FUKUTOMI TARO Collection:
The Passion of the Cabaret Magnate

Fukutomi Taro (1931-2018) was a Japanese business man who opened as many as 44 cabarets around Japan during the economic boom resulting from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He was nicknamed the Cabaret King. However, influenced by his father, he was an avid collector from his youth of art works that interested him, and demonstrated brilliance in that aspect of his life as well. Initially, Fukutomi started his collection with works by Kaburaki Kiyokata that he had long wanted to acquire, but he went on to expand its scope beyond the works of famous artists, buying works that he believed to be good, even if they were by unrated artists who do not fit into art history trends. In addition, he would gather related documents and information to gain a deeper understanding of the works he collected, and wrote passionately about the arts. As a result, his collection includes many important works of art that are absolutely indispensable when reappraising modern artists or holding retrospective exhibitions. The fact that the Fukutomi Taro Collection has lent many works to exhibitions of Japanese modern art held throughout Japan demonstrates the high quality of the collection and Fukutomi’s excellent discernment. Although the Fukutomi Taro Collection is famous for its bijin-ga, this exhibition focuses on Taro Fukutomi’s vision in seeking out works of art. It represents the first opportunity ever to get an overview of this truly remarkable collection, not only its bijin-ga. In addition to many superb bijin-ga, including a dozen or so by Kaburaki Kiyokata, the more than 80 works of art in this fascinating exhibition include oil paintings that range from the dawn of Western-style painting in Japan to the Second World War.