March 8 (Sat) – May 11 (Sun), 2025
* The exhibits are rotated during the exhibition period.
First Half: March 8 (Sat) – April 13 (Sun)
Second Half: April 15 (Tue) – May 11 (Sun)

The town of Gifu, famous for cormorant fishing on the Nagara River, has attracted many renowned cultural figures even in modern times. The Gifu City Museum of History has recently acquired a collection of 80 autograph cards presented by such figures to old-established families in Gifu. Among them are works by notable figures in modern cultural history, including poet Noguchi Ujo, poet Kitahara Hakushu, composer Yamada Kosaku, tanka poet Yanagiwara Byakuren, and printmaker Natori Shunsen.

This special exhibition showcases these 80 autograph cards for the first time, with a rotating display between the first and second halves of the exhibition period.

February 1 (Sat) – March 2 (Sun), 2025

The Edo Era was a period when the culture of the commoner flourished. Here in Gifu, the culture of townspeople blossomed, particularly in Gifu Town and Kano Town. People enjoyed activities such as Chinese poetry, Japanese poetries (including waka and haikai), kemari (traditional ball-kicking), and pottery. This exhibition showcases the works of the townspeople while also highlighting the connections they shared.

November 23 (Sat), 2024 – January 26 (Sun), 2025

“Beppu zaiku” refers to metal craft items created during the Edo period in present-day Beppu, Mizuho City. These pieces were produced using a technique called “rogata imono” (wax mold casting), where wax prototypes are replaced with metal. They are characterized by their soft forms that capture the feel of wax with unique Chinese-inspired designs. This exhibit highlights metal crafts made during a limited period from the mid-17th to the early 18th century.

September 21 (Sat) – November 17 (Sun), 2024

In the early Showa period, Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) was exploring its direction while keeping Western art genre painting expressions in mind. Artists who wanted to break away from the Japanese “closed-off” environment of the existing group exhibitions eagerly formed small groups and associations, and the waves of reform continued into the 1940s.
Nihonga, which had been accepted by the public as part of the Shaseiha (realistic painting), began to fall out of sync with the sensibilities of the times. A demand arose for a shift from the mere preservation of traditional painting, including materials and techniques, to more subjective forms of expression. At the same time, the development of new Nihonga materials made it possible to combine them with those used in Western-style painting, and as a result, Nihonga has reached today without a clear definition as a distinct genre.
This exhibition showcases how Kato Eizo & Toichi confronted the changing times and evolved their painting styles within the shifting landscape of Nihonga from the late 1930s to the 1950s. It also highlights the transformation of Nihonga expression and the works of other contemporary Nihonga artists.

August 3 (Sat) – September 16 (Mon & Holiday), 2024

Gari-ban is a nickname which is derived from the sound made when using a metal stylus on a metal plate, described as “gari-gari” in Japanese. The official name is “mimeograph,” which is a hand-operated printing machine that allows easy copying. Before the widespread use of photocopiers, the Gari-ban was an indispensable tool for everyday office work. This exhibit introduces the charm of Gari-ban, which was used by people of all ages.

June 1 (Sat) – July 28 (Sun), 2024

Tick-tock, tick-tock, bong-bong. As sung in the 1937 nursery rhyme “The Early Riser’s Clock,” spring-driven pendulum clocks were cherished by many people at the time. In conjunction with “Time Day” on June 10, we introduce various clocks from our collection, ranging from the Edo period to the Showa era, including these iconic “bong-bong” clocks.

April 6 (Sat) – May 26 (Sun), 2024

There are currently about 80 tumuli clusters in Gifu City, and more than 300 tumuli have been confirmed in detailed site distribution surveys. This exhibition introduces the tumuli in Gifu City through artifacts unearthed from Yayoi Funkyubo (mound burials) and tumuli from the late Yayoi period to the Kofun period.
Please also see the currently ongoing planned exhibition, “All We Know About Gifu’s Ancient Tombs,” in conjunction with this.

January 27 (Sat), 2024 – March 31 (Sun), 2024

Ceramics production flourished in the foothills of Mt. Kinka from the Edo period to the early Showa era, driven by individuals with a taste of refinement, such as Kuroda Rokuichiro and Ando Hyakkyoku, officials of the Gifu Magistrate's Office, Fukuda Kyokusui who established the brand “Kinkazan-yaki,” and Hayashi Kozo, a connoisseur of tea. This exhibition showcases a glimpse of cultural activities in the Mt. Kinka area through their works.

November 25 (Sat), 2023 – January 21 (Sun), 2024

Package designs serve as the face of the product, featuring a variety of motifs. Among them are cigarette packages. Rooted in everyday indulgence, the package designs have tactfully captured the social atmosphere, incorporating elements from different eras, events, holidays, and scenic landmarks from different regions. These designs have been at the forefront of their time, not only delighting people's eyes but also exerting a significant influence on the evolution of package design, connecting the past to the present. We will now introduce you to this enchanting world.

October 7 (Sat) – November 19 (Sun), 2023

In the Edo era, “Musha-e” (Ukiyo-e prints of warriors) became a popular genre of art that depicted heroic figures from military tales and legends.
It became one of the trending genres within the world of Ukiyo-e. In this exhibition, we showcase Musha-e featuring famous warriors in the Sengoku (Warring States) period, including Saito Dosan, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and more. Through this art, we introduce the heroic imagery that people in the era held in high regard.

August 11 (Fri/Holiday)–October 1 (Sun), 2023

The flowing of the rivers Nagara, Kiso and Ibi, through the Nobi Plain have provided abundant blessings from antiquity, yet the area has always been plagued by frequent flooding. During the Edo period (1603–1868), vigorous flood control projects were carried out by the shogunate and feudal domains, but they were unable to completely eliminate water-related disasters. Even during the Meiji era (1868–1912), the promotion of flood control projects remained a significant challenge for the people living in the Kiso Three Rivers basins.

In this exhibition, we will introduce the prominent figures who dedicated themselves to the river restoration in the Nobi region, such as Johannis de Rijke, Katano Manemon, Kanamori Kichijiro, and Yamada Seizaburo. Alongside them, we will also showcase modern flood control projects in Mino.

May 27 (Sat)–August 6 (Sun), 2023

The photo shows a jar with a footed base and a S-shaped rim that was used for boiling and cooking during the early Kofun period, excavated from the Shironouchi Ruins in Gifu City. It was made very thin compared to earlier earthenware, allowing heat to be transferred easily. The shape, size, and materials of such tools have changed significantly with changes in people's lifestyles and technological advances. In this exhibition, you will see a wide variety of tools related to "food" from the Jomon period onward, with a focus on artifacts excavated from archaeological sites in Gifu City.