Imperial treasures associated with Yamanashi to be highlighted in Kofu

An exhibition featuring the artistic treasures of The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan* (Tokyo) associated with Yamanshi, a noncoastal prefecture to the southwest of Tokyo, will soon open at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art in the prefectural capital of Kofu. 

*Sannomaru Shozokan: In 1989, the first year of the Heisei era, then Emperor (currently, Emperor Emeritus) and his mother Empress Kojun (1903-2000) donated artistic treasures — paintings, calligraphy, craftwork, etc. — that had been passed down in the Imperial Household up until the Showa era (1926–89) to the Japanese government. The Sannomaru Shozokan was opened in November 1993 in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace to store, preserve, research and exhibit these items. The collection grew as other members of the Imperial Household left or donated their precious belongings to the state. The museum was temporarily closed in 2019 for renovations to expand its storage and exhibition space, but partially opened a newly built facility in November 2024 to hold exhibitions. It will be closed again soon to complete the renovations, and will likely reopen in 2026.

The Beauty of the Imperial Household in Connection with Yamanashi: The Masterpieces of the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan

Apr 26 (Sat) – Jun 1 (Sun), 2025

Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art
(Kofu)

*See outlined below for details

“The Beauty of the Imperial Household in Connection with Yamanashi: The Masterpieces of the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan,” the exhibition set to open on Apr. 26, 2025, will showcase paintings and craft associated with Yamanashi including works by Imperial Household artist Noguchi Shohin (1847-1917), who temporarily lived in Kofu, and nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist Tomioka Tessai (1836-1924), who enjoyed close ties with Shohin’s family and painted Mt. Fuji during his sojourn in the prefecture. Some of the works to go on display are housed at the prefectural museum.

Among the must-sees of the exhibition are Shohin’s “Poetry and Genre Scenes from Yuki Province” (1915), a pair of folding screens rendered on the occasion of the enthronement of Emperor Taisho (reign: 1912-26), and the “Scenes from the Tale of Genji” (16-17th century), a pair of folding screens attributed to Kano Eitoku (1543-90), a prominent patriarch of the famous Kano school of painters. Eitoku is renowned for his production of the “Chinese Lions,” a designated national treasure of Japan. A well-made reproduction of the screen painting will also go on display.

Geographically, Yamanashi encompasses Mt. Fuji from the north, and is known for its excellent view of Japan’s highest peak. Needless to say, a number of paintings and craft works to go on display are themed on the sacred mountain. Among them are Tessai’s “Picture scroll of Mt. Fuji Climbing” (1875), the “Foremost Peak in Japan” (1928) by nihonga artist Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958), and the “Tobacco box with design of Mt. Fuji” (1905) by metal artist Toyokawa Mitsunaga II (1851-1923).

The exhibition runs through June 1, 2025.

Some other works to go on display: