A Remarkable Collection Built by Eiji Okawa
The core of the museum’s collection was assembled by Eiji Okawa (1924–2008), a businessman born in Kiryu who spent approximately 40 years collecting works of art.
The collection numbered around 1,200 works when the museum first opened and has since grown substantially. Today, it contains approximately 7,300 works.
The museum is operated by the Okawa Museum of Art Foundation with support from Kiryu City, allowing this extensive collection to be shared with the public.
A Major Collection of Modern Japanese Western-Style Painting
The central focus of the collection is modern Japanese Western-style painting. The museum is particularly renowned for its holdings of works by Shunsuke Matsumoto and Hideo Noda, two important artists in the history of modern Japanese art.
The collection includes representative works by Matsumoto, such as “Street” (1938) and “Canal View” (1943), as well as a wide range of oil paintings, drawings, prints, and related materials.
Through these works, visitors can explore the development of Matsumoto’s artistic expression from multiple perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural atmosphere of Japan in the first half of the 20th century.
Exhibitions Focused on Artists’ Connections
One of the most distinctive features of Okawa Museum of Art is its focus on the personal and artistic connections between artists.
Based on the philosophy that “a painting reflects the personality of its creator,” the museum looks beyond individual works to explore relationships such as friendships, teacher-student connections, and artistic influences.
With Matsumoto and Noda at the center, the museum presents works by artists who were connected to them, helping visitors understand Japanese modern art through networks of people and ideas rather than simply through chronological periods.
Artists Representing Modern Japanese Art
The collection includes works by many significant Japanese artists, including Aikō, Saburo Aso, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Takeo Tsuruoka, Tsune Nakamura, Tatsuoki Nambata, Takemori Funakoshi, Takeo Yamaguchi, and Kazu Wakita.
The exhibition structure also provides an overview of the development of Japanese art from the Meiji and Taisho periods through the Showa period and into the contemporary era.
The permanent displays are changed approximately four times a year, giving repeat visitors opportunities to encounter different works and new perspectives on the collection.
A Global Perspective Through Western Art
Although Japanese modern art forms the heart of the collection, the museum also holds an impressive selection of modern Western art.
Works by internationally recognized artists such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Rouault, Joan Miró, and Amedeo Modigliani are represented, along with works by Ben Shahn, one of the major American artists of the 20th century.
These works allow visitors to consider Japanese art within a broader international context and to explore the artistic exchanges and influences that shaped modern art during the 20th century.
Japanese Painting and Textile Art
The museum also houses approximately 100 Japanese-style paintings, as well as works by Junichi Arai, an internationally recognized Japanese textile planner and designer.
The collection extends beyond traditional painting to include design, textile art, and abstract expression. This diversity is one of the museum’s notable characteristics and gives visitors the opportunity to encounter many different forms of artistic expression in one place.
The Building Creates an Intimate Art Experience
The museum building was originally used as a company employee dormitory before being renovated and expanded for use as an art museum.
Its hillside location led to the adoption of a split-level design, with visitors moving up and down stairs as they progress through the galleries. The succession of small exhibition rooms creates a personal atmosphere in which artworks can be viewed from close range.
The intimate scale can feel quite different from a large conventional art museum. Rather than rushing from one gallery to another, visitors can pause and spend time with individual works in a calm environment.
Relaxed Viewing Spaces
Sofas are placed in the exhibition rooms so that visitors can sit comfortably while viewing the artworks.
This reflects the museum’s guiding concept of being “a museum of masterpieces that can be visited whenever you want to see them.” The environment encourages visitors to explore at their own pace and return to works that particularly capture their attention.
Art Surrounded by the Nature of Suidoyama
The museum also includes a library, museum shop, and café. Large windows provide views of the greenery surrounding Mount Suidoyama, allowing visitors to enjoy the changing scenery while taking a break from the galleries.
In spring, cherry blossoms add color to the landscape, while fresh green foliage appears in early summer and vivid autumn leaves transform the hills later in the year.
The seasonal scenery adds another dimension to the museum experience, creating a natural transition between the world of art inside and the landscape outside.
Panoramic Views from Suidoyama Park
Suidoyama Park extends around the museum and provides additional opportunities to enjoy nature and panoramic views.
From the park’s viewpoints, visitors can look across Kiryu City from an elevation approximately 100 meters higher than the city center. During the daytime, the elevated position provides refreshing views of the urban landscape and surrounding mountains.
After sunset, the same hillside becomes a popular location for enjoying Kiryu’s nighttime city lights.
Combining a visit to the museum with a walk through Suidoyama Park makes for an enjoyable sightseeing experience that brings together art, nature, architecture, and views of the city.
A Cultural Center Where Art and Landscape Meet
Okawa Museum of Art is more than a place to view paintings. It functions as an important cultural center for Kiryu, presenting exhibitions that introduce the appeal of art from a variety of perspectives.
Special exhibitions are held several times a year in addition to the changing displays from the permanent collection. The museum also supports cultural activities through its membership and supporters’ programs, connecting local residents and businesses with the museum.
Discover Kiryu Through Art
The combination of the museum’s carefully assembled collection, its unusual hillside architecture, and the natural environment of Suidoyama creates a distinctive experience.
For international visitors, the museum provides an opportunity to discover Japanese modern art while also seeing how artists, cultural movements, and international influences were connected. At the same time, the surrounding landscape offers a peaceful introduction to Kiryu’s historic urban environment.
Take time to explore the small galleries, sit in front of a favorite painting, visit the café, and then step outside to enjoy the views from the hillside. At Okawa Museum of Art, art, nature, and the history of Kiryu come together in a uniquely intimate setting.
When visiting Kiryu, a trip to Okawa Museum of Art is an opportunity to experience a rich collection of Japanese and international art while enjoying the quiet atmosphere and beautiful scenery of Mount Suidoyama.