Iwasa Matabei Katsumochi (1578–1650) was an influential figure in Japanese painting, stirring a sensation with his unique style of expression—the iconic depiction of people with roundish elongated faces as well as the integration of the Japanese and Chinese drawing methods.

The picture scroll The tale of princess Jōruri tells a love story involving a young man Ushiwakamaru, traveling to the northern country, and a daughter of Lord of Yahagi in Mikawa Province, through an array of illustrations. Vibrant colors and dexterous brushwork breathe life into the scenes. The minute details down to costume designs and furniture in the background are rendered using expensive materials such as gold leaves, gold and silver paints, verdigris and azurite. This is arguably the most elaborate and opulent work among the handscrolls attributed to Iwasa Matabei.

The exhibition curates this illustrated The tale of princess Jōruri (Important cultural property) in its fullest form, a total of 12 scrolls, with accompanying high-definition imagery, projected on a super-wide screen. Immerse yourself in Matabei’s vibrant narrative world.