Contemporary Chōjū-Giga Exhibition

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On View: September 9 – November 24, 2025

Closed: Monday (Open on Sep. 15, Oct. 13, Nov. 3, Nov. 24) Sep. 16, Oct. 14, Nov. 4

Hours: 10am － 5pm (Last Entry is at 4:30pm)

Organized by Sato Sakura Museum

Supported by Meguro Tourism Association

Location: 1-7-13 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Artworks

Foreword

The picture scroll Chōjū-giga, passed down at Kōsan-ji Temple in Kyoto, is a masterpiece of Japanese art created between the 12th and 13th centuries. The humorous and lively depictions of animals within the work—rabbits, frogs, monkeys and others behaving like humans—bring smiles and thoughtful reflections to viewers through their charming gestures. These animals have continued to offer joy and a sense of connection across generations. The expressive style seen in Chōjū-giga is also linked to the long-cherished tradition of animal painting in Japanese art.

Animal painting has been an important theme across cultures and eras, from antiquity to the present day. In Japanese painting, countless works have been created exploring the vitality of animals and their harmony with nature, including the refined and expressive kachōga (bird-and-flower painting). From the Edo period onward, artists of the Kano and Maruyama schools further developed these expressions, and animal painting has continued to evolve as a recognized genre within Nihonga to this day.

This exhibition presents a variety of animal paintings, with a focus on “Contemporary Chōjū-giga,” a reinterpretation of the world of Chōjū-giga through traditional Japanese painting techniques that capture the rich expressions and movements of animals. We invite you to enjoy this newly imagined world where classical themes are brought to life with a modern sensibility.

Artists:
Atsushi Uemura, Matazo Kayama, Satoshi Kawamata, Yukikazu Kawamata, Katsumi Kitada, Kanako Kinutani, Yukihiko Kurihara, Shin Sato, Koichi Takeuchi, Shun’ei Nishida, Yoichi Nishino, Mari Hirako, Toshiyuki Fujiwara, Koji Matsumura, Yuji Musashihara

Artwork Popularity Vote – Chōjū-Giga Exhibition

During the Contemporary Chōjū-Giga Exhibition, we are inviting visitors to take part in a popularity vote for the artworks on display in the museum.

— Voting Details —
Voting Period: September 9 – November 24, 2025
How to Participate: Please submit your vote using the form available inside the museum.

We look forward to receiving your votes!

List of Artworks

Coming Soon

Please be advised that the exhibition ‘100 Views of Sakura’ will not be on view during the period of this exhibition.

■What is Nihonga: Click here

■Sato Sakura Museum Collection: Click here

■Online Viewing Room: Click here

■Admission (tax included)
・General: 800 Yen
・Students (University | High school): 300 Yen
・Students (Junior High School | Elementary School) : Free

※Tax included
※Elementary school student must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
※Admission is half-price for visitors with a disability certificate

■Location
Sato Sakura Museum
1-7-13 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo