This museum was built on the site of the former residence of the master of modern Japanese painting, Kaburaki Kiyokata, in Yukinoshita, Kamakura, where he passed away. The Japanese-style building stands out in a quiet residential area of the ancient capital, Kamakura.
Kaburagi Kiyokata was born in Kanda, Tokyo, in 1878. He grew up surrounded by literature from a young age and began his career as an illustrator. He later turned to hand-painted paintings, depicting pure and elegant women, vibrant scenes of everyday life, portraits, and literary works by Higuchi Ichiyo and Izumi Kyoka, both of which he loved. His works convey a sense of empathy and compassion for ordinary people. His connection to Kamakura dates back to 1946, when he settled in Zaimokuza. In 1954, the year he received the Order of Culture, he established his studio here in Yukinoshita, where he lived until his death in 1972 at the age of 93. In his later years, Kiyokata described his state of mind as "playing with the ethos of the common people," and he created many works depicting the lives of ordinary people. He left behind a wealth of Japanese paintings brimming with emotion, as well as essays written in an elegant style.
In 1994, his family donated his artworks, documents, land, and buildings to the city of Kamakura with the intention of passing on his artistic work and creative space to future generations. In response to this, the museum opened as a memorial in April 1998. We hope that visitors will enjoy a relaxing time while remembering Seikata's art and life.
