Hida City, Gifu: Exhibition of Kubo Teijiro Collection from Moka City, Tochigi Begins July 18 — '30 Years After His Death: Who Was Teijiro Kubo?' Explores the Life of an Art Collector Who Bridged Art and Society

30 Years After His Death: Who Was Teijiro Kubo?

The Hida City Museum in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture (Mayor: Junya Tokitake) will host an exhibition of the Kubo Teijiro Collection, owned by Moka City, Tochigi, from Saturday, July 18, to Sunday, August 30.

Born in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, Teijiro Kubo married into the wealthy Kubo family of Moka City in the same prefecture. Inspired by his encounter with avant-garde artist Shuho Sugita (Eikyoku), he dedicated his life to art, launching initiatives such as the 'Creative Art Education Movement' that encouraged children’s free expression, the 'Small Collector Movement' that promoted art collecting among the general public, and extensive support for numerous artists—activities that bridged art and society.

This exhibition follows Kubo’s life journey, presenting the Kubo Collection in four thematic sections to explore his character and legacy.

https://www.city.hida.gifu.jp/site/museum/85026.html

As related events, workshops will be held to create bookplates—a practice originating in 15th-century Europe—using the silk screen printmaking technique, as well as workshops on tempera painting, a method commonly used in Renaissance religious art.

Eikyoku, 'Face B,' 1954

Exhibition Highlights

Over 1,500 works from the 'Kubo Collection,' donated to Moka City after his death, will be displayed, including masterpieces by renowned Japanese artists such as Tamiji Kawakami and Mitsuo Ikeda. The collection features a significant number of prints, offering a comprehensive overview of postwar Japanese printmaking history.

This exhibition is part of a collaborative touring project initiated by multiple public art museums based on a proposal from the nonprofit organization Chiiki Souzou (Regional Creation). Developed through repeated discussions among curators from various museums, it is a special exhibition created through joint effort. Thanks to cooperation from Moka City, Tochigi, and grants from Chiiki Souzou, visitors in Hida City can experience artworks rarely seen in the region.

Ai Ou, 'Approaching the 21st Century,' 1979

Exhibition Overview

◆ Venue

Hida City Museum (2-1-58 Wakamiya, Furukawa-cho, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture)

◆ Period

July 18 (Sat) – August 30 (Sun)

◆ Closed

Mondays (closed on the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday)

◆ Hours

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last admission by 4:30 PM)

◆ Admission

200 yen

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Teijiro Kubo

Biography of Teijiro Kubo

Teijiro Kubo was an influential artist and art critic in 20th-century Japanese modern art.

Born in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, in 1909 (Meiji 42), he entered the art world in 1933 (Showa 8) after meeting Shuho Sugita (Eikyoku). Beyond leading the Creative Art Education Movement and the Small Collector Movement and supporting artists, he served as an education board member in Moka Town, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture, president of Atomi Junior College, and director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, Tama.

He actively engaged with artists both in Japan and abroad, dedicating his life to the promotion and development of modern Japanese art. He passed away in 1996 (Heisei 8) at the age of 87. After his death, his valuable collection was donated to Moka City, Tochigi, and continues to be carefully preserved and publicly exhibited.

[Related Event] Create Your Own Bookplate Using Silk Screen Printing

Bookplates are cards affixed to the inside cover of books to indicate ownership, first created in 15th-century Europe. Learn the silk screen printmaking technique and create your own multicolored original bookplate with your favorite design.

◆ Venue

Kogawa Folk Craft Hall Workshop (next to the museum)

◆ Dates and Times

• Sketching session

July 25 (Sun) 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

• Printing session

Course A: August 22 (Sat) 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Course B: August 23 (Sun) 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

◆ Instructor

Nobuko Kasashima (Instructor at Kanazawa Yuyu Sosei no Mori Silk Screen Workshop)

◆ Participation Fee

500 yen

◆ Registration

Via form, phone, mail, or fax

※ Advance registration required

※ Capacity: 10 participants

※ Children in grade 4 or below must be accompanied by a guardian

◆ Deadline for Registration

July 18 (Sat)

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[Related Event] Try Your Hand at Tempera Painting!

Tempera painting is a technique widely used in Renaissance religious art in Italy. Paint your favorite subject on a postcard-sized panel with egg-based paint on a gold-leaf background.

◆ Venue

Kogawa Folk Craft Hall Workshop (next to the museum)

◆ Date and Time

August 2 (Sat) 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

◆ Instructor

Chihiro Takagi (Artist)

◆ Participation Fee

500 yen

◆ Registration

Via form, phone, mail, or fax

※ Advance registration required

※ Capacity: 15 participants

※ Children in grade 4 or below must be accompanied by a guardian

◆ Deadline for Registration

July 22 (Wed)

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[Related Event] 'A Little Classical Music in the Neighborhood' by Members of the Tokyo Philharmonic

A concert featuring musicians from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and other ensembles. Enjoy beautiful music and art together in the cool museum on a summer evening.

◆ Venue

Hida City Museum (Museum hours on the day end at 1:00 PM)

◆ Date and Time

August 12 (Tue) 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (tentative)

◆ Program

Haydn: String Quartet No. 3 in C major, 'Emperor,' 1st movement

Borodin: String Quartet No. 2, 3rd movement 'Nocturne'

Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581, 1st movement

Piazzolla: 'Winter in Buenos Aires' (solo: Eiji Arai)

Monti: 'Csárdás' (solo: Riona Aida)

◆ Fee

Free

◆ Registration

Not required

View details

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Hidehiko Sodegaki: Woodblock Print Exhibition (Part I) — Carving the Mountains, Streams, and Plateaus of Hida — Flyer

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Hida City Museum

Located just northeast of the JR Takayama Line's 'Hida-Furukawa Station,' the museum benefits from excellent accessibility, including the nearby 'Hida-Furukawa Station East Parking Lot,' a free public lot with over 300 spaces. On the same premises are the 'Hida City Cultural Exchange Center' with a 702-seat concert hall, the 'Furukawa Town Community Center' serving as a hub for civic activities, the 'Kogawa Folk Craft Hall' hosting workshops and experiential events, and the 'Hida City Welfare Office (Heartpia Furukawa),' a key welfare facility. At the center of the site lies the 'Nakagaki Katsuhisa Sculpture Garden Museum,' a communal plaza with gentle grassy hills dotted with sculptures by Katsuhisa Nakagaki, reflecting the changing seasons, and frequently used as an event venue. Within this integrated environment of cultural facilities and public spaces, the Hida City Museum plays a vital role in fostering cultural engagement, community interaction, and meaningful experiences for residents, offering locally rooted exhibitions and experiential events that allow visitors to encounter art and people and cherish their time spent here.

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Hida City, Gifu Prefecture

Hida City is a small city with a population of approximately 21,000, surrounded by mountains such as the Northern Alps, with about 93% of its total area covered by forests, making it a region blessed with rich natural resources. In addition to its abundant natural environment, it is home to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage events such as the Furukawa Festival and Okoshi-daiko, as well as Nobel Prize in Physics laureates