Akita Museum of Art — Foujita's Akita Masterworks

**Foujita's 'Annual Events in Akita':** This 3.65m x 20.5m mural occupies an entire wall on the second floor. Painted in 1937, it depicts 60+ figures in vignettes: rice planting, Kanto Festival, Namahage rituals, snow shoveling, sake brewing, children playing. Foujita's technique — flat, poster-like colors with fine ink outlines — makes the figures appear simultaneously modern and timeless. Spend 20-30 minutes examining details: facial expressions, textile patterns, tools. The museum provides English pamphlets explaining the scenes. **Foujita's career arc:** Born in Tokyo, Foujita moved to Paris in 1913 and became a Montparnasse bohemian, friends with Picasso and Modigliani. His nude portraits with milky-white skin (achieved by mixing lead white pigment with oil in precise ratios) made him famous in 1920s Europe. During WWII, he returned to Japan and painted war propaganda (later a source of guilt). Post-war, he moved to France permanently, converted to Catholicism, and painted religious works. The Akita Museum traces this journey chronologically. **Architecture appreciation:** Tadao Ando's design uses exposed concrete, geometric precision, and natural light to create meditative spaces. The triangular atrium with reflecting pool mirrors the building's form, blurring interior/exterior boundaries. The second-floor gallery is windowless (to protect artworks), but skylights provide diffused illumination. The cafe (2nd floor) has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Senshu Park — excellent for post-museum reflection with coffee (¥500-800). **Special exhibitions:** The museum hosts 3-4 rotating exhibitions annually (April-June, July-September, October-December, January-March), often featuring Japanese modern artists or international movements. Special exhibition entry costs an additional ¥800-1,200. Check the museum website for schedules. **Photography policy:** Photography is prohibited inside the galleries (including Foujita's works). The atrium, reflecting pool, and cafe are photograph-allowed. Museum staff enforce this strictly. **Nearby pairing:** Combine the museum with Senshu Park (directly across the street, 5-minute walk). The park's cherry blossoms (April) or autumn foliage (November) provide natural contrast to the museum's contemporary art. Allocate 2-3 hours for museum + park.