We are frog athletes.

These are ceramic frogs made in Japan. Tokyo2020 Olympics are coming soon. Who are you think of each frog athlete?

a rubber frog in our museum

This is a rubber frog like a flying frog living in Southeast Asia. But when a real flying frog moves from a tree branch to an another in a thick forest it makes parachute its web of each foot. 

Japanese ceramic bells in the 100-year frog collection museum

These are Japanese ceramic bells in the 100-year frog collection museum. In Japan originally were used as charms against evil influence. They had created as folk toys in the Edo period. We can see various designed ceramic bells with the each sound.

Masaru Shibata loved frogs

Born in 1944, Masaru Shibata was an artist
who painted frog and toad motifs for 43 years. He passed away in 2015 in Aichi
prefecture Japan.

He had a deep interest in frogs and toads.
At his humble home in Achi Prefecture he made a small pond in his garden to
observe frogs and toads in their natural environment.

He was also an avid collector of frog items.

When he was young he wanted to be a comic artist,
so he mainly painted frogs and toads in the form of comics. Like many of his generation
of Japanese artists, he was heavily influenced by American pop artists like
Andy Warhol. Later, he also created abstract toad and frog art. Toward the end
of his life he painted frogs and toads in a Japanese style. 

In the summer of 2018, the 100-Year Frog Collection
Museum had an exhibition titled “Froggy art museum” at the lobby gallery of the
Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo. 

Masaru Shibata’s art works were categorized
into four areas; “birds and flowers paintings,” “literati paintings,” “pop art”
and “caricature”.

Vikki Takayama/Curator of the 100-Year Frog Collection Museum 

About the 100-year frog collection museum

Located in Kitakata city in Fukushima prefecture, the 100-Year Frog Collection Museum is a private museum where frog decorations, ornaments, and art are displayed. People can learn more about the relationship between frogs and humans through displays at our museum in Kitakatacity. The museum also holds events all over Japan.