The Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum will host a summer special exhibition, "Battle Folding Screens: Tales of Valor in Paint" (合戦図屏風―語り描く武勇伝―), from Tuesday, July 14 through Sunday, September 6, 2026. The exhibition traces the turbulent flow of history — from the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute, in which Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu faced off directly, through the Korean invasion campaigns, the Battle of Sekigahara, and the Osaka Campaigns — through Sengoku-era battle-scene folding screens. In addition to information on how the screens were produced and the pigments used, a newly acquired "Battle of Sekigahara Folding Screen" will also go on display.
The exhibition is organized for a wide audience, from dedicated history enthusiasts to families visiting during summer vacation, with a visually accessible layout.
Exhibition Overview
Title: Summer Special Exhibition "Battle Folding Screens: Tales of Valor in Paint" (合戦図屏風―語り描く武勇伝―)
Dates: Tuesday, July 14 – Sunday, September 6, 2026 (closed on the museum's regular days off)
Venue: 2nd Floor Exhibition Room, Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum (894-55 Sekigahara, Sekigahara-cho, Fuwa-gun, Gifu Prefecture)
Main Exhibits:
- Ulsan Castle Battle Folding Screen (蔚山城合戦図屏風) — Collection of the Kyushu National Museum
- Battle of Komaki-Nagakute Folding Screen (小牧長久手合戦図屏風) — Collection of Okazaki City
- Battle of Sekigahara Folding Screen (関ヶ原合戦図屏風) — Museum collection [Newly discovered material]
Related Event: Lecture (Sekigahara Research Society Information Dissemination Project)
Topic: "What is Depicted in the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute Folding Screen"
Date & Time: Saturday, August 8, 1:30 PM–3:00 PM (Doors open at 1:00 PM)
Venue: 3rd Floor Seminar Room, Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum
Overview: The Battle of Nagakute, though a local engagement, was a landmark victory for Tokugawa Ieyasu over Hashiba Hideyoshi and was later commemorated as an important battle. This lecture examines the composition of folding screens related to the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute and the differences among multiple surviving versions, explaining key points for appreciation.
Capacity: 100 people (advance registration required, first-come-first-served)
Participation Fee: Free (admission to the museum is required separately)
Registration: Via the dedicated page on the museum's official website: https://sekigahara.pref.gifu.lg.jp/news/p8417/
Lecturer
Kenta Naiki — Deputy Director, Iwasaki Castle History Memorial Museum
Born in Shiga Prefecture in 1992. Graduated from Aichi University. Has worked as a curator at Iwasaki Castle History Memorial Museum since 2018. His area of specialization is the legends and lore of the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute. He has delivered numerous lectures, written serialized articles, appeared on and supervised programs, and provided research materials related to the battle. He serves as a Cultural Property Protection Committee member for Togo Town and as a lecturer for the Chunichi Culture Center. He holds the highest-level (Level 1) Japan Castle Certification.
Selected Publications:
- Ieyasu vs. Hideyoshi: Walking the Castle Ruins of the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute (Fubaisha)
- Sengoku Warrior Niwa Ujitsugu and Ujishige: The Story of Two Brothers Who Lived Through Turbulent Times (Fubaisha)
About the Sekigahara Research Society
This lecture is held as part of the "Sekigahara Research Society Information Dissemination Project." The Sekigahara Research Society promotes research related to Sekigahara and works to enhance the appeal of the Sekigahara Battlefield as a tourist destination.
- Founded: October 14, 2023
- President: Tetsuo Owada (Director, Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum)
- Members: Individuals with research achievements related to Sekigahara, including university professors, history researchers, and museum curators
About the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum
The museum features a Ground Vision floor screen that offers a panoramic view of the full scope of the Battle of Sekigahara, which drew in feudal lords from across the country; a Theater where wind, vibration, light, and sound combine for an immersive recreation of the clash between the eastern and western armies; displays from a collection of rare artifacts; and a 360-degree, all-glass observation deck on the top floor (5th floor) with views of dispersed camp sites — making it a hands-on facility where visitors can enjoy learning about the decisive Battle of Sekigahara.
Address: 894-55 Sekigahara, Sekigahara-cho, Fuwa-gun, Gifu Prefecture
Phone: 0584-47-6070
Website: https://sekigahara.pref.gifu.lg.jp/
Access: 10-minute walk from Sekigahara Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM)
Closed: Every Monday (if a public holiday, the following weekday); open every day August 10 (Monday) – August 16 (Sunday)
Admission:
- Adults: ¥500 (¥400 for groups of 20 or more)
- University/High School Students: ¥300 (¥240 for groups)
- Junior High School and Under: Free
