Museum Overview

Studio

The ASAKURA Museum of Sculpture was formerly ASAKURA Fumio's studio and residence. He graduated from Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1907 at the age of 24 and set up his studio and residence here in Yanaka, Taito City, in Tokyo. It was small in the beginning, but was later expanded and structurally altered a number of times. ASAKURA designed the structure himself, and his obsession with it can be seen in his attention to details.
ASAKURA named it the ASAKURA Private School and trained his pupils there. His residence, school, and studio were integrated in what was to become this museum. He passed away in 1964, and in 1967 his family, honoring his wishes, opened the building to the public as the ASAKURA Museum of Sculpture.
Later, in 1986, its management was transferred to Taito City, Tokyo Metropolis, and it became the ASAKURA Museum of Sculpture, Taito.　
In 2001 the building was registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property, and in 2008 the courtyard and rooftop garden received recognition as a National Site of Scenic Beauty to be known as “the former ASAKURA Fumio Garden.”

Courtyard

About ASAKURA Fumio

ASAKURA Fumio(1883～1964)

ASAKURA Fumio was born in 1883 in Ikeda village, Ono County, Oita Prefecture (the present Bungo Ono City). At the age of 19, he moved to Tokyo where his brother WATANABE Osao was working as a sculptor. This was his first encounter with sculpture. The following year, he entered Tokyo School of Fine Arts (the present Tokyo University of the Arts). After graduating in 1907, he embarked on a career as a sculptor. He repeatedly received awards in the annual art exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education (Bunten exhibition) and became established as a sculptor. He pursued realism with superb skill, and created Grave keeper many excellent masterpieces representative of his talent. ASAKURA was also active as a teacher and was the leading sculptor in Japan.
In 1948 he became the first sculptor to receive the Order of Cultural Merit . He passed away in 1964.