Interview with Atsushi Miura, Director of Ohara Museum of Art
In light of the grand opening of the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery, we spoke with Director Atsushi Miura.
Please tell us how you feel now that the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery has grand opened.
Miura (honorifics omitted)
I can only express my feelings in one word: overwhelmed.
This is because Ohara Magosaburo, the founder of Ohara Museum of Art, initially wished to create a museum to honor the achievements of Kojima Torajiro.
However, due to various twists and turns, the current main building of Ohara Museum of Art is composed mainly of Western paintings purchased by Kojima from overseas.
Additionally, this building was used as a branch of Kurashiki Bank and Chugoku Bank, and it has ties to the Ohara family.
I believe there is historical significance in utilizing this location as the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery.
At this timing, 95 years after the opening of the main building of Ohara Museum of Art, I am happy to be able to leave a testament to the friendship between Ohara Magosaburo and Kojima Torajiro as a memorial gallery.
The main building of Ohara Museum of Art is also nearby. What kind of exhibitions are planned for the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery?
Miura
As you can see in Exhibition Room 1, our gallery holds a large collection of ancient art collected by Kojima Torajiro.
We would like to display high-quality collected works, including representative pieces, while changing the exhibitions sequentially.
Moreover, the Ohara Art Foundation has a vast amount of materials related to Kojima Torajiro. These materials include not only artworks but also letters and diaries.
It is also our mission to organize these materials.
In March 2025, we published the "Kojima Torajiro Oil Painting Catalog" on the Ohara Museum of Art's website.
In the future, we hope to create exhibitions where artworks and materials can be viewed in relation to each other.
There have been donations from 69 companies for the corporate hometown tax.
Miura
I am filled with gratitude for the unexpectedly large number of donations from companies.
I believe this is one of the results of the activities of Ohara Museum of Art up to now.
I want people who wish to support the activities of the Ohara Art Foundation to visit us and continue to spread the charm of Kojima Torajiro from Kurashiki to the whole country.
What kind of people would you like to come to the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery?
Miura
First of all, I would like local residents of Kurashiki and those who have supported the corporate hometown tax to come.
I would be happy if local people could come here to appreciate the works of Kojima Torajiro and share their feelings with people across the country and the world.
I hope this place will become a venue to gradually spread the light of culture from Kurashiki to the world.
How would you like to utilize the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery?
Miura
Kojima Torajiro's achievements are immensely significant in the history of Western painting in Japan, but his collected ancient art and his own works are not widely known.
Therefore, I would like many people to first become familiar with the works of Kojima Torajiro.
Additionally, the painters who purchased Western paintings and ancient art for their collection were said to be advanced and the first of their kind in Japan at that time.
I would like people to also pay attention to Kojima Torajiro as a cosmopolitan.
Cosmopolitan
A person who is not bound by nationality or ethnicity and possesses a global perspective and initiative.
Furthermore, we have not only exhibition rooms but also a lecture room in the gallery.
We want to inherit the awareness of social contribution that the founders of Ohara Museum of Art, including Kojima Torajiro, valued, and we aim to strengthen our efforts in social education.
Conclusion
During both the pre-opening and grand opening, it was impressive to see many guests dressed a bit more elegantly, visiting with friends or spouses at the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery.
While blending into the everyday scenery of the Bikan Historical Area in Kurashiki, once you step inside the gallery, you can immerse yourself in the extraordinary world of art.
The small and charming collected works of Kojima Torajiro, as well as the vividly colored paintings, are all captivating enough to make you lose track of time.
You can enter the Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery with a ticket for the main building of Ohara Museum of Art.
Why not take a trip to enjoy an art-filled day?
Articles about Ohara Museum of Art
Data of Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery
| Name | Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM * Last admission is at 3:30 PM; closed at 3:00 PM from December to February |
| Location | 3-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission Fee (including tax) | Common ticket for Ohara Museum of Art Main Building / Crafts and Oriental Museum / Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery General: 2,000 yen High school, middle school, and elementary school students (under 18): 500 yen |
| Website | Official Website of Ohara Museum of Art |
