April 20, 2021
On Monday, April 19, ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡'s first museum, the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Museum Commons (KeMCo for short), opened.
KeMCo is a university museum that serves as a "hub" to connect the diverse collections of cultural assets accumulated by ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ over its more than 160-year history with the educational and research activities behind them, fostering exchange. It functions as a "commons," a place where diverse communities related to the university¡ªincluding students, researchers, and alumni¡ªcan interact with objects as a starting point to generate new discoveries and ideas. Based in the newly constructed East Annex on Mita Campus, KeMCo aims to be a new kind of museum where the digital and analog merge through the use of advanced IT.
At a ceremony held on Wednesday, April 14, prior to the opening, addresses by President Akira Haseyama and KeMCo Director Takami Matsuda were followed by a congratulatory speech from Mr. Akira Shimizu, Chairman of the Century Cultural Foundation, which donated the art collection that forms the basis of KeMCo. This was followed by a lecture from KeMCo Deputy Director Yoko Watanabe, who introduced the concept and activities of KeMCo to date. Finally, Vice-President Tojiro Aoyama gave the closing remarks.
After the ceremony, a private viewing was held, and attendees toured the exhibition facilities on Mita Campus, including KeMCo, the exhibition space at the Mita Media Center (ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Library), the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Art Center (KUAC), and the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ History Museum, which is scheduled to open in May.
From April 19 to June 18, KeMCo is holding its grand opening exhibition, "Cross-scapes," featuring newly donated materials from the Century Cultural Foundation and cultural assets related to ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡. In conjunction with this commemorative exhibition, related exhibitions are also being held at the exhibition space of the Mita Media Center (ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Library) and the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Art Center (KUAC) on Mita Campus.
Advance reservations are required to visit, so please check the website for information before you come.
Photography by Takeshi Kishi