TAB Venue - Ota Memorial Museum of Art

Ota Memorial Museum of Art

Museum in The Omotesando, Aoyama area

Ukiyo-e emerged at the beginning of the Tokugawa era as a unique branch of the fine arts made by ordinary people and gradually developed from thereon. However, during the late years of the Tokugawa and the early years of the Meiji eras, so many masterpieces streamed out to the West that Japanese people began to feel that they could no longer see original Ukiyo-e paintings and prints unless they go to Europe or the United States of America.

The late Seizo Ota V deplored this state of affairs, and from the beginning of the Showa era, he devoted himself to collecting and preserving the Ukiyo-e which form this museum's collection, consisting of 12,000 pieces.

On the death of the owner, the bereaved family decided to carry out the wish of the deceased: to exhibit works not yet shown to the public, and ultimately to promote Japansese art.
The collection has a remarkable character, not only as a comprehensive historical archive of Ukiyo-e masterpieces of Ukiyo-e from all periods, but also as an archive that preserves the works in the best possible condition.

It was Mr. Ota's desire that showing of this collection could contribute to the cultivation of a deeper appreciation of culture, and it is the museum's sincere hope that visitors will come away enriched from the experience.