Exploring unique Museums Across Japan – this time, we visit the Nitori Museum of Art
A museum born in Otaru’s historic banking district
During the Meiji era through to the early Showa period, Otaru (小樽)’s banking district flourished as a hub of economic development, earning it the nickname ‘The Wall Street of the North.’ Even today, the area is packed with historic and architecturally significant buildings. It is in this very district that Otaru Art Base was established. Comprising three different facilities, one of its highlights is the Nitori Museum of Art, which was created by renovating the former Hokkaido Takushoku (拓殖) Bank Otaru Branch – a designated historical building of the city.
One of the most striking architectural features is the two-storey atrium, which preserves remnants of the building’s banking past. The second-floor gallery corridor was originally inspired by American bank architecture, designed as a security measure against robberies. Since the bank’s closure, the building has undergone multiple renovations, serving as a hotel and then as a museum before once again becoming a hotel. However, in its current transformation into the Nitori Museum of Art, the renovation respects the original design of the Takushoku Bank building. Elements from a previous redesign by renowned architect Nigel Coates – who incorporated a nautical theme into the hotel’s interior – remain intact, including floor tiles and a striking balcony staircase.
Kishida Ryusei (岸田劉生), Woman Standing on Black Soil, 1914. Collection of Otaru Art Base
The museum is operated by Nitori, one of Japan’s leading furniture and interior design companies. Nitori Akio (似鳥昭雄), the Hokkaido-born chairman of the company, developed a deep appreciation for art after being profoundly moved by paintings in his childhood. His passion led him to build a collection, which he wished to share with the public – thus, the museum was born.
Today, the museum houses approximately 300 works, displayed across a basement level and four above-ground floors. The core of the collection features works by artists who were active during Otaru’s golden age. One of the most significant highlights is ‘Woman Standing on Black Soil’ by Kishida Ryusei (岸田劉生) – a painting that had long been thought lost. After 51 years, the long-lost masterpiece was rediscovered and now resides at the Nitori Museum of Art. The depiction of a bare-chested farm woman radiates an incredible sense of vitality and life.
On the second floor, visitors can admire wooden sculptures created by Takamura Koun (高村光雲) and his disciples. Takamura Koun was known for incorporating realism into traditional wooden sculpture, and his influence is evident in the works displayed here. One particularly unmissable piece is The Bamboo Cutter by Koun’s disciple Yonehara Unkai (米原雲海), which vividly captures the very moment the old man discovers Princess Kaguya, his expression filled with joy and wonder.
The basement level houses around 160 masterpieces from leading Art Nouveau artists
In the basement, the Art Nouveau & Art Deco Glass Gallery features a mesmerising collection of vibrantly coloured lamps, famously known as the ‘Forest of Lamps.’ Many visitors find themselves pausing here, enchanted by the dreamlike ambience. Located just a short walk from the Otaru Canal, the Otaru Art Base is a newly established cultural landmark where visitors can enjoy a serene and immersive art experience. Why not take a moment to explore and appreciate its beauty?
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/rock/art-rock/1727/
