A letter, a moment that stays with you
During summer in Kurashiki, amid the historic streets, I encountered a quiet moment that stayed with me.
It was a moment of touching the “true feelings” contained in a letter written by an artist—not in a work of art.
- It doesn’t have to reach you, but I want to tell you
- I am here now, in this one letter
Words like these gently resonate in the heart across time.
Here we introduce the special exhibition “Letters Preserved by the Ohara Family: Letters from Kojima Torajiro and Munakata Shiko,” held at Ohara House Katalyzer through August 3, 2025.
The images in this article are published with permission.
Please do not reproduce them.
The information presented is as of the article’s publication in July 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the special exhibition “Letters Preserved by the Ohara Family: Letters from Kojima Torajiro and Munakata Shiko”?
“Letters Preserved by the Ohara Family: Letters from Kojima Torajiro and Munakata Shiko” is a special exhibition being held at Ohara House Katalyzer through Sunday, August 3, 2025.
The exhibition was planned by Mizushima Hiroshi of the Yurin-kai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation. Last fiscal year (2024), a special exhibition centred on letters by Kojima Torajiro was also held, introducing Torajiro’s character and development as revealed through his letters.
“Last year, there were many letters from Torajiro’s student days that we couldn’t show because of space constraints. They are full of the young Torajiro’s unfiltered voice, before he became an artist, and I wanted people to see them, so I planned this exhibition,” says Mizushima.
This exhibition also shines a light not only on the relationship between Torajiro and Ohara Magosaburo, but also on that between Munakata Shiko and Ohara Soichiro, and includes letters from Shiko. “I hope visitors will sense the deep trust between the artists and their patrons across two generations of the same family,” says Mizushima.
The letters reveal the artists’ honest, human sides—things that cannot be understood from their works alone.
Enjoying “Ohara House Katalyzer” alongside Kurashiki’s history
The venue is Ohara House Katalyzer, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property built in the late Edo period.
As you walk along the stone-paved streets of the Bikan Historical Area, it stands quietly amid a landscape of white-walled storehouses and traditional townhouses.
Inside, the earthen-floored space opens up beneath a high ceiling crossed by dark beams, with soft light filtering through lattice windows and an atmosphere shaped by white walls and stone paving.
Cool air flows through the storehouse, and standing before the letters gives you the feeling of wandering into the memories of the Ohara family.
Outside in the garden, carefully tended plants and bamboo fences gently complement the stone paving and white walls of the storehouse.
Walking along the stone-paved streets of the Bikan Historical Area beneath a blue sky, past rows of white-walled storehouses and traditional townhouses, sensing the murmur of the Kurashiki River in the distance, and listening to the artists’ letters in a quiet storehouse.
It is a special moment that can only be experienced here.
On the left is a wing connected to the office, kitchen, and living quarters, with wooden latticework and plank siding that convey the charm of traditional townhouse architecture.
The white-walled building on the right is a storehouse, or kura, built in traditional earthen-storehouse style. Its thick earthen walls and namako-kabe pattern are features designed to improve fire resistance and durability. Today, this storehouse is used as an exhibition room displaying letters and artworks from the period, as well as materials related to the Ohara family.
The letters by Kojima Torajiro and Munakata Shiko in this special exhibition are displayed in Naka-kura (II) and Uchi-naka-kura.
Here are some of the letters on display.
Letters that reveal the artists’ true selves
On display are letters the two artists addressed to the Ohara family.
What they have in common is their frank gratitude and strong resolve to keep moving forward despite their doubts.
Highlights of Kojima Torajiro’s letters
In letters Kojima Torajiro sent to Magosaburo from his travels,
he writes, “The weather hasn’t been good, and I’m frustrated that my sketching isn’t going as I’d hoped,”
and describes how the words of his teacher, Kuroda Seiki, encouraged him and spurred him on.
The picture postcards were sent by Kojima Torajiro from his travels. In addition to their beauty as paintings, they include handwritten messages, making them valuable materials that convey Kojima Torajiro’s sensibility and character.
December 9, 1905: European countryside
December 25, 1905: Seascape with a lighthouse
January 1, 1906: Scenery at the mouth of the Tone River
On the two postcards on the left, both the writing and the illustrations are in Kojima Torajiro’s own hand.
Highlights of Munakata Shiko’s letters
Meanwhile, Munakata Shiko’s letters reveal his sincerity and single-minded dedication.
Three postcards stand at the centre on a simple wooden stand, quietly on display.
All three are covered in handwritten characters in bold ink, their distinctive brushwork catching the viewer’s eye.
All are written vertically in Japanese, and Munakata Shiko’s strong will and distinctive rhythm come through in his handwriting.
Works by Munakata Shiko are also on display on the walls.
Below the wall is a long glass case, inside which scroll-like letters are spread out on display.
Mizushima says that the letters convey the artists’ “true selves,” which cannot be seen in their works.
We spoke with him about the highlights of the exhibition and the personalities of the two artists.
Interview with Mizushima Hiroshi
What makes artists’ letters so fascinating?
Mizushima (honorific omitted)
The letters on display this time are from when Torajiro was still a student—in other words, when he was an “aspiring artist.”
Letters are valuable documents that record the artists’ innermost thoughts just as they were. Torajiro was a prolific letter writer even as a student, writing in great detail about his studies, creative process, and even the hardships of sketching trips, while also reporting on his scholarship.
They convey how he struggled and grew, as well as his trust in Magosaburo.
There are only a few letters from Shiko, but when he had something to say, he would write across several postcards, sometimes creating a letter as long as five meters.
It is clear that even during the harsh wartime years, he remained positive and relied greatly on Soichiro.
Among the materials being shown for the first time, which are especially memorable?
Mizushima
Torajiro’s letter dated November 7, 1904.
He clearly writes that there was “nothing particularly worth seeing” at the Hakubakai exhibition. The reason is also striking: he even says, “Having seen works by the great masters of Europe at the Sumitomo villa, I can no longer be satisfied with Japanese works.”
The moment when the young man was struck by authentic Western art and honestly recorded his feelings comes vividly to life.
It sounds like the letters’ “appearance” is also something to look out for.
Mizushima
Torajiro’s handwriting is very elegant and difficult for people today to read, but that is part of its appeal.
Shiko’s handwriting is relatively easy to read, and he freely varied his signature, writing it as “Munakata Shiko,” “Munakata Shiko” in katakana, or with a swastika, among other forms, which really brings out his individuality.
There are also many features that are “enjoyable just to look at,” even if you cannot read the writing, such as Torajiro’s signature, letters over one meter long, and illustrated postcards.
What do the letters reveal about their personalities?
Mizushima
Torajiro carefully wrote about his scholarship reports and progress on his work, while also boldly asking for support, making it clear that he placed his complete trust in Magosaburo.
In Shiko’s freewheeling handwriting, his courtesy and gratitude toward Soichiro shine through, conveying the strength of their bond.
I feel that both men deeply respected and cherished the Ohara family, seeing them as not merely supporters, but as pillars of emotional support.
Finally, do you have a message for our readers?
Mizushima
Since this exhibition contains many written materials, it is understandable that people might think, “It looks difficult.” Indeed, reading Kojima Torajiro’s letters is quite challenging. On the other hand, Munakata Shiko’s letters and postcards are written in handwriting that you can read if you look closely.
Also, to make them seem a little less “difficult,” we have prepared handouts summarizing the contents of each letter. We have also posted transcriptions and explanatory notes beside each letter and postcard to help visitors understand them.
We hope you will come and visit.
From the Writer
The worries, joys, sorrows, and prayers contained in every character of these letters.
What emerges from them is the human side of two artists, Kojima Torajiro and Munakata Shiko.
The deep trust in the Ohara family and gratitude for their support come through so clearly that even the writer was surprised, thinking, “I had no idea the famous Shiko was so desperate.” His voice reaches us quietly across time.
This summer, why not listen closely at Ohara House Katalyzer and follow their journeys at the Ohara Museum of Art?
You are sure to discover a special experience.
Articles about Ohara House Katalyzer
Ohara House Katalyzer Special Exhibition: A Collection of Letters Preserved by the Ohara Family—Letters from Kojima Torajiro and Munakata Shiko—Details
| Name | Ohara House Katalyzer Special Exhibition: A Collection of Letters Preserved by the Ohara Family—Letters from Kojima Torajiro and Munakata Shiko— |
|---|---|
| Dates | Exhibition period: Tuesday, July 8–Sunday, August 3, 2025, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Last admission: 4:30 p.m. |
| Location | 1-2-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | Adults: ¥500 (¥400) High school students and younger: ¥400 (¥200) Prices in parentheses are for groups of 20 or more |
| Website | Ohara House Katalyzer Special Exhibition |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
