8F Event Square
Exhibition | Other

Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition by Master Sculptor Akei Matsumoto

July 8 (Wed) – July 13 (Mon), 2026

Closes at 5:00 PM on the final day


*This event has ended.

This exhibition presents Buddhist sculptures created by renowned Kyoto master Buddhist sculptor Myokei Matsumoto and the atelier led by his successor, Myokan Matsumoto, who carries on his artistic tradition. Based in Oharano, Kyoto, Master Myokei continues to devote himself to carving Buddhist images each day, aspiring to bring hope and spiritual illumination to people facing the challenges and hardships of modern life.
In 2024, he further distinguished himself through projects including the creation and installation of a statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu and its accompanying shrine cabinet for the 850th Memorial Ceremony of Zojoji Temple, one of Japan's principal Buddhist temples. This exhibition brings together an exceptional collection of intricately crafted Buddhist sculptures created by the Myokei school.

We warmly invite you to take this opportunity to appreciate these remarkable works.

Special Concurrent Exhibition
Fine Print Art Exhibition
A wide selection of print works by celebrated masters and popular artists from Japan and around the world will be exhibited and available for purchase.

You can watch a video showcasing the workshop and its craftsmanship.
We invite you to watch it before your visit.
https://youtu.be/vcHVpv868EY

Biography of Matsumoto Myokei

1945 Born in Kyoto, Japan
1962 Began studying and creating Buddhist sculptures, aspiring to become a Buddhist sculptor
1964 Became an apprentice to Kyoto Buddhist sculptor Sokei Nozaki
1979 Held a solo exhibition at the Kyoto Asahi Hall, sponsored by The Asahi Shimbun
1980 Received the Kyoto Mayor's Award at the Kyoto Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition (awarded a total of 12 times thereafter)
1981 Installed a monumental statue of Fudō Myōō at Fukuoji Temple in Hiroshima Prefecture (later created a total of 19 monumental Buddhist statues across Japan)
1984 Held a solo exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in Tokyo (followed by numerous solo exhibitions nationwide)
1985 Received the Kyoto Governor's Award at the Kyoto Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition (awarded a total of 16 times thereafter)
Installed a large Amida Nyorai statue (approximately 7.2 meters) at Gokurakuji Temple in Hiroshima Prefecture
1988 Restored 100 Buddhist statues housed in the Musée Guimet, France (National Museum of Asian Arts)
1999 Completed one of the world's largest wooden Buddhist statues, the seated Dai Benzaiten, at Saifukuji Temple in Kagoshima (18.5 meters high)
2002 Dedicated a statue of Master Keika Ajari to Kongobuji Temple on Mount Koya
2004 Installed a large sandalwood seated statue of Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kannon at Kannon Shoji Temple in Shiga Prefecture, the 32nd temple of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage
2005 Opened the Matsumoto Myokei Buddhist Sculpture Museum in Kyoto
2006 Installed a large sandalwood seated statue of Fudō Myōō at Daiganji Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima
Dedicated 88 principal images representing the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage to Zentsuji Temple.
Installed a large standing statue of Eleven-Headed Kannon at the Okinawa Branch Temple of Hasedera Temple in Nara
2007 Installed a 12-meter-tall gilded standing statue of Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kannon at Kimii-dera Temple in Wakayama Prefecture, the 2nd temple of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage
2008 Installed a statue of Fudō Myōō at Myōō-dō Hall, Enryakuji Temple, Mount Hiei
2009 Dedicated the principal Amida Nyorai statue to the Tokyo Branch Temple of Komyoji Temple
2010 Installed an Amida Nyorai statue at Anrakuji Temple, the 6th temple of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage
2011 Received the Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Achievement Award
2012 Appointed Special Professor at Kyoto Prefectural Forestry College
2013 Received the Kyoto City Cultural Achievement Award
2014 Created and dedicated the Four Heavenly Kings for the reconstruction of the Chumon Gate commemorating the 1,200th anniversary of Mount Koya
Received the Kyoto Shimbun Cultural and Academic Award
2015 Received the Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Achievement Award
2018 Dedicated a statue of Fudō Myōō to Shojoshin-in Temple, a special head temple of Mount Koya
2019 Dedicated an Amida Nyorai statue to Ninna-ji Temple in Kyoto
2023 Dedicated a Miroku Bosatsu (Maitreya Bodhisattva) statue to Ishiyamadera Temple in Shiga Prefecture
2024 Dedicated a statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu to Zojoji Temple in Tokyo