Message from the Director

At the Start of the New Fiscal Year

This marks a milestone year for our museum, celebrating 75 years since its opening.
 
Commencing the fiscal year with Ansei and Toshiko Uchima: Weaving Colors and Memories and New Treasures of the Museum Collection II, both currently on view at Hayama, we are pleased to present a diverse program of exhibitions, including Unprecedented: Women Photographers from the GDR, Copperplate Print Artist Komai Tetsuro: Constellations on the Palm of His Hand, Matsumoto Yoko: The Day I Saw the Evening Star, and Suda Yoshihiro Exhibition.
 
At the Kamakura Annex, following Naoyo Fukuda: At the Threshold's Edge, on view since February 21, we will present Yamamuro Shinji’s Potato Prints “Histoires Naturelles in Kamakura”/ From the Museum Collection: In Everyday Life, Polish Poster Exhibition 2: From the Former Collection of Copperplate Engraver Watanabe Chihiro, and Reminiscences of Fukagawa: Ito Shinsui and Sekine Shoji.
 
At Hayama, alongside these special exhibitions, we will also present collection displays highlighting the richness of our holdings. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Showa era, these include The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura and Art of the Showa Era and Tasogare, Kawatare: “In-Between” in Contemporary Art. In addition, we will present the complete series of Marc Chagall’s The Fables of La Fontaine from the Mochizuki Tomiaki Collection, as well as a special display marking the 70th anniversary of the creation of Tanaka Takashi’s mural Life of Woman and the 10th anniversary of its relocation to Hayama.
Across both Hayama and Kamakura, we hope visitors will enjoy the wide range of artistic expression—painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and more—presented within these distinct environments.
 
Founded in 1951, shortly after the end of World War II, our museum has continued to evolve in response to changing times, despite the challenging social and economic conditions of the postwar reconstruction period. This March marked 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, yet Japan remains on the path to recovery. Life in Japan continues alongside the constant threat of natural disasters, while conflicts persist around the world, resulting in many casualties.
In such circumstances, the power and significance of art are once again called into question. As we reflect on what a museum should be and the values we must pass on to future generations, we are reminded of the importance of the principle of “changing in order to remain unchanged.”
Looking ahead, we will continue to value a perspective that moves between past, present, and future, striving to remain a place that is welcoming to many and leaves a lasting impression. We sincerely ask for your continued understanding and support of our museum’s activities.
 

April 2026
NAGATO Saki, Director