Special Exhibition in Commemoration of
the Donation of the Katsuya Sword-Fitting Collection:
The Definitive Introduction to the World of Sword Fittings
5th October - 1st December , 2019
*Closed on Tuesdays.
Overview of the exhibition
Katsuya Shunichi (1895–1980) was a renowned collector and researcher of sword fittings during the Showa era. While his collection was distributed among his heirs after his death, Katsuya Hiroo (1938–), Katsuya Shunichi’s second son who lives in Osaka Prefecture, donated all 927 sword fittings that he had inherited to the Osaka Museum of History in 2018.
Though the donated items account for only about 50% of the sword fittings Katsuya Shunichi collected for his research, they provide valuable insights into his approach to research on sword fittings.
Katsuya Shunichi used to show his collection to novice students who visited his home and encouraged them to develop an appreciation for sword fittings. Sakai Toshimasa, a distinguished metalsmith in Osaka, is one of Katsuya Shunichi’s students as explained below. This exhibition introduces the fascinating world of sword fittings to people with little knowledge about them, following in the footsteps of Katsuya Shunichi who trained many sword-fitting experts and artisans.
Concurrently with this exhibition, the museum will hold two mini-exhibitions: the Exhibition of Watanabe Masanori’s Netsuke Collection in Commemoration of Its Donation, showcasing for the first time the netsuke collection donated by Watanabe Masanori, former President of the Japan Netsuke Society; and the Exhibition of Sakai Toshimasa’s Sword Fitting Collection, which focuses on sword fittings created by Sakai Toshimasa (1923–2014), a metalsmith designated as a holder of intangible cultural property by the Osaka Municipal Government who was acquainted with Katsuya Shunichi.
| Special Exhibition in Commemoration of the Donation of the Katsuya Sword-Fitting Collection: The Definitive Introduction to the World of Sword Fittings |
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| Organizers | Osaka Museum of History | ||||||||||||
| Exhibition period | 5th October - 1st December , 2019 *Closed on Tuesdays. |
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| Hours | 09:30-17:00 (Fridays during the exhibition period 09:30-20:00) *Please enter 30 minutes prior to closing. |
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| Venue | Special Exhibition Hall on the 6th floor, Osaka Museum of History access | ||||||||||||
| Admission fees |
*The fees in brackets indicate prices for those in groups of 20 people or more. *Admission is free for junior high school-aged and younger children; citizens of Osaka aged 65 years and older (a document certifying citizenship and age should be presented); and individuals with a disability certificate (plus one accompanying person). |
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| Number of exhibits | Approx. 200 | ||||||||||||