiyochika. He produced large-sized Kōsen-ga pictures that faithfully followed the painting style of Kiyochika. Around 1884, he changed his art name to Inoue Tankei and started producing large-sized triptych landscape pictures, but he died young at the age of 26.

Ogura Ryūson（Years of birth and death unknown）

Although he produced Kōsenga pictures around 1880 to 1881 following Kiyochika, only 9 of his works have been found. He is an unidentified and mysterious artist whose background is completely unknown. Ryūson’s representative work “View of Yushima” is characteristic for its mysterious atmosphere of two men quietly looking at the moon.

Admission

Adult	1000 yen
University and High school students	700 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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Transportation in Ukiyo-e – Cars, Ships and Railways

Discover the Transportation in the Edo Period through Ukiyo-e

Transportation is an essential part of our daily lives. In the Edo period, there were various transport systems by manpower, horses, and boats. Edo was a city of water, surrounded by Edo Bay and Sumida River, with many waterways running horizontally and vertically. Boats were an essential means of transportation for the people of Edo and shipping business between Edo and other cities flourished. On land, highways such as the Tokaido Road were developed for business transportation and became popular among the common people as a route for traveling long-distance. The various use of transportation is vividly depicted by ukiyo-e artists such as Utagawa Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai.

This year also commemorates the 150th anniversary of the introduction of railroads. Ukiyo-e in the Meiji era (1868-1912) actively depicted steam locomotives and railroads, which were new encounters to the people. The railroad system along with horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws and other new forms of transportations were symbols of civilization.

While transportation logistics using the internet has developed in recent years due to COVID-19, this exhibition focuses on the various means of transportation in the Edo period, as a driving force of modernization.

The Reality of the Lives in Edo uncovered through Transportion

Let’s take a look at Edo depicted by artists such as Utagawa Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai from the perspective of transport. On one hand, ukiyo-e depicts various figures who are “transporting” something of their own. We notice people serving food at restaurants, selling goods on the street, and carrying luggage on a trip. On the other hand, ukiyo-e also depicts a wide range of vehicles as means of transportation. Ferry boats for crossing rivers and ships used as taxis to visit pleasure quarters took advantage of the topography of Edo with many waterfront areas. People and horses carried luggage for travelers in relays between inns, and couriers delivered documents from Edo to Osaka in only a few days. In a time when there were no cars or trains, there was a more extensive transportation system.

By paying close attention to the various forms of transportation in ukiyo-e, we can understand how the people of Edo lived.

150th Anniversary of the Birth of the Railroads- Various Vehicles in Ukiyo-e are on Display

In October 1872, the railroad connecting Shimbashi and Yokohama opened. October 2022 marks the 150th anniversary. Since about two years before the actual inauguration of the railroad system, ukiyo-e artists started to actively depict steam locomotives and railroads with imagination. The large number of ukiyo-e published reveals the enthusiasm for the new infrastructure. This exhibition features not only the railroad system, but also the wide variety of transportation in ukiyo-e such as horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws, boats, balloons, and other vehicles.

Admission

Adult	800 yen
University and High school students	600 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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Animals in Ukiyo-e

Cute! Funny! A Little Weird? -Enjoy the Rich Variety of Expressions of Animals!

Various animals appear in ukiyo-e. In addition to pets such as cats and dogs, and domestic animals such as horses and cows, those believed to be good omens, such as cranes and turtles, imported from overseas, such as elephants and leopards, and even catfish, based on the superstition that catfish cause earthquakes, are depicted in ukiyo-e.　　　
Moreover, ukiyo-e artists used their imagination to create anthropomorphic creatures that do not exist in this world, such as Torakoishi.　　　
Ukiyo-e is indeed a treasure trove of animal representations. This exhibition introduces approximately 160 works, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the rich variety of animals in ukiyo-e. This summer, how about visiting the museum and enjoying the cute and a little bit strange ukiyo-e animals?

Ukiyo-e Reveals the Deep Relationship Between the People of Edo and Animals

Ukiyo-e portrays people doting on their pets as we do today. On the other hand, ukiyo-e also shows us aspects of the lives of people and animals that are no longer seen today, such as a dog snatching fish from a fishmonger, and a traveler on a horse. Ukiyo-e also depicts various scenes of everyday life, such as horned owls, which were drawn because they were thought to prevent smallpox, and dogs that were said to have visited Ise Shrine in place of their owners. Here we would like to introduce the activities of animals that sometimes exceed the imagination of modern people.

Legendary Spiritual Beasts and Strange Creatures

Imaginary creatures appear in legends and tales, such as dragons believed to have the spiritual power to bring rain, white elephants believed to be the vehicles of Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra), and haunted foxes and cats, also played an important role in ukiyo-e. But that’s not all. Ukiyo-e also features strange creatures such as Torakoishi, which is a combination of a tiger and a stone, and mysterious creatures that are combinations of all the signs of the Chinese zodiac. Experience the aesthetic sense of the people of Edo, who enjoyed not only pictures of traditional animals, but also delightful works created with the free imagination of the artists.

Dancing, Working, and Dressing Up – Active Anthropomorphic Animals

From the Masters to Minor Artists – Animal Pictures by 40 Artists

The highlights of this exhibition include masterpieces by famous ukiyo-e artists, such as “Tiger in the Rain,” a representative work of Hokusai‘s later years, and Hiroshige‘s “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Asakusa Ricefields and Torinomachi Festival”, one of the most popular ukiyo-e drawn cats. Moreover, the number of ukiyo-e artists introduced in this exhibition reaches 40. Visitors can enjoy not only famous works, but also the works of unknown animal picture masters such as Utagawa Yoshifuji, who specialized in cute anthropomorphic animals, and Utagawa Yoshikazu, the creator of “Torakoishi”, who displayed an outstanding sense of humor.

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Admission

Adult	1200 yen
University and High school students	800 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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From the Genpei War to the Kamakura Period　-Kiyomori, Yoshitsune and Yoritomo

Tracing the Rise and Fall of Samurai Warriors through Ukiyo-e

The Jishō-Juei Rebellion (1180-85) that at the end of the Heian period known as the “Genpei War” was a monumental battle between the warriors led by Minamoto no Yoritomo and the the Taira clan. Even after Yoritomo had conquered the Taira clan and established the Kamakura shogunate, a period of power struggles continued between Yoritomo’s successors and the influential court nobles, especially the Hōjō clan. 　　
Stories of the survival wars of samurai families became popularized as military chronicles such as “The Tale of the Heike” and “Azuma Kagami”. They were widely known as subjects of novels and kabuki plays in the Edo period, and were depicted in numerous ukiyo-e works as popular subjects. 　　
Recently, the time period has been recapturing popular attention, through animation and TV dramas. This exhibition will focus on this time period, to tell the story of the rise and fall of samurai warriors through ukiyo-e.

Episodes of Glory and Tragedy that Fascinated People in Edo

The Taira clan established by Taira no Kiyomori, despite its brief era of glory, continued to fall and finally perished at Dannoura. Minamoto no Yoshitsune who destroyed the Taira clan with his genius military strategy, had to die an unwilling death as he provoked his elder brother Yoritomo’s antipathy. Many prominent vassals who supported the early times of the Kamakura shogunate with good faith perished in the struggle for power. The lives of those who lived during such turbulent times were often filled with spectacular victories and tragedies at the same time. These dramatic narratives, such as those of Yoshitsune, were featured in novels, kabuki plays, and ukiyo-e, and captivated the attention of the people during the Edo period.

Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi and Hiroshige – Heroes Portrayed by Ukiyo-e Artists

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a leading artist of musha-e, drew many warriors of the Genpei period. He depicted various stories from this time period with a familiar yet powerful style. This fascination was carried on by his pupils, especially Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, who continued to depict the subject with sophisticated style through the Meiji period. 　
This section exhibits various works, including the grandeur musha-e and caricatures by Utagawa Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures, to demonstrate the rich and unique styles of ukiyo-e artists.

Highlight of the Exhibition

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi “Mirror of Famous Commanders of Great Japan: Commander Minamoto no Yoritomo”

Spreading their wings, a flock of cranes is taking off into the sky. Minamoto no Yoritomo and his attendants look up at them. In August 1187, two years after Yoshitsune and his followers defeated the Taira clan in the Battle of Dannoura, Yoritomo held a Hōjō-e at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū Shrine in Kamakura. Hōjō-e is a ceremony that releases captured creatures, based on the Buddhist precept against killing. This picture is thought to depict the legend that a thousand cranes were released at the ceremony.　　
Yoritomo seems satisfied as he watches the cranes, the symbol of good fortune, fly away. The scene may imply Yoritomo’s feeling of grand accomplishment when he finally achieved great power, as he defeated his old enemy, the Taira clan.　　　
Two years later, in 1189, Yoritomo eliminated his younger brother Yoshitsune who had developed a hostile relationship with him and Fujiwara no Yasuhira, who had sheltered Yoshitsune. In 1192, Yoritomo became a Shogun and established a new age of samurai.

Admission

Adult	800 yen
University and High school students	600 yen
Junior High School Students and below	Free

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