Homma Museum of Art


Homma Museum of Art opened in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, in 1947.

Setting

The Seienkaku residence was built in 1813 by the fourth head of the Homma Family. Visitors include members of the Sakai and Uesugi clans, lords of the Shōnai and Yonezawa Domains, as well as in 1925 the future Shōwa emperor - the second storey had been added in 1908 in advance of a planned visit by the future Taishō emperor. The Kakubu-en or "Dancing Crane" Gardens, designated a Place of Scenic Beauty, incorporate Mount Chōkai by way of borrowed scenery. The new exhibition hall was added in 1968.

Collection

The collection of some 2,500 objects includes a Kamakura-period edition of Ise Monogatari and three other Important Cultural Properties, works by Kanō Tan'yū, Nagasawa Rosetsu, Itō Jakuchū, Shiba Kōkan, Matsumura Goshun, Okada Hankō, Kishi Ganku, Kita Genki, Fukuhara Gogaku, Minagawa Kien, Yasuda Raishū, and Kuroda Seiki, as well as Goryeo celadons, raku ware by Chōjirō, lacquerware, sculptures, and Japanese traditional dolls.

Folk song

The folk song 'Homma Sama is out of our reach but we wanna be Tonosama at least' shows the prosperity of the Homma Family when Tonosama as the top of warriors ranked highest according to the social class system established in the early Edo period.