The Ikaho region where Hara Museum ARC is situated has long flourished as one of Japan's preeminent tourist spots. Praises for Ikaho can be found as far back as the ancient anthology of poetry, the Manyoushu. During the Edo period, it was admired for the therapeutic values of its hot springs, for its vireos of Mt.Haruna and for visits to Mizusawa Temple on New Year's Day. Nowadays, the word "tourism" generally implies travel for the purpose of enjoyment. But digging into the roots of the Japanese term, we find an identical term in Chinese classical literature that literally means "to see the light of the country". Perhaps this points to that indescribable glow of life that one senses when witnessing the people of a country living joyous lives.

For this exhibition, the museum has thus chosen art from its collection that exemplifies this interpretation - art that is filled with the joy, comfort and brilliance of life. Hope you will come on a "tour" of the museum and be bathed in the joyous glow of its art.