Kyoto Seika University Gallery Terra-S to Present “Takeji Asano: Woodblock Prints of Famous Places” as Its First Permanent Exhibition of FY2026

Kyoto Seika University, located in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto and led by President Jun Kang, will hold the first permanent exhibition of fiscal year 2026, “Takeji Asano: Woodblock Prints of Famous Places,” at Kyoto Seika University Gallery Terra-S on campus. Takeji Asano (1900–1999) was born in Kyoto and studied Japanese-style painting at the Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting. Around the age of 30, he shifted to woodblock printing and began creating prints of famous places, inspired by Kobayashi Kiyochika’s “Famous Views of Tokyo.” From his 1932 “New Famous Places of Kyoto” series onward, Asano depicted scenes in Osaka, Kyoto, and other cities where old and new cultural landscapes intertwined, using calm print expressions rich in light and emotion. He continued producing work despite prewar hardships, and after the war released series such as “Famous Scenic Places of Kinki” and “Famous Places of Tokyo.” His works, based on sketches of landscapes across Japan, reveal his distinctive soft forms and assured technique in multicolor woodblock printing. After the artist’s death, Kyoto Seika University received a donation of approximately 1,500 works by Takeji Asano through the generosity of his family. This exhibition focuses on Asano’s woodblock prints of famous places featuring landscapes of the Kansai region, selected from a body of work full of free spirit and humor. This exhibition marks the first in a new series of permanent exhibitions that will regularly introduce works from the university’s collection. Exhibition details: Dates: June 5, 2026 (Fri.) to June 27, 2026 (Sat.) Hours: 11:00–18:00 Venue: Kyoto Seika University Gallery Terra-S, Permanent Exhibition Room, Meisokan 3F, 137 Iwakura Kino-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto Closed: Sundays and June 15 (Mon.) to June 18 (Thu.) Admission: Free Artist: Takeji Asano Website: https://www.kyoto-seika.ac.jp/event/2026/0514_1.html Reference works include Takeji Asano’s “New Osaka Scenery: Nakanoshima Park on a Moonlit Night” (1933), “Famous Scenic Places of Nara: Nara Park” (1948), “Famous Scenic Places of Kinki: Arashiyama in Spring” (1954), and “Kinki Scenery: Shugakuin Imperial Villa” (1960), all in the collection of Kyoto Seika University Gallery Terra-S. Dates, hours, and exhibition contents may change due to circumstances. Please check the gallery website for the latest details. Gallery website: https://gallery.kyoto-seika.ac.jp/ Special exhibition page: https://gallery.kyoto-seika.ac.jp/exhibition/260605c/