National Treasure “Fuji-san” — A Masterpiece by Hon’ami Koetsu
One of the most important works in the museum’s collection is the National Treasure Raku ware tea bowl “Fuji-san”, a celebrated masterpiece by Hon’ami Koetsu, an artist and cultural figure of Japan’s Momoyama period.
The name “Fuji-san” comes from the striking contrast between the white and black areas that appeared during firing, which resembles the shape of Mount Fuji. The name also carries the meaning of a unique tea bowl that could never be duplicated.
On the lid of its inner storage box, Koetsu himself wrote “Fuji-san” together with his seal. The work is exceptionally valuable because it is the only known surviving Koetsu tea bowl that retains its original signed storage box.
The bowl is also known as the “Furisode Tea Bowl”. According to a traditional story, it was kept in a small pouch made from the fabric of a furisode kimono worn by Koetsu’s daughter and was passed down as part of her wedding belongings. During the Edo period, it came into the collection of the Sakai family, lords of the Himeji domain, before eventually being preserved at the museum.
A Rich Collection Spanning East and West
Masterpieces of Japanese Art
In addition to “Fuji-san,” the museum displays a wide range of Japanese paintings, calligraphy, and traditional crafts dating from the Heian period through the Edo period. These works provide an opportunity to explore the development of Japanese aesthetics over many centuries.
Among the museum’s Important Cultural Properties are “Portrait of the Peacock King”, a painting on silk; “Thirty-Six Immortal Poets”, a work on paper; and surviving sections of the “Kitano Tenjin Engi” picture scroll tradition, including the Kōan-period version.
Visitors can also encounter ink paintings such as “Landscape with Green Mountains and White Clouds” by a Muromachi-period ink painter, as well as “Peach Blossoms and Small Birds,” which reflects the influence of Chinese painting on Japanese art.
Exceptional Ceramics and Calligraphy
The ceramics collection includes outstanding examples such as a Nabeshima ware dish decorated with colored flowers and a large plate of Old Kutani ware formerly owned by the Shiobara family.
The calligraphy collection includes works by Zen monks such as Gobai Funei and Daito Kokushi. The powerful brushwork, variations in the density of the ink, and restrained compositions offer a glimpse into the spiritual world of Zen Buddhism.
The Hattori Family and the Origins of the Museum
The museum opened in 1995 to exhibit collections associated with Masatsugu Hattori, the third president of Hattori Watch Store, now Seiko Holdings, his eldest son Ichiro Hattori, who served as president of Seiko Epson, and the affiliated company Sanritsu Kogyo.
Masatsugu Hattori was not only a businessman who helped develop Seiko into an internationally recognized brand, but also a cultured tea practitioner with a deep appreciation for art. He used the tea name Sanpu, reflecting his close connection with the world of tea.
His appreciation of tea and art was also influenced by his father-in-law, Matazaku Shiobara, a tea practitioner, art collector, and founder of the pharmaceutical company Sankyo, now Daiichi Sankyo. Works of ceramics and traditional crafts inherited from the Shiobara family form an important part of the museum’s collection.
The museum therefore reflects a long-standing connection between Japanese business culture, traditional arts, tea ceremony, and the appreciation of beautiful objects.
A Peaceful Setting Overlooking Lake Suwa
The Sanritsu Hattori Museum of Art is approximately a 15-minute walk from the West Exit of JR Kamisuwa Station. Its lakeside setting makes it particularly appealing for visitors who want to combine art appreciation with a leisurely walk along Lake Suwa.
Inside the museum, the calm atmosphere encourages visitors to spend time quietly contemplating each work. Special exhibitions are also held throughout the year, offering new perspectives and different works to discover on each visit.
Experience Japanese Aesthetics Beside Lake Suwa
The Sanritsu Hattori Museum of Art is more than a place to view beautiful objects. It offers an opportunity to explore the Japanese sense of beauty through tea ceremony, ceramics, calligraphy, painting, and traditional craftsmanship.
Among its treasures, the National Treasure “Fuji-san” provides a particularly fascinating window into the world of Japanese tea culture and the artistic ideals of Hon’ami Koetsu. Set against the peaceful scenery of Lake Suwa, the museum is an ideal place to experience the quiet elegance of Japanese art and the refined aesthetic traditions that have developed over centuries.