Japanese frogs and toads transform into Kaeru Artmen20／The scheches of Shibata Masaru and the photos of Maeda Norio

Shibata Masaru(1944‐2015）had painted many kinds of frogs for about 43 years. The 20 artworks we show are that he scheched to bring out the characters of the frogs and toads based on each real ones. We call them Kaeru Artmen. And we also display Maeda Norio's photos of the each one of them.

Period ／April 4(Thu）―14(Sun）　May 3(Fri)―12（Sun), 2024

Venue ／100‐year frog collection museum

2-6Oshikiriminami Kitakata city Fukushima prefecture Japan 966-0096

Hours ／ 13:00ー16:30

Admission ／Adult ￥500　primary school ―high scool ￥100

※Visitors will see the special exhibit with the permanent exhibit (approximately 2300 frog items).

Organized by　100‐year frog collection museum
Supported by　Fukushima Minyu Shinbunsha　Fukushima Minposha 　Yamatokeikokusha　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cooporation with　Nippon Batrachological Society  Amphibian Research Center  Matsumoto Kaerumatsuri Executive Committee

「１００年カエル館」　http://kaeru-kan.com

「カエ～ル大学」http://kaeru-kan.com/kayale-u

Blogカエルタイムズ https://kaeru-kan.cocolog-nifty.com/vikki/

コトバデフリカエル　https://kaeru-kan.cocolog-nifty.com/kotobadefurikaeru/

Ths Italian ceramic frog gave me opportunity to open my eyes.

I found this ceramic froggy wall ornament made in Italy at a shop in Tokyo Harajuku about 40 years ago. Then I thoght that what a colorful frog it was! I’d never seen fashionable frog item like this. This frog gave me opportunity to make my eyes open world wide.

The event about frogs and frog goods at Aquamarine Inawashiro Kingfishers Aquarium collaborated with the 100-year frog collection museum.

This event is now on until November 27,Sunday in 2022.

The aquarium shows ecological exhibits of frogs and toads living in Japan and abroad.And the latter half of the event we, 100-year frog collection museum show 5 display cases of categorized froggy goods.

1) Froggy specialities made in around Japan.

2) Frog items related on Japanese traditional culture.

3) The relationship on between Japonism and frog items.

4) Stylish frog goods.

5) Froggy gardening items.

Please check it out!

https://www.aquamarine.or.jp/kawasemi/

These are planters designed frog.

 

It seems that gardenning is very popular all over the world. We also enjoy it in Japan. And we can find frog motived planters like these on the photo at a shop. The left one was made in Thailand and the right one was made in Mexico. 

We will display them on the latter term display of the exhibit  "Kaeru"(=frogs and toads) at Aquamarin Inawashiro Kawasemi Aquarium in Fukushima prefecture. You are going to see frogs and toads habitat in Japan and overseas with the exhibit corner of  froggy goods of 100-year frog collection museum in Kitakata city. 

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Emerging from hibernation takes frogs to cherry blossoms season.

It had been cold yet early in April in Aizu. We found a frog staying still in mixed dead leaves and fresh leaves in the garden of the 100 year frog collection museum. 

But before blooming cherry blossoms he is going to be awaken like the cray art frog in a bed and get a move on. I had boght this miniature frog about 30 years ago at Covent Garden in London. It always makes me feeling warm in Spring to think that many kinds of frogs are living in this earth and we can find frog items around the world.

「１００年カエル館」　http://kaeru-kan.com

「カエ～ル大学」http://kaeru-kan.com/kayale-u

Blogカエルタイムズ https://kaeru-kan.cocolog-nifty.com/vikki/

コトバデフリカエル　https://kaeru-kan.cocolog-nifty.com/kotobadefurikaeru/

Frog items related on Japanese calligrapher Ono no Tofu

We are introducing the frog items related on Ono no Tofu(or Michikaze), Japanese calligrapher who lived in the Heian period（794-1185). It is said that when Tofu felt inadequate about his calligraphy he saw one frog try to jump on a willow branch again and again until it reached the willow. And he realized that he needed diligent as this frog.

Now we can see his depiction in Hanafuda cards, dolls of Tofu with an expression of a frog and implements jusut expressed a frog jumping to willow branch.

「１００年カエル館」　http://kaeru-kan.com

「カエ～ル大学」http://kaeru-kan.com/kayale-u

「コトバデフリカエル」https://kaeru-kan.cocolog-nifty.com/kotobadefurikaeru

Chinese tea set with frog motif

This is a Chinese tea set with frog motif. We can see a frog on the lotus leaf designed on the lid of the tea pot.

Frog motif items in Costa Rica

These frog motif items were made in Costa Rica.Costa Rica is known for one of biological diversity countries. We hear that more than 140 types of frogs including very beautiful colored frogs inhabitting there.

「１００年カエル館」　http://kaeru-kan.com

「カエ～ル大学」http://kaeru-kan.com/kayale-u

「コトバデフリカエル」https://kaeru-kan.cocolog-nifty.com/kotobadefurikaeru

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.