Shigemoto Kikkawa, Director of the Kikkawa Historical Museum

On June 1, 2017, I took office as director of the Yoshikawa Historical Museum.

Our museum is a very small regional historical museum, but we have protected the “swords, armor, documents, and artworks that show the honor and taste of the samurai caln” that we have protected as a regional lord and feudal lord for about 700 years from the Middle Ages to the end of the Edo period. Approximately 5,500 historical materials, including 1 National Treasure and 2,500 Nationally Designated Important Cultural Properties.

The National Treasure sword named “Kitsunegasaki” was used by the 2nd generation Tomokane in a fierce battle against the Kajiwara Kagetoki clan, and has been cherished as the clans protective sword ever since. In addition, there are 48 volumes of Kikkawa Azuma Kagami, 40 volumes of Taiheiki that Motoharu the 15th generation transcribed during the battle, 54 chapters of The Tale of Genji written by Sanetaka Sanjonishi, and arts and crafts from Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The collection includes “Okatatsuki Tea Caddy” by Yoryo and “Chashaku” by Sen no Rikyu. It is operated by Houyoukai.

From June of this year, it will become a stopover point for JR West’s Twilight Express “Mizukaze”, and we will continue to improve our exhibition methods and explanatory materials, and strive to widely disseminate Japanese culture.

We hope that you will visit our museum to see the items in our collection and to experience a part of Japan’s original scenery. In closing, I would like to ask you to take a leisurely stroll through the good old town of Iwakuni on that occasion.

(The 32nd head of the Kikkawa clan, Chairman of the Kikkawa Houkoukai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)