The former Chugoku Bank building, which closed in 2016, is being converted into an art museum. The “Kojima Torajiro Museum (Shin-Kojimakan)” (provisional name) is scheduled to open in April 2022.
Ohara Museum of Art’s press conference about the construction was held in January 2020.
After that, due to the spread of COVID-19, a state of emergency was declared nationwide from April 2020, and the Ohara Museum of Art was also temporarily closed until August 24, 2020.
Although circumstances had changed considerably since the press conference, construction was proceeding as scheduled as of July 2020, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 30, 2020.
This article reports on the “Ohara Museum of Art (provisional name) Shin-Kojimakan Project Groundbreaking Ceremony.”
The information presented here is as of the article’s publication in August 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Kojima Torajiro Museum (Shin-Kojimakan)?
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the former Chugoku Bank building in the Bikan Historical Area, which closed in 2016.
The building features Renaissance-style columns and stained glass, and was transferred from Chugoku Bank to the Ohara Museum of Art in 2016.
It was subsequently designated a Kurashiki City Important Cultural Property, and a basic policy for its exterior was established. It was decided that it would open in April 2022 as the “Kojima Torajiro Museum (Shin-Kojimakan)” (provisional name).
| Address | 3-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Structure | Preserved building: mixed construction (partly reinforced concrete) and wood New building: reinforced concrete |
| Total floor area | 961.38 square meters |
After the January 2020 press conference, demolition of the “steel-framed building on the south side” was carried out and completed.
- Renovation of the preserved building, a Kurashiki City-designated Important Cultural Property
- Construction of an extension
The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of these construction works.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony
The groundbreaking ceremony began at 1 p.m. on July 30, 2020.
- Representatives of the Ohara Museum of Art, the construction client, including its president, Akane Ohara
- Representatives of Fujiki Komuten Co., Ltd., the contractor, including its president, Genzo Fujiki
A total of 21 people, mainly those listed above, attended along with members of the press, all wearing masks.
The ceremony was officiated by Chief Priest Shunsuke Arai of Achi Shrine.
The groundbreaking ceremony proceeded as follows.
- Opening remarks
- Purification ritual
- Invocation of the deity
- Offering of food
- Recitation of prayers
- Purification ceremony
- Groundbreaking ritual
- Offering of sacred branches
- Removal of offerings
- Sending off the deity
- Closing ceremony
Although the day was swelteringly hot, the ceremony proceeded solemnly and concluded safely after about 45 minutes.
During the question-and-answer session afterward, many questions were directed to Deputy Director Masanori Morikawa, including:
- Is construction proceeding as scheduled?
- Will Shin-Kojimakan open in April 2022 as planned?
- Will new measures be introduced, such as infection-control measures?
He replied, “Things are proceeding almost as planned, and the building is scheduled to be completed during fiscal 2020,” but his expression was grave.
From the Writer
On the day of the ceremony (July 30, 2020), the Ohara Museum of Art was still temporarily closed.
As a private art museum whose main source of income is admission fees, it continues to face difficult circumstances, including changes in the external environment.
Furthermore, the Kojima Torajiro Museum (Shin-Kojimakan) was planned as the “Project to transform a bank building cherished for a century into the Kojima Torajiro Museum,” with construction funded in part by donations from the public. However, the current climate has made it difficult to solicit donations, leaving the project facing a double challenge.
“In the current COVID-19 crisis, I feel that, as a fan of the Ohara Museum of Art, it is important to support not only Shin-Kojimakan’s initiatives but the museum itself,” the writer thought.
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