REPORT

The “Autumn Exhibition” opened at the Azumino Chihiro Art Museum on 9/11 (Fri.), and is scheduled to run through 12/15 (Tue.). At 1:45 p.m. on opening day, visitors gathered to hear a talk on the “Chihiro Iwasaki and Fumiko Hori” exhibition. Using works projected on screen, the speakers explored the historical context in which they were created and shared stories connected with the artists, while the audience listened intently. (Pictured front right: Takeshi Matsumoto, Chihiro Iwasaki’s eldest son and founder of the Chihiro Art Museum.)
[Azumino Chihiro Art Museum・Multipurpose Gallery]

The Chihiro Art Museum is headed by Director Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, with film director Yoji Yamada serving as Chairman of the Board. At 3 p.m., a curator led a 20-minute Gallery Talk. (※Also scheduled for 9/19, 10/17, and 11/21). Of the museum’s five exhibition rooms, Rooms 3 to 5 featured “Suekichi Akaba’s Journey Around Japan,” where visitors could learn more about Akaba himself and the stories behind his work while viewing the illustrations on display (pictured).
[Azumino Chihiro Art Museum・Exhibition Rooms 3 to 5]

Exhibition Room 1 (pictured) featured a large selection of works under the title, “Chihiro Iwasaki and Fumiko Hori: The World of Children’s Illustration.” Fumiko Hori, who was the same age as Chihiro Iwasaki, was a Japanese-style painter who lived through the turbulent Showa era and made an important contribution to the development of children’s publishing in postwar Japan. Along with viewing the original artwork, visitors could pick up and read the actual picture books displayed in front of the exhibition.
[Azumino Chihiro Art Museum・Exhibition Room 1]

The museum also has a separate Picture Book Room where visitors are free to browse a collection of picture books. In Exhibition Room 3, “A Journey by Boat, Rocking on the Waves” showcased boats of all shapes, sizes, and designs as imagined by picture-book artists. After making my way through the exhibitions, I took a leisurely walk through the expansive Azumino Chihiro Park surrounding the museum.
[Azumino Chihiro Art Museum・Exhibition Room 1]

　
*Both the Opening Talk and Gallery Talk are free to attend. Museum admission is required separately.
*The Azumino Chihiro Art Museum will close for the season after 12/15 (Tue.) and remain closed through 2/28 (Sun.).
　　
Azumino Chihiro Art Museum
*Location … 3358-24 Nishihara , Matsukawa Village, Nagano Prefecture
*Open period … Mar. 1 (Sun.) – Dec. 15 (Tue.), 2026
*Opening Hours … 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Apl. 25 – May 6 and Jul. 18 – Aug. 31 are 9:00 a.m. open)
*Closed … The 2nd and 4th Wednesday
*Fee … Adlut JPY1200, Free for those 18 and under and high school students and younger
* Parking … Free
　
[Azumino Chihiro Park]
*Location … 3358-97 Nishihara , Matsukawa Village, Nagano Prefecture
*Open period … Year round
*Opening Hours … The Experience and Exchange Center is open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. from March through November, and from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. from Dec. through Feb.; Totto-chan Plaza is closed from Dec. 16 through Feb. 28
*Closed … Every Wednesday (open on national holidays and from July 20 through August 31) and during the year-end and New Year holidays
* Admission and Parking … Free
　
*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi