In the early Edo period, as the age of warfare drew to a close, a new culture emerged in Kyoto through exchanges among people from diverse backgrounds, eventually flourishing as Kan’ei Culture. Its influence extended beyond the heart of the capital to Yawata as well.
This exhibition focuses on Shokado Shojo, a Buddhist monk of Takimoto-bo at Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine and one of the renowned “Three Master Calligraphers of the Kan’ei Era.” A devotee of chanoyu (the Japanese tea ceremony) and an accomplished calligrapher and painter, Shojo created numerous works while interacting with the cultural figures who helped shape Kan’ei Culture.
The exhibition offers an opportunity to discover the richness of Kan’ei Culture, born from connections between people, together with Shojo’s hopes for a peaceful age as expressed through his works. We invite you to visit Yawata and experience the spirit and beauty of this cultural world.
Related Events
◆ Curator’s Opening Talk
Date & Time: Saturday, October 17, from 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Exhibition Gallery, Shokado Art Museum
Participation Fee: Free (separate admission fee required)
※ Advance registration is not required. Please gather in the exhibition gallery before the talk begins.
◆ Sagawa Masatoshi Memorial Lecture and Commemorative Tea Gathering
Date: Saturday, October 31
【Lecture】
Kan’ei Culture: Focusing on Sagawa Masatoshi and Shokado Shojo
Lecturer: Kenji Watanabe (Professor Emeritus, Rikkyo University)
Venue: Lecture Room, Shokado Art Museum
Time: From 1:30 p.m.
【Tea Gathering】
Times (session-based): ① 10:00 a.m. ② 11:00 a.m. ③ 12:00 noon ④ 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Shoin Tea House, Shokado Garden
Participation Fee: ¥5,000 (separate admission fee required to view the exhibition)
Capacity: 65 participants (advance registration required)
▶ Register Online Here https://www.aa-net.ne.jp/form/
※ For inquiries, please contact Mr. Yamano at the Secretariat of the Sagawa Masatoshi Memorial Lecture and Commemorative Tea Gathering Executive Committee (Tel: 070-5689-3311; weekdays, 1:00–6:00 p.m.).
◆ Koichiro Murata Ceramic Exhibition: “Iwashimizu-ki”
Dates: Thursday, October 22–Sunday, November 8
Venue: Annex Gallery, Shokado Art Museum, Yawata City Shokado Garden
Admission: Free (separate garden admission fee required)
◆ Joint Program with “Rediscovering the Attractions Along the Keihan Railway 2026: A Stroll Along Historic Routes”
【Theme】Shokado Shojo and the Flourishing of Kan’ei Culture
The Kan’ei Era from the Perspective of an Architectural Historian: From the Age of Warring States to an Age of Peace
Date & Time: Saturday, November 21, from 1:00 p.m.
Speakers: Nanryu Kyokudo (Kamigata kodan storyteller) and Toshiyuki Hirai (Director, Shokado Garden and Art Museum)
Venue: Lecture Room, Shokado Art Museum
Participation Fee: ¥1,500 (includes a special admission ticket covering the special opening)
Capacity: 70 participants (registration required)
▶Register Online Here https://shokado-garden-art-museum.jp/top/event/teaceremony/burari/
◆ Related Program for the Kyoto Heritage Preservation Association’s “Special Openings of Normally Closed Cultural Properties in Kyoto”
The Kan’ei Era from the Perspective of an Architectural Historian: Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine and Shokado Shojo
Date & Time: Saturday, December 5, from 2:00 p.m.
Lecturer: Toshiyuki Hirai (Director, Shokado Garden and Art Museum)
Venue: Lecture Room, Shokado Art Museum
Participation Fee: ¥1,000 (includes a special admission ticket covering the special opening)
Capacity: 70 participants (registration required)
Exhibition Overview
| Exhibition Period | First Term: Saturday, October 17–Sunday, November 8, 2026 Second Term: Tuesday, November 10–Sunday, December 6, 2026 ※ Closed on Mondays (open on Monday, November 23, a national holiday) and Tuesday, November 24. |
|---|---|
| Venue | Yawata City Shokado Garden and Art Museum
43-1 Yawata Ominaeshi, Yawata, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Last admission: 4:30 p.m.) |
| Admission | Adults: ¥600 / University students: ¥500 / Ages 18 and under: Free (excluding university students)
※ Combined admission ticket for the museum and garden: Adults ¥840 / University students ¥670 ーーーーーーー During this period, a special admission ticket (¥1,000), including access to the special opening, will be available for purchase. |
| Organizer | Yawata Civic Cultural Foundation (Yawata City Shokado Garden and Art Museum) |
| Supported by | Kyoto Prefecture; Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education; Kyoto Tourism Federation; Yawata City Tourism Association; Yawata City Cultural Association; Historic Routes Promotion Council |
Visit the Yawata City Shokado Garden and Art Museum Website Here
