[Held Friday, July 24] 70th Ohara Magosaburo and Soichiro Memorial Lecture ~ Free admission, no registration required. Come along and reflect on Japan’s townscapes in Kurashiki.

If you live in Kurashiki, you’ve probably heard of the Ohara family at least once. They have contributed to society in many ways over the years, including establishing the Ohara Museum of Art.

Their large-scale projects tend to attract attention, but did you know they also held lectures for local residents?

The “70th Ohara Magosaburo and Soichiro Memorial Lecture,” to be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, traces its roots to the “Kurashiki Sunday Lectures,” established by Magosaburo in 1902. It has been passed down to the present day, changing its format to suit the times.

We introduce this lecture series, which invites a diverse range of speakers from various fields each year and is held free of charge for the general public.

About the 70th Ohara Magosaburo and Soichiro Memorial Lecture

The “Kurashiki Sunday Lectures,” established by Ohara Magosaburo, were taken over by his eldest son, Soichiro, after Magosaburo’s death.
Even after Soichiro’s death, people who shared his vision have carried it on through the ages, changing its name and format along the way.

The lecture, now called the “Ohara Magosaburo and Soichiro Memorial Lecture,” is held once a year, around late July, under the auspices of the Yurinkai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.

The lecture to be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Main Hall of Kurashiki Community Center marks the 70th installment. The speaker will be Inoue Shoichi, Director of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, who will give a lecture titled “Considering Japanese Streetscapes in Kurashiki.”

Interview with the Yurinkai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation

We spoke with Mori Kenta of the Yurinkai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, which organizes the event, about the 70th Ohara Magosaburo and Soichiro Memorial Lecture.

Could you tell us how the lecture series began and what its purpose is?

Mori (honorifics omitted)

Tracing the roots of the Ohara Magosaburo and Soichiro Memorial Lecture takes us back to the “Kurashiki Sunday Lectures,” started by Ohara Magosaburo, the seventh head of the Ohara family. It began as a forum where Magosaburo invested his own money to invite leading experts to share their knowledge with the general public of the time, free of charge.

His son Soichiro later carried on that vision.
The lectures were suspended for a time due to the circumstances of the era, but resumed after the war. After Soichiro’s death, they were renamed the “Ohara Magosaburo and Soichiro Memorial Lecture,” the name they bear today.

Including the period when the lectures were suspended, this year marks the significant milestone of the 70th installment.

What are the highlights of this year’s lecture?

Mori

This time, we have invited Inoue Shoichi, Director of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies and an architectural historian. He is also known as the author of the bestseller Kyoto Dislikes Me.

The theme of this lecture is “Considering Japanese Streetscapes in Kurashiki.” Drawing on his expertise in architectural history and his unique perspective of “reconsidering Japan from within and without,” I think he will share fascinating insights into aspects of Kurashiki’s streets that we might not usually notice.

Do you have a message for our readers?

Mori

Reaching this major milestone of the 70th lecture is thanks not only to all the speakers who have appeared over the years and everyone who has helped make the event possible, but above all to the participants who have come to the venue.

I strongly feel that the history and significance of these 70 lectures have been built not only by us organizers, but together with the people of Kurashiki.

It is truly a valuable opportunity to hear leading experts speak in person here in our hometown of Kurashiki. No advance registration is required, and anyone can attend free of charge.

We expect this year’s lecture to be wonderful as well, so we hope you’ll feel free to invite friends and family and join us at the venue.

From the Writer

In today’s world, where advances in information and communications technology have made it possible for anyone to access a wealth of information, it is no small feat to carry on the founding vision of “a forum that invites leading experts to share their knowledge free of charge.”

We have great respect for the organizers. Of course, it cannot truly be held “free” of charge; it is made possible by the support of many people.

This is an opportunity to hear valuable talks in Kurashiki free of charge.
We hope you’ll come along.

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