In honor of the 130th anniversary of nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist Kansetsu Hashimoto's birth, the Hyogo Museum presents around 70 of his most famous works.
As a scholar of Chinese culture and history, Hashimoto's artistic style mirrors that of traditional Chinese folklore, featuring elegantly illustrated animals and allusions to allegorical significance. Hashimoto pioneered a new genre of Japanese painting called shin-nanga (new southern painting), which blends classical artistic traditions with contemporary aesthetics. Examples of both his early and final works are on display; Sept. 14-Oct. 20.
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art; 078-262-0901; 1-1-1 Wakihama Kaigandori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo; Iwaya Station, Hanshin Electric Railway. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Fri., Sat. till 8 p.m.). ¥1,300. Closed on Sept. 17, 24, 30. www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp/eng
