KOMURA Settai Dreaming of Edo - Exhibition at Shiseido Art House

Also featuring: Kogei wo Warera ni Selection 2026 - Beautiful Living with the Four Seasons

Shiseido Art House is hosting an exhibition of works by Komura Settai (1887-1940), an artist who flourished from the Taisho period to the early Showa era.

Settai graduated from the Japanese Painting Department at Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) and worked in various fields before gaining recognition for his book design of "Nihonbashi" by Kyoka Izumi in 1914. From 1918 to 1923, he was part of Shiseido's Design Department, where he handled Japanese-style designs in contrast to the Western styles that dominated the department. Even after leaving, his legacy continues at the company through the "Shiseido Typeface" and the foundation of Shiseido's Japanese logo, which are still in use today.

As a leading figure in multiple fields including Japanese painting, illustration, book design, stage design, and film consultation, Settai's most prolific work was in illustrations. He excelled at depicting Edo-period settings, establishing an elegant monochrome world filled with refined dignity and lyricism.

The exhibition features over 140 pieces, including original illustrations, stage design sketches, prints, bound books, and works from his time at Shiseido. Through these pieces, visitors can experience Settai's world, where he recreated the beautiful customs and atmosphere of the long-past Edo period with poetic brushwork.

Also on display is "Kogei wo Warera ni Selection 2026 - Beautiful Living with the Four Seasons," a curated exhibition featuring works from the "Kogei wo Warera ni" series held at the museum from 2015 to 2023. This concurrent exhibition presents the Art House's collection of craft items and various tools, recreating annual events and seasonal displays from New Year to New Year's Eve, while proposing new ways to use and enjoy crafts in daily life.

The museum hopes this exhibition, condensing its diverse collection, will bring "the joy of seeing" to various visitors.

Exhibition Information

Exhibition Title: KOMURA Settai Dreaming of Edo
Kogei wo Warera ni Selection 2026 - Beautiful Living with the Four Seasons

Period: March 12, 2026 to June 27, 2026 (Free admission)

Closed: Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays (including public holidays)

Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM)

Venue: Shiseido Art House
751-1 Shimomata, Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture 436-0025 (TEL: 0537-23-6122)

Notes:

A partial exhibition change for "KOMURA Settai Dreaming of Edo" will occur in early May
Some scheduled works may not be viewable due to condition or other reasons
Shiseido Art House will close permanently on June 27, 2026