Ota Memorial Museum of Art, Shibuya, Japan
Ōta Memorial Museum of Art was founded based on the ukiyo-e collection of late Seizō OtaⅤ, former president of Tōhō Insurance Company in order to show widely its collection to public.
Late Seizō Ota Ⅴ, who was born in Fukuoka, had a great knowledge of art history and literature and began to have an interest in ukiyo-e wood-block prints since he was a college student. As a young man, he learned that ukiyo-e was highly admired abroad and as one of the Japanese traditional arts, he realized how nationally important it was to collect and protect this art form, and he developed a deep interest in collecting ukiyo-e wood-block prints.
Moreover, he continued to improve a sense of beauty while forming a friendship with Mr. Fujikake Shizuya and Mr. Narazaki Muneshige who were famous researchers of ukiyo-e. Though his collection was partly burned down thereafter by the Pacific War, his passion toward ukiyo-e had never declined, and he continued to collect his favorite ukiyo-e until his death diligently.
Epic Japan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound