Concept of Museum
Hiroshi Senju
I have always believed that beauty can be created by the harmony of dissimilar things. I had hoped that creating this museum with an avant-garde architect would result in a new kind of space seen nowhere else. And that is exactly what is happening. A brand-new type of space appeared before our eyes, one I have come across nowhere else in the world. Here surrounded by the nature of Karuizawa, a popular destination for escaping the heat of summer, we are building a museum full of light. My works are displayed by date, here in this ideal space. I will be most delighted if many visitors come to the museum and experience the feelings of beauty, courage and the power of life, and make new discoveries for themselves.
Hiroshi Senju

Photo: Kazuya Yamaguchi
Hiroshi Senju was president of Kyoto University of Art & Design from 2007 to 2013, presently professor of Kyoto University of the Arts, director of Koyodo Museum, president of joint education system of Kyoto University of Art & Design and Tohoku University of Art & Design, member of masters committee of L'ÉCOLE of Van Cleef & Arpels, and advisor of The Tokugawa Museum.
Hiroshi Senju website
https://www.hiroshisenju.com/
- 1958
- Nihonga artist born in Tokyo.
- 1982
- Graduated Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music,BFA.
- 1984
- Completed his MFA,Graduate School of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Graduation work purchased by Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.
- 1987
- Completed classes needed to obtain Ph.D.at the Graduate School of Fine Arts of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Thesis work purchased by the University of Tokyo.
- 1995
- Received an Honorable Mention at the 46th La Biennale di Venezia, Italy as the first Asian to do so.
- 2006
- The 6th Gwangju Biennale,Gwangju,Republic of Korea.
- 2007
- Paintings on fusuma at Shofuso,Philadelphia,USA.
- 2009
- Art House Project Ishibashi,Benesse Art Site Naoshima,Kagawa,Japan.
- 2010
- Art direction for APEC Japan,2010,Yokohama,Japan.
- 2011
- The 5th Chengdu Biennale,Chengdu,China.
Opening of the Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa. - 2013
- Completed paintings on fusuma in Jukoin (main and branch temple), a sub-temple of Daitokuji Temple.
- 2015
- The 56th La Biennale di Venezia,Italy.The work purchased by the Southern Branch of The National Palace Museum,Taiwan.
- 2016
- Added to art collection of world heritage site Yakushiji Temple.
Received Foreign Minister’s Commendation for FY 2016. - 2017
- Received Isamu Noguchi Award.
- 2018
- Won the Eagle on the World Award (Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New York).
- 2018-2020
- “Senju Hiroshi: Commemorating the Completion of Fusuma Paintings for Kongobuji Temple, Koyasan” exhibit went on tour.
- 2021
- Received the 77th Imperial Prize and the Japan Art Academy Prize in 2020.
He served as president of Kyoto University of Art & Design from 2007 to 2013, and professor of Kyoto University of the Arts.