Special Exhibition Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Michiko Hirayama 'The road follows after' (Currently Held)
The Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum is holding a special exhibition, 'The road follows after', to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Michiko Hirayama. It introduces her creative journey and the Silk Road Buddhist statue collection.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 10:40 (8 min after Collected)
Michiko Hirayama creating a woodblock print (1970s)
The Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum is holding a special exhibition titled 'The road follows after' to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Michiko Hirayama, the wife of Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama.
Michiko Hirayama traveled with her husband across various parts of the Silk Road, supporting his research and artistic career, while also engaging in her own creative activities and art collection. She also left behind her experiences and thoughts in words through travel logs and essays.
This exhibition introduces the trajectory of Michiko Hirayama's creation, focusing not only on her paintings from her days at the Tokyo Fine Arts School (currently Tokyo University of the Arts) but also on the records and publications of her travels with her husband, as well as her works such as prints, metal carvings, and jewelry.
Exhibition Flow
■ Special Exhibition 'The road follows after' Exhibition Room 5
Student Days and the Trajectory of Creation: From Japanese Painting to Printmaking
Michiko Hirayama entered the Tokyo Fine Arts School in 1947 and studied Japanese painting alongside her classmate Ikuo Hirayama. While working on Japanese paintings during her studies, she eagerly explored a wide range of expressions, including creating booklets using printmaking techniques.
Michiko Hirayama 'Moth' 1976 Woodblock print on silk
Michiko Hirayama 'Arabesque' 1952 Woodblock print on silk
A picture book created in her early 20s while studying at the Tokyo Fine Arts School. You can also view the picture book through a video presentation.
To the Silk Road with Ikuo Hirayama
In 1955, Michiko married Ikuo Hirayama, and she chose to put down her Japanese painting brushes to support her husband's creative activities. With her dedicated support, Ikuo Hirayama presented numerous works themed around the Silk Road, achieving great success as a painter. She played a crucial role in supporting his creation, undertaking much of the research, preparation, and on-site recording on the Silk Road.
Meanwhile, Michiko herself continued her creative activities, engaging in diverse expressions such as printmaking using Japanese painting techniques, writing, and making accessories using ancient beads. This exhibition focuses on her aspect as a creator, introducing the charm of her expressions primarily through her Japanese paintings and print works.
Michiko Hirayama 'Bathing in the Ganges River' 1970 Woodblock print
Michiko Hirayama 'Myth of the Mountain (Azhdar, Afghanistan)' 1968 Woodblock print on silk
Necklaces made by combining ancient glass and glass beads gathered by her. They can also be purchased at the shop.
■ Special Exhibition 'Silk Road Buddhist Statues II' Exhibition Rooms 1-4
'Silk Road Buddhist Statues II' is being held in Exhibition Rooms 1 to 4.
In this exhibition, we introduce the precious collection of Buddhist statues that Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama and his wife Michiko collected over many years and donated to our museum.
Hirayama, who traveled across the Silk Road, continued to infuse his prayers for peace into his works. The numerous Buddhist statues gathered under him have been passed down across times and regions. In recent years, their re-evaluation as globally important cultural heritage has progressed, and they are attracting attention from the perspective of academic research. In this exhibition, you can view a variety of Buddhist statues that colored the Silk Road, ranging from India, Gandhara, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, to Japan. Along with this, works depicting the Silk Road by Ikuo Hirayama, such as 'Old Castle (Jaisalmer, India)' (2005) and 'Hot Sand Dust Black' (1976), are exhibited. Please enjoy the fantastic space woven by paintings and Buddhist statues.
1F 2F
★ Featured on Toyo Keizai Online.
'Tearoom 4 meters above ground' 'Elegant breakfast' 2 hours from Tokyo... Introducing 'Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture', where 'dual-base living' is possible. 《7 Supreme Spots》
https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/939536?display=b
● The photos featured in this press release can be used freely for reporting purposes only.
Events
〇 Gallery Talk
Date: Saturday, May 18, 14:00 - (tentative)
*The Gallery Talk is free, but an admission ticket is required.
■ Exhibition Overview
Exhibition Name: Special Exhibition Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Michiko Hirayama 'The road follows after'
Period: Saturday, March 20, 2026 - Monday, June 15, 2026 *Open every day during the period
Venue: Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum (Exhibition Room 5)
2000-6 Koarama, Nagasaka-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture Tel. 0551-32-0225
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Admission Fee: Adults 1200 yen, High school/University students 800 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students free
*Free for those with a disability certificate, 600 yen for up to one caregiver *100 yen discount for those aged 70 and over, and groups of 20 or more
Organizer: Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum
Support: Yamanashi Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education, Asahi Shimbun Kofu General Bureau, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun/Yamanashi Broadcasting System, Yomiuri Shimbun Kofu Bureau, Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, Yatsugatake Journal, TV Yamanashi, FM Fuji, FM Yatsugatake
Official HP: https:/
The Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum is holding a special exhibition titled 'The road follows after' to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Michiko Hirayama, the wife of Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama.
Michiko Hirayama traveled with her husband across various parts of the Silk Road, supporting his research and artistic career, while also engaging in her own creative activities and art collection. She also left behind her experiences and thoughts in words through travel logs and essays.
This exhibition introduces the trajectory of Michiko Hirayama's creation, focusing not only on her paintings from her days at the Tokyo Fine Arts School (currently Tokyo University of the Arts) but also on the records and publications of her travels with her husband, as well as her works such as prints, metal carvings, and jewelry.
Exhibition Flow
■ Special Exhibition 'The road follows after' Exhibition Room 5
Student Days and the Trajectory of Creation: From Japanese Painting to Printmaking
Michiko Hirayama entered the Tokyo Fine Arts School in 1947 and studied Japanese painting alongside her classmate Ikuo Hirayama. While working on Japanese paintings during her studies, she eagerly explored a wide range of expressions, including creating booklets using printmaking techniques.
Michiko Hirayama 'Moth' 1976 Woodblock print on silk
Michiko Hirayama 'Arabesque' 1952 Woodblock print on silk
A picture book created in her early 20s while studying at the Tokyo Fine Arts School. You can also view the picture book through a video presentation.
To the Silk Road with Ikuo Hirayama
In 1955, Michiko married Ikuo Hirayama, and she chose to put down her Japanese painting brushes to support her husband's creative activities. With her dedicated support, Ikuo Hirayama presented numerous works themed around the Silk Road, achieving great success as a painter. She played a crucial role in supporting his creation, undertaking much of the research, preparation, and on-site recording on the Silk Road.
Meanwhile, Michiko herself continued her creative activities, engaging in diverse expressions such as printmaking using Japanese painting techniques, writing, and making accessories using ancient beads. This exhibition focuses on her aspect as a creator, introducing the charm of her expressions primarily through her Japanese paintings and print works.
Michiko Hirayama 'Bathing in the Ganges River' 1970 Woodblock print
Michiko Hirayama 'Myth of the Mountain (Azhdar, Afghanistan)' 1968 Woodblock print on silk
Necklaces made by combining ancient glass and glass beads gathered by her. They can also be purchased at the shop.
■ Special Exhibition 'Silk Road Buddhist Statues II' Exhibition Rooms 1-4
'Silk Road Buddhist Statues II' is being held in Exhibition Rooms 1 to 4.
In this exhibition, we introduce the precious collection of Buddhist statues that Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama and his wife Michiko collected over many years and donated to our museum.
Hirayama, who traveled across the Silk Road, continued to infuse his prayers for peace into his works. The numerous Buddhist statues gathered under him have been passed down across times and regions. In recent years, their re-evaluation as globally important cultural heritage has progressed, and they are attracting attention from the perspective of academic research. In this exhibition, you can view a variety of Buddhist statues that colored the Silk Road, ranging from India, Gandhara, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, to Japan. Along with this, works depicting the Silk Road by Ikuo Hirayama, such as 'Old Castle (Jaisalmer, India)' (2005) and 'Hot Sand Dust Black' (1976), are exhibited. Please enjoy the fantastic space woven by paintings and Buddhist statues.
1F 2F
★ Featured on Toyo Keizai Online.
'Tearoom 4 meters above ground' 'Elegant breakfast' 2 hours from Tokyo... Introducing 'Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture', where 'dual-base living' is possible. 《7 Supreme Spots》
https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/939536?display=b
● The photos featured in this press release can be used freely for reporting purposes only.
Events
〇 Gallery Talk
Date: Saturday, May 18, 14:00 - (tentative)
*The Gallery Talk is free, but an admission ticket is required.
■ Exhibition Overview
Exhibition Name: Special Exhibition Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Michiko Hirayama 'The road follows after'
Period: Saturday, March 20, 2026 - Monday, June 15, 2026 *Open every day during the period
Venue: Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum (Exhibition Room 5)
2000-6 Koarama, Nagasaka-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture Tel. 0551-32-0225
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Admission Fee: Adults 1200 yen, High school/University students 800 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students free
*Free for those with a disability certificate, 600 yen for up to one caregiver *100 yen discount for those aged 70 and over, and groups of 20 or more
Organizer: Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum
Support: Yamanashi Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education, Asahi Shimbun Kofu General Bureau, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun/Yamanashi Broadcasting System, Yomiuri Shimbun Kofu Bureau, Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, Yatsugatake Journal, TV Yamanashi, FM Fuji, FM Yatsugatake
Official HP: https:/