Shiko Munakata's Career-A Summary
Ÿ The early years`
Born in Aomori City on September 5th 1903, Shiko was the third son of a black-
smith, Kokichi, and his wife Sada. Shiko entered Nagashima Elementary School in
April of 1910. By about the third grade he began to develop an interest in kite art and
drew kite pictures for his classmates. On one occasion in sixth grade while running
to see an airplane make a crash landing in a rice field, he happened to fall at the edge
of a brook. Right in front of him was a white blossom of "Omodaka" and he was struck
by its beauty.
After finishing elementary school Shiko joined his elder brother at their father's
blacksmith business. At the age of 17 he was employed by the city court and took
advantage of his new schedule to visit Gappo Park in the early morning and practise
sketching. It was around this time, also, that he was deeply impressed by a reproduc-
tion of Van Gogh's gSunflowersh, given to him by his teacher, Tadaaki Ono.
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Ÿ Tokyo and his art studies`
In 1924, at the age of 21, Shiko made up his mind and went to Tokyo. While
scratching a living by repairing shoes and selling "natto", he continued to study art. In
October 1928, after five years in Tokyo, he had his first picture, an oil painting called
gZatsuenhaccepted for the 9th Imperial Exhibition.
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Ÿ A change of direction-the woodblock print`
Shiko's interest in woodblock print art began even before his oil painting gZatsuenh
was accepted for the exhibition. Moved by Sumio Kawakami's gHatsunatsu no
kazeh,Shiko began his studies of the medium by visiting Un'ichi Hiratuka, who had
been introduced to him by Kihachiro Shimozawa, a friend from Shiko's hometown.
In 1929, four of Shiko's woodblock works were accepted for the Shunyokai
Exhibition and in the following year all four pieces he submitted were accepted for
the Kokugakai Exhibition. This convinced Shiko to focus on woodblock print art.
In April 1936, his woodblock series gYamato-shi Uruwashihwas displayed in the
Kokugakai Exhibition and subsequently purchased by the Japan Folk Art Museum,
which earned Shiko the acknowedgement of Muneyoshi Yanagi,Kanjiro Kawai and
Shoji Hamada.
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Ÿ International acclaim comes to Shiko Munakata`
In April 1952, Shiko's work was awarded a special prize for excellence at the 2nd
International Woodblock Print Exhibition held in Lugano, Switzerland. Entering
works such as gShaka Judai DeshihShiko took the top prize in July 1955 in San Paulo
Biennial. The following June he received the International Woodblock Print Award
at the Venice Biennial for works like gRyuryoku Kakoshoh,thus firmly establishing
himself as a world class artist.
Traveling overseas in 1959, Shiko lectured at various American universities. While
in Europe he visited Van Gogh's grave.
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Ÿ The artist and his hometown`
Shiko Munakata felt an unusually strong love for his hometown. His heart was
captured not only by the kite art and nebuta paintings,but also by the scenery and
customs of the area. He offered the following words of encouragement to local
youngsters,gSet your sights pure and high and step out into the wide world of your
dreams and hopesh. These words are engraved on a stone monument in Gappo park.
On February 17th 1969, Shiko Munakata was named the first Honorary Citizen by
the City of Aomori and in November of the following year was the first person from
Aomori Prefecture to receive the Order of Cultural Merits from the national government.
On September 13th 1975, at the age of 72, Shiko Munakata passed away in Tokyo.
His grave, known as gSeiminhi,his located in Aomori's Sannai Cemetery and is
fashioned after Van Gogh's.
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Ÿ The wide range of his endeavors`
In addition to his woodblock prints, Shiko left many masterpieces of painting,
calligraphy, poetry and the like. He also authored a number of books, such as
gMunakata Shiko Hanga Taisakuh,gBangokudohand gWadaba Gohho ni naruhD


Prize Record

1930 Hakujitsu prize : "Hakujitsu-kai" Japanese art club
1932 Shougaku prize : "Kokuga-kai" Japanese art club
1941 Saburi prize : "Kokuga-kai" Japanese art club
1946 Okada prize at the Japan art exhibition
1952 Prize for excellence : Mostra Internationale di Biancoe Nero Lugano
1955 Grand Prix San Paulo Biennale
1956 Grand Prix Biennale Venezia
1965 Asahi Cultural Award
1970 Mainichi Art Award
Order of Cultural Merits


Museum

english_p3.jpg
@Work commenced on the Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art in September 1974, and the building was completed in August of the following year.The Museum opened its doors to the public in November 1975 to commemorate Aomori-born woodblock print artist Shiko Munakata's being awarded the Cultural Medal(1970).The museum hopes to keep alive his works for future generations and at the same time make a useful contribution to the arts in Aomori.To this end prefectural and municipal authorities as well as many others were generous in their assistance.
@The museum itself, located in the heart of Aomori city, is a two storey building utilizing steel-reinforced concrete.The architecture is of the"Azekura"style, populary adopted in the construction of temples, public treasuries and storehouses from the Nara Period until the beginning of the Heian Period. Infront of the hall entrance there is an elegant garden, the beauty of which attracts visitors in every season as well as Munakata's unique world does.


Infomation
¦Museum Hours: 9:30a.m.`17:00p.m.
iNebuta festival period,from August 2nd to 7th 9:00a.m.`j
¦Closed:
œEvery Monday
If a national holiday falls on Monday, we will be open
Admission Fee
Adults 500(400)yen
College Students 300(200)yen
High School Students 200(100)yen
Elementary & Junior High School Students Admission free
¦Fees in parentheses are group charges for over 20 people in a party.
Transportation to the Museum
Taxi: About 15 minutes from Aomori Train Station
Show the map to the driver.
Bus: From Aomori Train Station, take a bus at Gate 2 for Yokouchi-Kanjo¨Aomori-Eki, Sakuragawa-Danchi, Naka Tsutsui, Koubata-Danchi,Ryutsu-Danchi, etc. to the Munakata Shiko Kinenkan Dori.
Follow the map.(about 4 minutes on foot).


MUNAKATA SHIKO MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF ART

Map

1.Aomori Train Station
2.Aomori Prefectural Center for Industry and Tourism"ASPAM"
3.Aomori Prefectural Capitol Building
4.Aomori City Office Building
5.Tsutsumi Bridge
6.Munakata Shiko Kinenkan Dori Bus Stop
7.Aomori Chuo Community Center
8.Aomori Central Post Office
9.Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art
10.Park


MUNAKATA SHIKO MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF ART
2-1-2 Matsubara,Aomori City,Japan 030-0813
TelephoneF017-777-4567@FacsimileF017-734-5611
E-MailFshikokan@dream.ocn.ne.jp


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