In the exhibition room, corridors, and guest rooms, Tomoe utilizes its ample space to exhibit paintings and calligraphy by great artists from Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, or who are connected somehow with Tomoe.
Walk along the approach to Shoin Shrine and you will see a stone monument inscribed with the words “Birthplace of the Meiji Restoration” on the left side.
These words were written by Eisaku Sato, native of Yamaguchi Prefecture and the 61st, 62nd, and 63rd prime minister of Japan. The idea came from Tomoe founder Tsunekichi Koto.
The original source for these stone characters is a valuable scroll that is preserved by Tomoe.
You can catch a glimpse of how the stone monument was constructed from the red pencil lines used to make a copy of the calligraphy.
Works by other great figures who left their marks on history are also preserved by Tomoe and are exhibited at various locations within the facility.
Hirobumi Ito lived in Hagi for about 13 years starting from the age of 14, and later went on to become the first prime minister of Japan.
Takayoshi Kido was a Hagi native who was one of the “three great heroes” of the Meiji Restoration.
Other exhibited works are from prime ministers Aritomo Yamagata, Giichi Tanaka, and Taro Katsura (all born in Hagi), as well as Nobusuke Kishi, Eisaku Sato, and Masatake Terauchi (all born in Yamaguchi).
Keigetsu Matsubayashi was another Hagi native who became a leading figure in the southern school of Chinese painting in Japan.
We hope that you will take this opportunity to experience the art of Hagi and immerse yourself in the spirit of travel.