Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) is pleased to announce that the upcoming Marubeni Gallery exhibition Kosode Reproduced from a Fabric Fragment with an Ink Inscription: “Order Received from Fushimi-dono” will be held from January 23 to February 22, 2024. 

This exhibition features a kosode (short-sleeved kimono) fabric fragment produced during the Momoyama period (1573–1615 CE) in the tsujigahana style —a highly rare artifact belonging to the Marubeni Collection—and a faithful reproduction of the kosode from which it came. The project to create this reproduction was carried out over more than three years, from July 1996 to December 1999, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Marubeni Corporation. Insofar as possible, Momoyama techniques were used for all steps of the reproduction process, from raising silkworms to spinning yarns, weaving by hand, steaming the fabric, sketching the design, stitching, binding, dyeing, and finishing. The fabric fragment on which the reproduction is based is particularly historically significant given the presence of the ink inscription upon it, which reads, “Order Received from Fushimi-dono.” The exhibition clarifies the background behind the inscription, positioning it within the context of the custom-made kimono production process of the Momoyama period, while also displaying other sample fragments of Momoyama-period tsujigahana textile to introduce this traditional technique more fully.

As with the previous exhibition, The Tale of Genji—The Beauty of a Court Lady’s Attire, Reborn (December 1 to 28, 2023), this exhibition is the result of the combined efforts and contributions of leading experts and first-rate artisans, and ultimately aims to share verified new discoveries and traditional artisanal techniques with the wider public, thus conveying these significant contributions to scholarship as well as ancient techniques to future generations.

Exhibition Details:

Dates:	Tuesday, January 23 to Thursday, February 22, 2024
Hours:	10 am to 5 pm (Last admission: 4:30 pm)
Closed:	Sundays and public holidays
Admission:	General admission: 500 yen All proceeds from general admission sales will be donated to the Marubeni Foundation. Note 1: The Marubeni Gallery is only able to accept cashless payments (such as transportation IC cards, credit cards, and QR code payments).  Note 2: Admission is free for the following groups. ・ Children under 18 and 18/19-year-old senior high school students (with student ID) ・ Visitors with an official disability certificate, plus one accompanying caregiver ・ Visitors wearing a kimono, yukata, or other traditional Japanese attire
Organizers:	Marubeni Gallery

About the Marubeni Gallery:
Designed under the concept of “a space where the aesthetics of the East and West in ancient and modern times resonate with each other,” the Marubeni Gallery is a facility where Marubeni’s art collection is on display to the public. Marubeni’s art collection consists of the three main categories: textiles, designs for textiles, and paintings. Since its founding in 1858, Marubeni has pursued the aesthetic beauty of Japan through its textile business. This resulted in the collection and preservation of ancient textile products (such as kimono, obi, and silk gift-wrapping cloth) and designs primarily from the 17th to mid-19th centuries—the first and second pillars of the collection. Gaining contacts in the art world through this pursuit of textile designs, Marubeni also acquired modern Japanese paintings through art dealers or from the artists themselves. Later, in the 1960s and 70s, Marubeni expanded into the international art business, acquiring Western paintings as well. Together, these Japanese and Western paintings form the third pillar of the collection. Today, the Marubeni Gallery features rotating exhibitions to share this collection, the history of Marubeni, and the aesthetic beauty of both East and West with the public.

Official Website: https://www.marubeni.com/gallery/en/
Official Instagram: https://instagram.com/marubeni_gallery_official

Future Exhibit (Tentative Title/Details): 
“Wafrica”: In Search of a Third Aesthetic (May 8 to June 8, 2024)