The History and Founding of the Museum
From an early age, Takayuki Masaki had a strong interest in history and traditional Japanese culture. After building his fortune through successful business ventures, including the management of a construction company and movie theaters, he began to devote himself seriously to collecting art.
At first, Masaki collected works by leading Japanese painters. However, the circumstances of the postwar period changed the direction of his collecting activities. As wealthy merchants and former zaibatsu families increasingly sold artworks because of financial difficulties, Masaki began actively acquiring valuable examples of traditional East Asian art in an effort to preserve them.
The Masaki Museum Collection
The Masaki Museum currently houses approximately 1,300 works of art, including three National Treasures and 13 Important Cultural Properties.
Among the collection’s highlights are Three-Style Scroll of Bai Juyi’s Poems by Ono no Michikaze, Scroll of Bai Juyi’s Poems by Fujiwara no Kozei, and calligraphic works by Daito Kokushi. The museum also displays Zen calligraphy, ink paintings, and traditional tea ceremony utensils associated with Zen culture.
Major National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties
National Treasures
Three-Style Scroll of Bai Juyi’s Poems by Ono no Michikaze
Scroll of Bai Juyi’s Poems by Fujiwara no Kozei
Calligraphy of Daito Kokushi: “Keirin Ge” and “Nangaku Ge”
Important Cultural Properties
Six Patriarchs (Huineng) – Ink and light colors on paper, with an inscription by Mugaku Sogen
Plum Blossoms – Ink painting on paper, with an inscription by Zekkai Chushin
Landscape Painting (Lake and Mountains) – Ink painting on paper by Bunsei, with inscriptions by Ichijo Kaneyoshi and Zuikei Shuhō
Masaki Memorial Residence and Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Properties
To the west of the museum stands the Masaki Memorial Residence, which was registered as a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2014.
Main Building
Built in 1949, the main building is a wooden structure with an irimoya-style roof covered with traditional roof tiles. It has a building area of approximately 208 square meters, with an entrance at the front.
Inner Gate
Built in 1952, the inner gate is a traditional munamon-style gate with a cypress-bark roof. Its distinctive features include double-opening doors made with bamboo lattice screens.
Waiting Pavilion
Also built in 1952, this single-story wooden structure was designed as a waiting area and features earthen walls and traditional seating. It reflects the architectural atmosphere associated with the Japanese tea ceremony.
The Life and Art-Collecting Activities of Takayuki Masaki
Takayuki Masaki (1895–1985) was born in Ikegami, Izumi City. After graduating from the civil engineering department of Kansai Commercial and Industrial School, he worked in the railway industry and later became involved in managing movie theaters.
After being adopted into the Masaki family, to which he was distantly related, he became increasingly dedicated to collecting works of art. His interests came to focus particularly on Zen Buddhist calligraphy, ink paintings, and tea ceremony utensils.
His Collecting Interests and Notable Stories
Masaki had a particular interest in calligraphy and paintings associated with medieval Zen temple culture. He collected valuable artworks that had been passed down through generations of wealthy merchant families and former zaibatsu households.
One notable example is the National Treasure Three-Style Scroll of Bai Juyi’s Poems, which he acquired from the Konoike family after being introduced to the work by an antique dealer named Shozo Inoue.
An Episode from His Collecting Career
In 1951, Masaki happened to meet the antique dealer Inoue at a department store. Through this encounter, he was introduced to valuable artworks from the Konoike family, including works of National Treasure status.
Masaki reportedly negotiated repeatedly before successfully acquiring the Three-Style Scroll of Bai Juyi’s Poems by Ono no Michikaze along with other important works. This acquisition became an important step in his development as a major art collector.
Access
The Masaki Museum is approximately a 15-minute walk from Tadaoka Station on the Nankai Main Line.
Discover Zen Culture and Japanese Art
The Masaki Museum offers an opportunity to explore Zen temple culture and traditional Japanese and East Asian art through an exceptional private collection.
Its collection includes National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, providing visitors with a chance to appreciate works that also offer insight into Japan’s history, calligraphy, painting, and tea culture.
The Masaki Memorial Residence is also open to the public on weekends, allowing visitors to experience a historic Japanese residence alongside the museum’s collection. For travelers interested in traditional Japanese culture and historic artworks, the museum is a distinctive cultural destination in southern Osaka.