[Art spots in Ashikaga and Ota]

(Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture and Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, formerly Shimotsuke and Ueno) Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) and Nitta Yoshisada (1301-1338), known as the main players in the conflicts of the Northern and Southern Courts period, were both samurai descended from the Minamoto clan, and their main territories were close to each other across the Watarase River. Of the two clans' main territories, which are now Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, and Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, Ashikaga City became a tourist and cultural city symbolized by the Ashikaga School and textile industry, while Ota City became an industrial city with the automobile manufacturer "SUBARU" (its predecessor, Nakajima Aircraft Company, was founded by Nakajima Chikuhei, who was born in Ota City). Both Ashikaga and Ota have art spots that can be the reason for visiting the city, as they have developed by making use of their respective histories and characteristics. ① Kurita Museum (Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, photos 2-5) Hideo Kurita (1912-1996), who was born into a merchant family in Ashikaga and enjoyed great influence as a businessman and politician, was fascinated by a small Imari ware (Imari is the name of a place in Saga Prefecture today. The name was given because porcelain fired in Arita, Saga Prefecture, was shipped from the port of Imari) that he came across by chance in his youth at an antique shop. Since then, he has poured his rare passion into collecting masterpieces from all over the world, past and present, alongside his main job. The number of pieces reaches 10,000, and the collection, which is limited to Imari ware and Nabeshima ware (Nabeshima ware, porcelain fired in a kiln directly operated by the Nabeshima family of the Saga domain. Known as a luxury gift item), is unprecedented in its content. In order to spread the appeal of these items, Kurita bought a 10,000m2 site in his hometown of Ashikaga and established a museum. The Kurita Museum of Art was born in a scenic location surrounded by azure mountains, with sharp architecture and gardens blending in. The museum is divided into several facilities, including the main building, history hall, and ceramics hall, and each is a calm space where the arrangement of the vessels and the intensity of the lighting have been thoroughly studied. In particular, Nabeshima ware, which is rarely seen elsewhere, has a beautiful harmony of elegance and delicacy in the patterns, and a rich texture that naturally exudes. No matter how small the vessel, you will be captivated by its worldview. Incidentally, in 1986, Freddie Mercury, the vocalist of the world-famous rock band "QUEEN," also visited the museum privately. It is said that he was deeply moved by the exhibits and requested to purchase the vessels. This fact fully conveys the timeless appeal of vessels, which once attracted the world's attention as an important export item for overseas trade. Access: About 10 minutes walk from Ashikaga Flower Park Station ② Ota City Museum of Art and Library (Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, Photos 1, 6-10) "Creative Ota people"--- These words, which Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, has set as the philosophy of the "Ota City Museum of Art and Library," show its pride in its history and future as a "town of manufacturing." Ota City, which has the third largest population in Gunma Prefecture after Takasaki City and Maebashi City, has formed a large industrial complex centered on the global automobile manufacturer "SUBARU" and its related companies, and boasts the highest shipment value of products in the northern Kanto region and one of the largest in the country. On the other hand, this industrial structure has created a "suburban" urban infrastructure, which has led to a serious decline in the central city area. The Ota City Museum of Art and Library has become a base to address this issue and contribute to the lives of local residents. The museum, which holds exhibitions focusing on contemporary art, and the library, which also has picture books and art books from around the world, are coexisting in one facility without any boundaries, appealing to the sensibilities of users from various angles. The interior, based on a deep textured white, is pleasantly stimulated by playful colors and shapes, and the sunlight that gently colors them is let in through the large glass windows that open up the exterior walls. The architectural design is sharp, yet has a spiral structure that "wraps" you in, and the rooftop, which is the end point, is a green space reminiscent of a "miniature garden." While enjoying the clear view swept away by the sharp wind, thinking back on the scene inside the building, you can feel that it is a "platform" that condenses the diverse lives of citizens, such as art appreciation, picture book readings, studying for tests, and coffee breaks. Access: About 1 minute walk from Ota Station Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★ (There are quite a few people, but it's a large place so it doesn't bother me) Visited: Around 2pm on the first Saturday of October #Kurita Museum of Art #Ota City Museum of Art #Ashikaga #Tochigi Prefecture #Tochigi trip #Tochigi sightseeing #Ota #Gunma trip #Gunma sightseeing #Museum of art #Art lover #Art tour #Life with art #Imari ware #Nabeshima ware #Life with pottery #Architecture lover #Architecture tour #Modern architecture #Famous architecture #Architectural design #Life with travel #Domestic travel