Hoosiers Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Eiichi Ogawa) and Ritsumeikan University Art Research Center (Location: Kita-ku, Kyoto; Center Director: Satoru Tanaka) will specially open the "Chōkōke Residence," a Kyoto City Designated Tangible Cultural Property usually not open to the public, for a limited three-day period from July 14 (Tue) to July 16 (Thu), 2026.

This event, titled "Special Opening: Folding Screen Festival 'Folding Screen Display and Exhibition of Flora and Fauna from an Old Residence,'" follows the traditional folding screen festival held during the Gion Festival's Yoiyama period. Approximately 30 items, including hanging scrolls and framed tablets passed down in the old residence, will be specially exhibited. Visitors can experience the traditional culture that lives on in Kyoto machiya townhouses, with explanations provided by students.

*Photography by general visitors is prohibited.

About the Chōkōke Residence, a Kyoto City Designated Tangible Cultural Property

The Chōkōke Residence, which still retains the typical Kyoto machiya townhouse structure integrating living and working spaces, had a total of six buildings designated as "Kyoto City Designated Tangible Cultural Properties" in April 2005: the main house north wing (excluding interior finishes), the main house south wing, the dressing room, the detached residence, and two storehouses.

While not usually open to the public for preservation purposes, a folding screen festival is held in cooperation with Ritsumeikan University, which owns the former Chōkōke collection, during the Yoiyama period of the Gion Festival's Sakiyamazoko procession (July 14-16), making it open to the public. During the 2025 folding screen festival period, over 1,100 visitors in total experienced the traditional culture alive in Kyoto machiya townhouses through approximately 40 exhibits, including folding screens, hanging scrolls, and displays of cultural materials from the Showa era themed around "100 Years of Showa."

Exterior of the Chōkōke Residence

What is the Folding Screen Festival?

The Folding Screen Festival is a custom during the Gion Festival's Yoiyama period where old families and long-established businesses in the Yamaboko towns open their collections of art objects and furnishings, such as folding screens, to the public to entertain guests. It is held at about 20 locations each year, allowing people to view items passed down through generations and experience traditional culture.

Industry-Academia Collaboration Initiatives

The Chōkōke Residence is owned by our group, a real estate developer, while the collection is owned by Ritsumeikan University. The Ritsumeikan University Art Research Center manages the property. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the two parties regarding the maintenance, management, and succession of the Chōkōke Residence, and they cooperate in holding the folding screen festival. Professor Hiromasa Sato of Ritsumeikan University's Faculty of Design and Art, established in April this year, is also participating in this project, providing expert knowledge for exhibition planning and explanations. Furthermore, Ritsumeikan University offers a course to assist in the planning and operation of the folding screen festival for second-year undergraduates and graduate students. Students are involved in creating exhibition panels and provide explanations on-site.

Main Exhibits for the "Special Opening: Folding Screen Festival"

Under the theme "Folding Screen Display and Exhibition of Flora and Fauna from an Old Residence," the following will be exhibited (planned):

<Folding Screens>

1. "Four Gentlemen Pressed Flower Collage" Artist Unknown, Six-panel folding screen, a pair (Photo 1)

2. "View of Arashiyama" Tamao Hasegawa, Meiji period, Six-panel folding screen, one panel (Photo 2)

3. "Pine and Plovers" Gyokuzan Kuwayama, Mid-Edo period, Two-panel folding screen, one panel

<Hanging Scrolls>

4. "Gion-e Genchō" Gesshu Hada, Meiji period

<Other>

Other daily necessities, videos, and cultural materials related to daily life (art objects, old photographs, etc.)

Photo 1: "Four Gentlemen Pressed Flower Collage" (Right panel) Photo 2: "View of Arashiyama"

Scenes from the Folding Screen Festival

Funahoko floats stand in front of the Chōkōke Residence. Photographed in 2019 by Shinchosha Co., Ltd. Folding screen exhibition.

Aim of the Theme "Folding Screen Display and Exhibition of Flora and Fauna from an Old Residence" and Highlights of the Exhibited Works (Explanation by Professor Sato, Faculty of Design and Art)

This year's theme, "Folding Screen Display and Exhibition of Flora and Fauna from an Old Residence," focuses on the numerous animal and plant motifs found in the decorative items and ornaments that adorn the Gion Festival's Yamaboko floats. These designs carry auspicious meanings such as longevity, prosperity, and warding off evil, while also serving to delight the viewer's eye and enhance the festive atmosphere. In essence, animal and plant motifs embody both the "prayer" and the "elegance" that are central to the Gion Festival. Through the folding screens and hanging scrolls passed down in the Chōkōke Residence, we hope visitors will feel the gaze towards nature that lives on in Kyoto machiya townhouses and the aesthetic sensibility connected to festival culture.

1. "Four Gentlemen Pressed Flower Collage" Artist Unknown, Six-panel folding screen, a pair

The orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and plum are known as the "Four Gentlemen," symbolizing elegance and nobility, and have been popular auspicious subjects. This folding screen also depicts pine, sago palm, and grapes, allowing enjoyment of the delicate yet powerfully rendered ink depictions of plants.

2. "View of Arashiyama" Tamao Hasegawa, Meiji period, Six-panel folding screen, one panel

This is a depiction of Arashiyama by Tamao Hasegawa, a Shijo school painter active during the late Edo and Meiji periods. It portrays the Hozugawa River in fresh green with rafts floating, rendered with light ink and ample white space, conveying the quiet flow of the river and the refreshing atmosphere of the mountains.

3. "Pine and Plovers" Gyokuzan Kuwayama, Mid-Edo period, Two-panel folding screen, one panel

This folding screen depicts a powerfully standing pine tree on a wavy seashore and three lightly flying plovers. Plovers have been sung about in Japanese poetry and tales since ancient times, and along with the vitality of the pine, they evoke auspiciousness and literary sentiment.

4. "Gion-e Genchō" Gesshu Hada, Meiji period

"Genchō" is a nickname for the "Inugami" (dog spirits), who, in armor, led the procession of the Gion Festival's Shinko-sai and Kanko-sai ceremonies, guarding the portable shrines. The "dog" signifies a liminal being, similar yet distinct from the divine, and also resonates with the auspicious meaning of warding off evil spirits and bringing prosperity. In the 2025 Gion Festival, residents of Yumiya-cho, who inherited the role of guarding the portable shrines from the Inugami, revived the warrior procession for the first time in 51 years.

Through the folding screens and hanging scrolls passed down in the Chōkōke Residence, you can experience the depth of Gion Festival and Kyoto machiya culture. Please come and see the world of Japanese beauty in a historical space.

"Special Opening: Folding Screen Festival" Event Overview

1. Date and Time: July 14 (Tue) to July 16 (Thu), 2026

10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Last entry at 7:30 PM)

2. Admission Fee: General ¥1,000 *Includes novelty items such as stickers.

Free for junior high school students and younger, and individuals with disabilities.

3. Location: Main House South Wing, Chōkōke Residence

394 Shinmachi-dori Bukkoji-agaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City (In front of and west of Funahoko)

5-minute walk from Exit 6, Shijo Station, Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line

4. Organizers: Hoosiers Holdings Co., Ltd.

Co-organizer: Ritsumeikan University Art Research Center

On-site Map

Company Profile

Name: Hoosiers Holdings Co., Ltd.

Location: Marunouchi Nakadori Building, 10F, 2-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Eiichi Ogawa, President and CEO

Business Activities: Holding company, formulation of management policies and management of the Hoosiers Group, etc.

Established: April 1, 2013

HP: https://www.hoosiers.co.jp/

The Hoosiers Group aims to be a "Social Developer®" that addresses various social issues while adapting to change and leads to solutions through its business.

University Profile

Name: Ritsumeikan University

Location: 1 Kinugasa-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City

Representative: Yoshio Akitani, President

Business Activities: Education and research

Established: 1900

HP: https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event