Visit Mastumoto

The Ikegami Hyakuchokutei Collection consists of 221 items, primarily modern literary materials collected by Ikegami Kisaku (pen name: Hyakuchokutei, 1890–1978), a literary figure from Matsumoto City. In this installment, we will introduce works by Musashino Michiaki and others.

The literary magazine *Shirakaba* was founded in 1910 (Meiji 43) with a group of contributors including writers Musashino Saneatsu and Shiga Naoya, as well as Arishima Ikuma (painter) and Yanagi Muneyoshi (philosopher).By actively introducing not only literature but also foreign works of art, the magazine had a profound impact on young people and resonated deeply with them. It was particularly well-received among young educators in Nagano Prefecture, leading to the publication of *Shinshu Shirakaba*. Kisaku Ikegami was one of those deeply influenced by it.

In 1933 (Showa 8), Ikegami invited Musashinoji, a founding member of *Shirakaba*, to speak at the “Storytelling Gathering” held in Matsumoto City, which he organized together with Kurumizawa Kanai (a poet and folklorist) and others. This exhibition features works by Ikegami and Kurumizawa, as well as works by Musashinoji, with whom they were associated.

Ikegami also turned his attention to the Mingei (Folk Art) Movement led by Yanagi Muneyoshi, with whom he had befriended through *Shirakaba*, and served as the first branch director of the Nagano Prefectural Branch of the Japan Mingei Association, which was established in 1946 (Showa 21). The Mingei-related works collected by Ikegami are currently on display in the Kamijo Shinzan and Tamura Kazuo Memorial Exhibition Room as part of an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mingei. We hope you will enjoy this exhibition as well.