Kosetsu Museum of Art currently houses approximately 50 swords. The foundation of this collection was laid by Ryohei Murayama (1850-1933), the founder of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Influenced by his samurai father, Murayama developed a strong interest in swords and began collecting them at a young age. At its peak, his collection reportedly numbered up to 800 swords.
When collecting art, Murayama occasionally sought advice from experts. However, when it came to swords, he relied on his aesthetic sense. The collection predominantly features ancient swords (koto) from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods, and it is evident that Murayama favored straight blades (suguha) with simple strength. The collection spans various regions across Japan, reflecting Murayama's dedicated research.
This exhibition showcases the swords cherished by Murayama, along with their outer decorations, known as koshirae, and the sword fittings used to adorn them. Visitors can appreciate the sparkling brilliance of the iron that enriches the diverse beauty of swords, the unique and ornate decorations of the koshirae, and the intricate and varied designs of the sword fittings.
[Events]
1. Gallery Talk (Curator's Commentary)
Date: January 13 (Sat), February 3 (Sat), February 24 (Sat) 15:30~ (Approximately 1 hour)
Participation Fee: Free (Only entrance fee required)
2. Commemorative Lecture: "Enjoying Swords and Koshirae - Focusing on the Kosetsu Museum of Art's Collection"
Speaker: Kazutoshi Harada (Honorary Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts, Director of Fukuyama Museum of Art)
Date: March 9 (Sat) 14:00~15:30 (Reception starts at 13:30)
Venue: Nakanoshima Kaikan (Adjacent to the Nakanoshima Kogetsu Museum)
Participation Fee: ¥500 (Separate entrance fee required for the exhibition)
Capacity: 280 people (planned, first-come-basis)
*For event details and registration, please check the official website.
Information about the Exhibition
〈Dates〉
Jan 6 (Sat) 2024-Mar 17 (Sun) 2024
〈Hours〉
10:00-17:00
Until 19:30 on January 25, February 22 and March 14.
〈Closed〉
Monday
Open on a public holiday Monday but closed on the following day.
