Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Maeda Ikutokukai Foundation
The Maeda: Legacy of a Prosperous Samurai Family
Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Special Exhibition Galleries April 14, 2026 (Tue)-June 7, 2026 (Sun)
Maeda Toshiie, the first head of the Kaga Maeda family, was granted lands in the Hokuriku region of central Japan. Thereafter, his family ruled its domains from the city of Kanazawa throughout the Edo period (1603–1868). As hereditary daimyo, or powerful feudal lords, they governed a vast territory comprising the regions of Kaga, Etchū, and Noto until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Their lands were considered among the most prosperous in Japan.
Even after moving to Tokyo in the modern era and receiving the title of marquis, the Maeda family continued to preserve their inherited cultural heritage. The sixteenth head, Maeda Toshinari, founded the Ikutokukai Foundation (now the Maeda Ikutokukai Foundation) in 1926.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation’s establishment. In commemoration of this milestone, the exhibition celebrates the achievements of the successive heads of the Maeda family and presents a wide range of cultural treasures handed down through the generations. Moreover, it explores the enduring essence of Kaga culture and its refined aesthetics through the artistry, craftsmanship, knowledge, and beliefs that flourished in the Maeda family’s prosperous castle town.
