Last updated on 2026-04-29
My impressions of the “Katarium” exhibition at the Artizon Museum in Kyobashi, Tokyo, from February to April 2026.
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Table of contents
Exhibition Overview
- Katarium
- February 7, 2026 (Sat) – May 24, 2026 (Sun)
- Artizon Museum
- Admission fee: Included in “Claude Monet – Questions about Landscape”
What is Katarium.
The following is a quote from the description of the Artizon Museum.
Katarium is a word coined from katari, “speaking, telling a story,” and -arium, a suffix indicating a space. A place for storytelling, a Katarium, is the exhibition’s theme.
This exhibition consists of works from the Artizon collection, and photography is permitted with the exception of a few pieces.
The exhibition is structured as follows:
- Katarium 1: Before the Folding Screen
- Katarium 2: A Myth of a Certain Time
- Katarium 3: For a Single Line of Poem…
- Katarium 4: To Posterity
- Katarium 5: What Fragments Tell Us
My impression: “The spirit of collecting is felt in these fragments.”
This exhibition carefully unravels the stories conveyed through the works. Chapters three and five, in particular, piqued my interest.
Katarium 1: Before the Folding Screens
The exhibition features two folding screens: the “Scenes of Kyoto and Its Surroundings” and the “Edo Tenka Matsuri (Festival of the Edo World).” Depicting the two capitals of Kyoto and Tokyo, these screens reveal differences in customs and narratives.
Katarium 1: Artwork Exhibition Change Schedule
- February 7 [Sat] – April 2 [Thu]: “Scenes of Kyoto and Its Surroundings”
- April 3 [Fri] – May 24 [Sun]: “Edo Tenka Matsuri (Festival of the Edo World)”
Katarium 2: A Myth of a Certain Time
This exhibit features works by Shigeru Aoki, Shiko Imamura, and Miseki Kobayashi that interpret the stories embedded within them. All of the works are based on the Kojiki, or “Records of Ancient Matters.”
Katarium 3: For a Single Line of Poem…
The front and back covers, along with twenty-two framed prints from Ben Shahn’s “From Rilke’s ‘The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge’ For a Single Line of Poem…” are on display.
The original Rilke text and the Japanese translation of The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, translated by Miho Matsunaga (Kobunsha, 2014), are printed on the wall.
The sentences “they are experiences. For the sake of a single verse.” resonated most deeply.
Katarium 4: To Later Generations
The restored Heiji Monogatari Emaki (Illustrated Scroll of the Tale of the Heiji Rebellion), Tokiwa Scroll, is on display. Connect to the museum’s Wi-Fi to watch “The Heiji Monogatari Emaki (Illustrated Scroll of the Tale of the Heiji Rebellion): Tokiwa Scroll. As Told by Akira Yamaguchi.” Watching all seven videos takes approximately 30 minutes.
Katarium 5: What Fragments Tell Us
Fragments are displayed, presenting the story depicted in them and the story that remains. During my visit, the Heiji Monogatari Emaki (Illustrated Scroll of the Tale of the Heiji Rebellion), Ōhara Kassen Scroll Fragment was on display.
The original Heiji Monogatari Emaki (Illustrated Scroll of the Tale of the Heiji Rebellion) is believed to have been created in the Kamakura period (1300s). At some point, it became 14 fragments. Furthermore, records indicate that these fragments were divided among 14 people in the early Showa period, resulting in their current state.
Reasons for dividing the scroll into 14 fragments may include an attempt to create a scrapbook or the unintentional preservation of parts due to a disaster. Of course, I can’t be certain, but viewing these clippings as works of art reminds me of when I used to cut out magazine clippings to make scrapbooks. I’d like to think that these fourteen pieces were intentionally left as they are.
I’ve heard stories about people not having the funds to buy the entire original when the fragments were made. However, the act of separating them for individual ownership rather than joint ownership is still difficult for me to understand.
Katarium 5: Artwork Exhibition Change Schedule
- February 7th (Sat) – February 26th (Thu): Fragment of the Battle of Ōhara from the Heiji Monogatari Emaki (Illustrated Scroll of the Tale of the Heiji Rebellion)
- February 27th (Fri) – March 12th (Thu): Fragment of the Ise-shū (Collection of Ise Poems), Ishiyama-gire; Fragment of the Tsurayuki-shū (Collection of Tsurayuki Poems), Ishiyama-gire
- March 13th (Fri) – March 26th (Wed): Fragment of Volume 1 of the Kokin Wakashū (Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poems), Takano-gire
- March 27th (Fri) – April 23rd (Thu): Fragment of Bird-like Caricatures (Volume A)
- April 24th (Fri) – May 7th (Thu): Fragment of Zen-kizu (Zen Technique Picture), by Indara, inscribed by Chuseki Chuqi
- May 8th (Fri) – May 24th (Sun): Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji) Section
Reference links
- Artizon Museum
- Artizon Museum・KATARIUM
- Ben Shahn, “Print Collection <From Rilke’s ‘The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge’: For a Line of Poem…> 13. In a Quiet, Silent Room” by Shinichi Tomoi
寄付のお願い・Request for donations
Affiliate links
- Artizon Museum・Ads by Amazon
- Artizon Museum・Ads by Rakuten
- Akira Yamaguchi・Ads by Amazon
- Akira Yamaguchi・Ads by Rakuten
Photo Equipment
- SONY DSC-RX1
Update history
- 2026.4.28
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