Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation / Museum /

The Shibusawa Memorial Museum collects and displays documents and artifacts from the life of Shibusawa Eiichi, a leader in business and finance who fostered the growth and development of the modern Japanese economy. Throughout his life he advocated for the harmony of morality and economy; playing an important role not only in the business world but in the fields of social welfare, education and private-sector diplomacy as well.

Adjoining the main museum building is the tranquil Old Shibusawa Garden. The garden and two structures of the original Shibusawa estate, the Bankoro Cottage and the Seien Bunko Library, date from the Taisho era (1912-26) and both buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government.

The Seien Bunko and Bankoro will be open to the public on Saturdays from 12:30 to 3:45pm.
Click here for more information on the buildings

Special Exhibition: Shibusawa Eiichi and Jitsugyo no Nihon: Businessmen as Seen in Magazines: Oct. 1 - Nov. 27, 2011
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Exhibition “Shibusawa Eiichi and Sun Yat-sen”: Jun. 11 – Sep. 19, 2011
Venue: Permanent Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Jun. 1, 2011　The Bankoro will reopen on Saturday June 11, 2011.
Apl. 8, 2011　Seien Bunko will reopen on saturday April 9, 2011. Bankoro remains closed.
Mar. 18, 2011 Due to the earthquake occurred in Tohoku and Kanto regions on March 11, 2011, Seien Bunko and Bankoro are closed until the safety is confirmed.
Special Exhibition: The Story of the Law Scholar Hozumi Nobushige and his Wife Utako: Based on an Oral History Project with Shibuswa Eiichi’s Great-Grandson Hozumi Shigeyuki: Mar. 5 - May 8, 2011
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Shibusawa Family Hina Dolls: February 19 - May 8, 2011
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Special Exhibition: Shibusawa Eiichi and the Student Dormitory: The Establishment of the Saitama Gakusei Yueki-kai: Oct. 2 - Nov. 23, 2010
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Thematic Exhibition Series “Thinking of Peace” Shibusawa Eiichi and the Great Kanto Earthquake: Looking to Reconstruction: Aug.t 7 - Sep. 23, 2010
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Special Exhibition: Shibusawa Eiichi and Albert Kahn: Exchanges of Two Businessmen of Japan and France: Mar. 20 - May 5, 2010
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
Press release
Exhibition website
Special Exhibition: Sarada Ichiro Collection - Plates Speak: Society and Trends in the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa Eras as Depicted on Plates: Oct. 3 - Nov. 23, 2009
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Thematic Exhibition Series “Thinking of Peace” Commemoration of 100th anniversary of the Honorary Commercial Commissioners of Japan to the U.S.A. Exhibition: Shibusawa Eiichi Goes to the U.S.A.: Private Economic Diplomacy of 100 Years Ago: Aug. 15 - Sep. 23, 2009
Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
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Special Exhibition: Modernization and Entrepreneurs of Japan, China and America: June7-July31, 2009
Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
Co-organized by Shibusawa Memorial Museum, Japan: Nantong Museum, China; and St.Louis Mercantile Library, U.S.A.
While looking at the entrepreneurs who spearheaded the modernization and industrialization of Japan, China, and the United States, this exhibition aims also to explore future cooperation between the three countries.
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Seien Cover Pictures: Saturdays 12:30-15:45, Mar. 7 - May 30, 2009
Venue: Seien Bunko
Exhibition looking back at the 60-year history of the monthly journal, Seien, through a display of a wide range of pictures and photographs from the front cover.
Mini Photo Exhibition: “Wow! Take a look - that’s neat!” Unknown Views of the Bankoro and Seien Bunko: Mar. 3 - May 6, 2009
Venue: Reading Corner, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
There are many discoveries to be made by looking carefully at details of the Bankoro and Seien Bunko. Discover delights of architecture through the photographs of architectural photographer Akihisa Masuda.
Special Exhibition: The Shibusawa Family Hinamatsuri: Feb. 21 - May 6, 2009
Special Exhibition Hall, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
The exhibition of hina-ningyo and accoutrements donated by Ms. Noriko Sasaki and Ms. Reiko Hattori, great-grand-daughters of Shibusawa Eiichi.
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Photo Exhibition: Lighting of the Bankoro and Seien Bunko: Dec. 6, 2008 - Feb. 14, 2009
Seien Bunko, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
The exhibition is open on Saturdays 12:30 - 15:45
This small-scale photography exhibition focuses on the decorations of interior and exterior lighting fixtures of the Bankoro and Seien Bunko.
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Masuda Akihisa Photo Exhibition: Bankoro and Seien Bunko: Saturday Oct. 11 - Nov. 29, 2008
Seien Bunko, Shibusawa Memorial Museum
The exhibition is open on Saturdays 12:30 - 15:45
The exhibition of 20 photos of the Bankoro and 30 photos of the Seien Bunko by Masuda Akihisa is being held in the Seien Bunko in the Old Shibusawa Garden adjacent to the main museum building.
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Special Exhibition: Enabling Japanese to Prosper in South America: Shibusawa Eiichi and Japanese Immigration to Brazil: Saturday October 4 ? Monday November 24, 2008 (closed Monday Oct. 6, 20, 27
Nov. 10, 17; Tuesday Oct. 14, Nov. 4)
Special Exhibition Hall
2008 is the 100th Anniversary of the first Japanese immigration to Brazil.
To mark the occasion, the Shibusawa Memorial Museum is featuring Shibusawa
Eiichi’s involvement in businesses and projects to promote and support
Japanese emigrants.
Click here for more details of the exhibition and related events.
New Display: Letters on the Doll Exchange Project: Saturday, January 5 - Saturday, December 27, 2008
Letters regarding the Doll Exchange Project between Japan and the United States will be displayed at the section 8 of the permanent exhibition, Broad Circle of Acquaintances, during this period.
Shibusawa Eiichi was involved in the project in the 1920s that aimed to promote peace and friendship between two countries through the exchange of dolls.
Exhibition: Shibusawa Eiichi and the Ambassadors of Peace: Japanese Friendship Dolls Sent to the United States: Friday, February 1 - Wednesday, February 13, 2008 (closed February 4 and 12)
Special Exhibition Hall
This exhibition will introduce the Doll Messengers of Goodwill, a project in the 1920s that aimed to promote peace and friendship between Japan and the United States through the exchange of dolls.
Click here for more details of the exhibition and related events.
Temporary closure of the museum: The Shibusawa Memorial Museum will be closed from May 7 to October 31, 2007 for the renovation work in the main museum building.
Bankoro Cottage and Seien Bunko Library, as well as the main building, will be closed to the public, and reference and other services will not be operated during this period. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
New Exhibition: Tanabe Junkichi - The Architect behind the Bankoro and the Seien Bunko: Saturday, March 4 - Sunday, May 7, 2006
Special Exhibitions Hall
Tanabe Junkichi was a popular architect during the Meiji and Taisho eras (1868-1926). He designed the Bankoro and the Seien Bunko in honor of Shibusawa Eiichi. Through artifacts donated by Junkichi's family, this exhibition explores both the man and his work.
New Display: Learning Lessons from the Past: The History of the Shibusawa Memorial Museum: Tuesday, February 28 - Monday, September 18, 2006
Calligraphy Section