Nakamuraya, a long-established food manufacturer in Shinjuku that has been beloved for over a century, is opening the new Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art as it rebuilds its Shinjuku flagship store. A special inaugural exhibition, "Nakamuraya Salon: Born Here, Born From Here," was unveiled at a preview held ahead of the grand opening on October 29th. Located on the third floor of the Shinjuku Nakamuraya Building, the Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art will open as a cultural and artistic facility of approximately 240 square meters, featuring exhibition rooms and a multipurpose space. The white and red walls, wooden fixtures, and retro lamps create a calming atmosphere. The inaugural exhibition will focus on Nakamuraya Salon, the modern Japanese art trend that spread from Nakamuraya and from which the museum is named. The exhibition brings together approximately 50 paintings, sculptures, and calligraphy by artists associated with Ogiwara Morie, Nakamura Tsune, Takamura Kotaro, Aizu Yaichi, and Nakahara Teijiro, showcasing the cultural exchanges that took place between the Meiji and Showa periods. Nakamuraya's founders, Aizo Soma and his wife, Kokko, were intellectuals with a deep appreciation for art. Many artists naturally gathered at Nakamuraya, centered around Aizo's hometown sculptor, Ogiwara Morie (Rokuzan), creating a European salon-like atmosphere. The artistic trend that blossomed under the couple's tutelage came to be known as the "Nakamuraya Salon." Museum Director Shozo Someya says, "The artistic culture born and disseminated here at Shinjuku Nakamuraya is Nakamuraya's identity. We want to pass this on to future generations and create a museum that serves as a 'salon,' a cultural gathering place for people." The highlight of this exhibition is the bronze sculpture "Woman" by Ogiwara Morie. The work's unsteady kneeling pose exudes a sense of dynamism, and its sculptural beauty is a must-see. Mikiko Ota, curator at the museum, said, "We want to stem the decline in public awareness of the Nakamuraya Salon, a well-known institution in art history, and to raise awareness among young people." She recommended Nakamura Tsune's oil painting "Little Girl" for younger viewers. This work, created using the Soma couple's eldest daughter, Toshiko, as its model, is famous for the love story between the artist and his model, who was suffering from tuberculosis. Toshiko's intense gaze, sharp, thick eyebrows, and the vibrant redness of her cheeks are striking, creating a work with a certain contemporary appeal. Other famous works on display include Kotaro Takamura's "Self-Portrait" and Goro Tsuruta's "Blind Eroshenko," making for a compact yet highly engaging exhibition. Shinjuku was once home to many corporate art museums. We look forward to seeing the museum's future as a new art salon in Shinjuku.


[Event Information]
Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art Opening Special Exhibition "Nakamuraya Salon - Born Here, Born From Here"
Venue: Nakamuraya Salon Museum of Art
Address: Shinjuku Nakamuraya Building 3F, 3-26-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Dates: October 29, 2014 to February 15, 2015
Hours: 10:30 to 19:00
Closed: Tuesdays, January 1st (open if Tuesday is a public holiday, closed the following day)
Admission Fee: 300 yen