The Tokyo Station Gallery, located inside the Marunouchi Station building of JR Tokyo Station, will be holding an exhibition of Takehisa Yumeji's work, "Yumeji Ryōran," from May 19th to July 1st.

Cover of Fujin Graph, Volume 3, Issue 5, 1926, Collection of Chiyoda Ward Board of Education
Chiyoda Ward, where the Tokyo Station Gallery is located, has developed into one of Japan's leading cities for the publishing and printing industries. Ryuseikaku, a publishing house located in Kudanminami, Chiyoda Ward, is known for publishing Takamura Kotaro's "Chieko Sho," but it also led the second Yumeji boom after the war by publishing a series of Takehisa Yumeji art books. This exhibition commemorates the donation to Chiyoda Ward of the vast Yumeji collection of over 1,200 pieces, amassed by Ryuseikaku's founder, Sawada Ichiro, for the publication of Yumeji's books and art books, and showcases the best of that collection.

Cover of the illustrated collection "Yoran," 1903, Collection of Chiyoda Ward Board of Education
This exhibition is divided into four chapters. The first chapter, titled "The Beginnings of Yumeji," explores Yumeji's origins. As a young student, Yumeji made a living by submitting drawings and poems to newspapers and magazines. A turning point came in June 1905, when his frame illustration "Tsutsui Tsutsu," submitted to the summer supplement "Chugaku Sekai" (Chugaku Sekai), won first prize, followed by the publication of "Yumeji Art Collection: Spring Volume" in 1909. This exhibition showcases Yumeji's youth and explores how he began his career as an artist through early examples of his work. This exhibition also presents for the first time the handwritten illustrated collection "Yoran," created while he was a student at Waseda Jitsugyo School. Created in 1903, "Yoran" is a handwritten booklet containing adaptations and original works of foreign literature, as well as several illustrations. This draft, with its vivid traces of revision, evokes the 20-year-old Yumeji's abundant talent and strong desire to share his creations with the world.

Minatoya Ezoushi-ten, 1914, Collection of Chiyoda Ward Board of Education

Chapter 2 is "Lovely Things, Beautiful Things." In October 1914, Minatoya Ezoushi-ten opened in Nihonbashi Gofukucho, owned by Kishi Tamaki, the only woman Yumeji ever officially married. Minatoya was a brand-name shop selling chiyogami paper, letter paper, envelopes, and half-collar collars designed by Yumeji, as well as a gallery where young artists such as Onchi Koshiro and Tanaka Kyokichi could gather and exhibit their work. During this period, not only did Yumeji establish his "Yumeji-style beauty" style, but he also expanded his activities to encompass a wide range of fields, including postcards, magazine covers and illustrations, and book designs. While he was also enthusiastic about holding his own solo exhibitions, this exhibition showcases his wide-ranging artistic output, providing art accessible to viewers, readers, women, and children.

Original painting of Senoo Music Sheet "Hibari" (Skylark), 1924, Chiyoda City Board of Education Collection
Chapter 3 is "Music for the Eyes." Yumeji illustrated numerous sheet music covers. A representative example is the Senoo Music Score, published by Senoo Music Publishing, which incorporated elements of various genres to express the image of music from Japan and around the world. Yumeji was responsible for the jacket design of over 270 scores, including "Yoimachigusa," for which he wrote the lyrics himself. He also actively participated in the creation of children's song scores. This book introduces the rich musical world depicted by Yumeji during the Taisho era.

Original illustration for "Departure," 1927 (Showa 2), Chiyoda Ward Board of Education Collection
Chapter 4 is "Departure." "Departing Sail," serialized in the Miyako Shimbun newspaper in 1927, is an autobiographical novel chronicling half of Yumeji's life. The illustrations feature ink-wash depictions of the women he loved, the landscapes he visited with them, and abstract psychological portrayals. After the serialization of "Departing Sail," Yumeji traveled abroad, compiling newspaper clippings himself and entrusting the publication of "Departing Sail" to his friends.
The autobiographical novel "Departing Sail," featuring 134 illustrations, caused a sensation when it was released. This exhibition will be the first to display all of these original illustrations together. It is extremely rare for a novel from this period to retain all of its original illustrations. Enjoy the masterpieces of Yumeji's mature period.
This exhibition, the largest ever, will showcase Yumeji's diverse activities from various angles with over 500 exhibits. This exhibition allows visitors to experience the full scope of Takehisa Yumeji's work, from his many published art books to his bookbinding works, music collections, children's drawings, postcards, chiyogami paper, half-collar designs, and even original paintings.

A variety of talk events will also be held during the exhibition. In addition to gallery talks explaining the exhibition by the curator in charge, which will be held from 3:00 p.m. on May 31st and June 14th, a commemorative lecture related to the exhibition, "Journalism and Takehisa Yumeji," will be given by Nishiyama Junko, curator at Chiba City Museum of Art, on May 31st in the large hall on the first basement floor of the Hibiya Library and Museum, Chiyoda City. On June 5th, Hibiya Library and Museum curator Kai Iwasaki will give a lecture titled "Publishing Activities and the Chiyoda and Ryuseikaku Collections" at the Civic Hall on the first floor of Chiyoda Ward Office, and on June 21st, art historian Shinichiro Iwakiri will give a lecture titled "Takehisa Yumeji from the Perspective of Book Design and Publishing" at the Large Hall on the first basement floor of Hibiya Library and Museum. Advance registration is required for related commemorative lectures.

Advance tickets are on sale until May 18th at Lawson Ticket (L-code 35577), e+, CN Playguide, and Seven Tickets for 700 yen for adults and 500 yen for high school and university students. Tickets are also on sale at the Tokyo Station Gallery box office only on opening days until May 6th (until 30 minutes before closing).