Ekin: A Genius Painter from Tosa at the End of the Edo Period

Born Hirose Kinzo in Tosa (now Kochi prefecture), the enigmatic painter Ekin (1812-1876) became renowned for his striking depictions of Kabuki plays, festival banners and lanterns. Beloved in his home region, the artist mainly worked on folding screens that were often illuminated at night during summer festivals, captivating audiences with dramatic scenes of heroes, villains and ghosts. Though rooted in the government-approved style of the Kano school, Ekin’s art was uniquely theatrical, filled with tension, atmosphere and vivid storytelling.

This exhibition at the Suntory Museum of Art gathers together a plentiful selection of folding screens, scrolls and other festival-related works, many usually kept at shrines and local associations in Kochi. Highlights include two-panel screens illustrating some of Kabuki’s most suspenseful narratives, picture scrolls of annual events, and a newly discovered set of ema lanterns. One section recreates the shrine displays that once defined Kochi’s summer nights, immersing visitors in the festivals where Ekin’s works came to life.

By placing his masterpieces alongside works of his disciples and contemporaries, the exhibition not only celebrates Ekin’s genius, but also situates him within the vibrant cultural fabric of late-Edo Tosa.