The 35th Annual Exhibition of New Acquisitions: Fukuoka's history and its people's lives

Period: November 7th (Tue.), 2023 - January 28th(Sun.), 2024
Venue: Feature Exhibition Room 1 - 4
Opening Hours: 9:30am - 5:30pm (last admission: 5:00pm)
Closed: Mondays, December 28th (Thu.), 2023 - January 4th (Thu), 2024

Charge:

 ・Adults: 200yen

 ・High school and University students: 150yen

　(No charge for Junior High School Students and younger)

Entrance to the exhibition

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Fukuoka City Museum's collection, which began in 1983, seven years before the museum opened. The museum has collected more than 190,000 items in the fields of archaeology, history, folklore, and art through donations, loans and purchases.

In order to ensure that this precious collection is passed on to future generations properly, and that it is effectively used for exhibitions and study, the museum researches and organizes all newly acquired objects and annually publishes a list of them in the "Collection Catalog." The museum also holds the “Annual Exhibition of New Acquisitions” to provide an opportunity to learn about how the museum's collection is procured and effectively utilized.

This year, the 35th edition of this series displays approximately 100 selected items from the 3,647 items collected in FY 2020.

Exhibits are presented in four chapters:

  1. Pre-Modern Fukuoka

  2. Memories of Modern Fukuoka

  3. The World of Festivals and Rituals

  4. The Work of Painters and Craftsmen

A wide range of items is displayed that represents Fukuoka's history and lifestyle. These include: ancient artifacts; documents and hanging scrolls related to the Fukuoka domain in the Edo period (1603-1868); photographs showing everyday life in the Showa period (1926-1989); tools used in traditional festivals and rituals; and paintings and crafts associated with Fukuoka and Hakata.

Lastly, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have provided valuable items for this exhibition. We hope that it will stimulate visitors' interest in the history of Fukuoka and the daily lives of its people.

1. Pre-Modern Fukuoka

Copper bowls (9th-12th century) 
These two nested copper bowls were found at Hakozaki (Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City). It is extremely rare for items to be excavated in a near-perfect condition. They were probably placed there during a burial ritual.

Manual illustrating the secret art of conch blowing by the Kiyomasa school　(1859)
In the Edo period, the trumpet shell was a tool used by warlords to command their armies. This scroll contains the names of the various parts of the conch and numerous pictures showing how to blow it.

2. Memories of Modern Fukuoka

Copper coin called “Bunkyu-Eiho” (1863-1867) 
The Bunkyu Eiho coin issued by the shogunate at the end of the Edo period.

Charcoal stove (19th-20th centuries) 

Charcoal stove, called Hakata shichirin, one of the products of "Hakata unglazed pottery" made in Kawaramachi town (present-day Hakata) and other areas since the late Edo period. It was salvaged from the seabed off the coast of Nishiura (Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City).

3. The World of Festivals and Rituals

Tools for Taniguchi Kagura (a performance of sacred music and dancing) (20th century)

Masks used in Taniguchi Kagura, in the Wakiyama and Taniguchi areas (Sagara-Ward, Fukuoka City). This kagura ceased to exist around 1968.

Decorations for betrothal gifts in Fukuoka (2004)
A traditional betrothal gift to a woman by a man during the rites of engagement.
A unique feature of Fukuoka's gift is that it includes tea.

4. The Work of Painters and Craftsmen

Large lantern painting titled "Battle of Kawanakajima" (20th century)

This lantern painting was used in the summer festival "Oshioitori" at Imajuku Uemachi Tenmangu Shrine (Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City) until around 1960. The artist is thought to be Shiramizu Koun.

Kimono made in Hakata-shibori (tie-dye)

This kimono is made of tie-dyed fabric produced by Hakata Shibori Manufacturing Co. The dyeing technique results in the dyed form resembling a spider's web, and another in which the coloring is reminiscent of willow leaves.