Jiro Shirasu and Masako Shirasu - Life in Buaisou

1)
Jiro Shirasu (1902-1985) acquired British manners and education and dedicated his life to restoring Japan after the Second World War with the principles of his philosophy.

From an early age, she became familiar with classical performing arts through Noh and became a kimono. We are holding an exhibition of two people, Masako Shirasu (1910-1998), who loved antiques and was active in many ways as an essayist.

2)
Jiro and Masako, who fell in love at first sight and married, respected each other and cherished every day. They continued to interact with various people of their time, including Shigeru Yoshida, Jiro Aoyama and Hideo Kobayashi. Their way of life continues to resonate and influence many people today.

3)
This exhibition focuses on their way of life in Buaisou (Machida City, Tokyo), where they moved and lived for the rest of their lives. Jiro Shirasu's favourite objects, clothes, handmade tools, historical materials about his efforts to rebuild post-war Japan with the will of a country gentleman, and Masako's beloved kimonos, obi, antiques, accessories, and her travels throughout Japan as an essayist.

4)
Focusing on the collection of the former Shirasu residence, Buaisou, including Masako's writings and manuscripts, captured with great sensitivity while approaching the real faces of the two, looking at the beauty found in Japanese culture, seasonal living and the state of mind.

5)
No1: The Shirasu Family and the Kabayama Family - The Meeting of the Two

Jiro Shirasu was born in 1902 in Hyogo. His grandfather was a chief retainer of the Sanda clan, and his father, Bunpei, became a highly successful cotton trader after graduating from Harvard University.

6)
After graduating from Hyogo Prefectural Daiichi Kobe Junior High School, Jiro studied abroad at Clare College, University of Cambridge in England, where he stayed for nine years. Upon his return to Japan, he met and married Masako. As director of Nippon Suisan, he often visited England and developed a close friendship with Shigeru Yoshida, then Japan's ambassador to England.

7)
Shirasu Masako was born in Tokyo in 1910. Her grandfather was Count Kabayama of the Satsuma domain, who served as superintendent of police and minister of the navy.

8)
Kabayama Sukenori's father, Aisuke, was a member of the House of Lords. Masako Shirasu was introduced to Noh early and is said to have been the first woman to perform on a Noh stage. After graduating from the Gakushuin Girls' Elementary School, she attended the Hartridge School in America. After graduating, she returned to Japan and met Jiro.

She traces how they met, using photographs and items relating to the Shirasu and Kabayama families.

9)
No2: Jiro and Masako - People involved

Jiro Shirasu and Masako each had close friendships with many people.
Masako attended Gakushuin Girls' Elementary School in Chichibunomiya, and Setsuko was a classmate of Her Imperial Highness (née Setsuko Matsudaira). As their fathers were close, they formed a friendship from an early age and continued their lifelong friendship until the death of his wife.

10)
After the war, Shigeru Yoshida, who served as foreign minister and prime minister, trusted the young Jiro Shirasu, even when he was ambassador to Britain and assigned him to work at the Central Secretariat for End-of-War Liaison.

11)
In addition, Masako's meeting with Jiro's friend Tetsutaro Kawakami, a literary critic, led to her meeting Hideo Kobayashi and Jiro Aoyama, and their activities would significantly influence Masako in antiques and essay writing.
Here, we present objects and works related to the people they were involved with.

12)
No3: Jiro Shirasu and Masako Shirasu

Jiro developed a close friendship with Shigeru Yoshida, and immediately after the end of the war, Yoshida, the Foreign Minister, asked him to negotiate with GHQ. During the occupation, GHQ informed Japan that Jiro was "the only Japanese who was not obedient".

He refused to resign from the Occupation Army Headquarters and was deeply involved in drafting the Japanese constitution at the Central Secretariat for End-of-War Liaison.

13)
In 1948, under Yoshida, who became prime minister, he became director-general of the Foreign Trade Agency. The following year, he set up the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).

In 1951, he became chairman of the Tohoku Electric Power Company and devoted himself to developing power in the Tadami River basin in Fukushima Prefecture. The same year, he travelled to the United States with Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and others as Chief Plenipotentiary Advisor.

14)
He witnessed the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. After retiring as chairman of the Tohoku Electric Power Company in 1959, he remained in the field for the rest of his life, also devoting his passion to running the Karuizawa Golf Club.

15)
Meanwhile, with a new lease of life after the war, Masako formed friendships with Hideo Kobayashi and Jiro Aoyama, quickly becoming absorbed in literature and antiques. Around this time, she became involved in managing the Kougei dyeing and weaving shop in Ginza.

Here, we present items related to Jiro and Masako that recall the days they were active in their respective worlds through their lifestyles.

16)
No4: Buaiso

The Shirasu family lived in Buaiso. It looks like it will blow in the village of Tsurukawa (now Nogaya-cho, Machida City) on the outskirts of Tokyo. Even before the outbreak of the Pacific War, Jiro and Masako had anticipated Japan's defeat and a food crisis and had bought a farmhouse with farmland to become self-sufficient.

17)
As soon as the air raids on Tokyo began, the impatient couple decided to relocate immediately. Since it was on the border between Musashi and Sagami, Jiro called it "Buaisou", a play on the unfriendly character, and was happy about it. Thus began life in the countryside in a thatched farmhouse.

18)
While tilling the soil and growing rice and vegetables, Jiro devoted himself to the turbulent post-war reconstruction of Japan with the spirit of a British-style "country gentleman". He immersed himself in the world of Noh, literature and ancient art, travelling all over the country.

Masako travelled around the country, walking alone, appreciating the sites and encountering many beautiful things. We cherished our daily lives while respecting each other. The two of them create happiness in Buaisou and look at the everyday life of their beloved family.

Director Keio Makiyama introduces the charm of the former residence of Jiro and Masako Shirasu, "Former Shirasu Residence Buaisou"!

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001600.000031071.html

Masako Shirasu - Kakure Sato

https://1000ya.isis.ne.jp/0893.html