History and Background of the Fujita Museum
The Founder and His Collection
The museum’s collection is centered on the works collected by Fujita Denzaburo (1841–1912), a prominent businessman and baron of the Meiji era, together with members of his family.
Denzaburo was one of the leading figures in the Kansai business world. He founded the Fujita Group and, after accumulating a considerable fortune through his business activities during the Satsuma Rebellion, devoted himself enthusiastically to collecting antiques and works of art.
During the turmoil following World War II, the collection was temporarily seized as collateral by the Bank of Japan. Thanks to the efforts of Eiichi Ogawa, an executive of Fujita Mining, the collection was protected from being dispersed.
The museum was established as a foundation in 1951 and officially opened as a museum in May 1954. In 2013, it became a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.
Renovation and Reopening
For many years, the Fujita Museum faced limitations in its exhibition space. Full reconstruction began in 2017, and the museum reopened as a new facility on April 1, 2022.
The new building incorporates materials from the former museum, including warehouse doors and timber, while its air-conditioning and earthquake-resistant systems were significantly improved.
These upgrades allow the museum to remain open throughout the year without closing for exhibition changes, except during the year-end and New Year period from December 29 to January 5.
Fujita Residence Site Park and Its Garden
The Former Fujita Residence and Its Garden
The Fujita Museum stands on the former site of the Fujita family’s main residence, known as Amijima Goten.
The residence was constructed in the late Meiji period under the direction of master carpenter Imai Heihachi and was regarded as one of the largest traditional Japanese residences in the Kansai region.
More than 30 tea rooms were located within the estate, reflecting the wealth and refined cultural interests of the Fujita family.
Much of the residence was destroyed in the 1945 Osaka air raids. Today, only parts of the former estate, including Taiko-en and Yodogawa-tei and several gates, remain.
The garden at the former residence was neglected for many years after the war. It was later restored during construction of the JR Tozai Line and is now open to the public as Fujita Residence Site Park.
Features of the Park
Fujita Residence Site Park features attractive landscapes incorporating the natural terrain, including a garden with a waterfall.
Unlike the neighboring Sakuranomiya Park, the park is closed in the evening and cannot be entered at night.
The wall that once separated the park and museum has also been removed, allowing visitors to move freely between the two areas.
Highlights of the Collection and Designated Cultural Properties
The museum’s collection spans a remarkable range of East Asian art, including Buddhist art, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, traditional crafts, classical calligraphy, and archaeological materials.
Among these works are numerous pieces designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.
National Treasures
The Illustrated Diary of Lady Murasaki is a precious illustrated handscroll from the Heian period based on the writings of Murasaki Shikibu.
Mandala of the Two Realms is a religious painting from the Heian period. It originally came from Uchiyama Eikyuji Temple, a temple that no longer exists in Tenri, Nara Prefecture. Records indicate that the work was created in 1136.
Illustrated Biography of Xuanzang is a complete set of 12 illustrated handscrolls attributed to the artist Takashina Takakane.
Shibamon Shingetsuzu combines ink painting with poetry, creating an integrated work of visual art and literature.
Yohen Tenmoku Tea Bowl is an exceptionally rare ceramic vessel, with only a few examples of this type surviving anywhere in the world.
Urushi Lacquer Sutra Box with Buddhist Merit Motif is a masterpiece of refined Japanese lacquer craftsmanship.
Hanacho Maki-e Kyosoku
Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, also known as the Uoyou and Yakushiji Sutras, comprising 387 volumes
Shinsō Hikishō (One Hundred and One Poems), one volume
Important Cultural Properties
The museum also houses numerous Important Cultural Properties, including Buddhist paintings and works associated with Buddhist manifestations of Shinto deities.
Fifty-Five Sacred Places of the Kegon World, two silk paintings with colors
Sixteen Arhats, 16 hanging scrolls painted by Takuma Eiga
Kasuga Myojin Appearing, a colored silk painting
Sculpture
One particularly notable work is the Standing Wooden Statue of Jizo Bodhisattva, attributed to the renowned Buddhist sculptor Kaikei.
The delicate carving and refined details of the statue demonstrate the exceptional craftsmanship of Japanese Buddhist sculpture.
Ceramics
The museum’s ceramic collection includes works such as the Chrysanthemum Tenmoku Tea Bowl, the Katatsuki Tea Caddy “Zaichuan-an” from Seto, and the Flower Vase with Handles “Jurōjin” from Iga.
Other Notable Collections
The museum also houses works from several other fields.
Metalwork: Including a Buddhist scripture box decorated with gilt bronze lions and floral motifs.
Textiles: Including an embroidered hanging scroll depicting Shakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha.
Classical calligraphy: Including the Kumano Kaishi poetry sheets and fragments of the Kokin Wakashu.
Archaeological materials: Including wheel-shaped objects made of jasper and clay pillows.
Connection with “The Love Suicides at Amijima”
The site of the former Fujita residence was once occupied by Daichoji Temple. The temple is famous as the setting for the double suicide of Koharu and Jihei in “The Love Suicides at Amijima”, a puppet play by the renowned playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon.
Daichoji Temple was later relocated to Nakanocho 2-chome in Miyakojima Ward, and the memorial monument dedicated to Koharu and Jihei was moved there as well.
As a result, the historical setting of the story corresponds to the present-day grounds of the Fujita Museum and Fujita Residence Site Park.
About “The Love Suicides at Amijima”
“The Love Suicides at Amijima” was first performed at the Takemoto-za theater in 1720, during the Kyoho era. Written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, it is a three-act sewamono, a genre of puppet theater depicting the lives and conflicts of ordinary people.
The work portrays the conflict between love and social obligations and is regarded as a classic of Japanese literature and traditional theater.
Story Overview
Jihei, a paper merchant with a wife named Osan and two children, falls in love with Koharu, a courtesan.
Unable to break away from their relationship, the two eventually decide to die together. After facing a series of difficulties, they ultimately end their lives at Daichoji Temple, leaving the world behind.
Access
By Train
Osaka Castle-Kitazume Station on the JR Tozai Line
Kyobashi Station on the Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line
By Bus
Get off at the Katamachi bus stop. From Temmabashi Station, take Osaka City Bus routes 28, 31, or 46 for approximately 4 minutes.
By Car
The nearest expressway access is the Minamimorimachi Exit of the Hanshin Expressway Route 12 Moriguchi Line.
Nearby Attractions
Sakuranomiya Park
Osaka City Guest House
Mint Museum
A Museum Where Art, History, and Nature Meet
Fujita Museum preserves the rich cultural legacy of the Fujita family while offering visitors the opportunity to encounter outstanding examples of East Asian art.
Following its major renovation, the museum provides a more comfortable environment for displaying its extensive collection and has become a more accessible cultural destination for visitors of different generations.
The connection with Fujita Residence Site Park is another distinctive feature, allowing visitors to combine an appreciation of fine art with a stroll through a historic Japanese garden.
For travelers exploring Osaka, a visit to the Fujita Museum offers an opportunity to discover the depth of Japanese history, East Asian art, traditional culture, and the cultural heritage of the Fujita family.