The Ikegami Hyakuchikutei Collection is a collective name for 221 items, mainly modern literary materials, collected by Matsumoto City writer Kisaku Ikegami over his lifetime. Many of the works were collected as Kisaku deepened his friendships with artists, and some were commissioned directly by artists. In addition, some of the works were made with unique mountings that reflect Kisaku's sensibilities, making this a collection of gems formed by both artists and collectors.

This time, marking the 1874th anniversary of the deaths of Takahama Kyoshi (1959-60) and the 1865th anniversary of the deaths of Shimomura Tameyama (1949-70), we look back on the works of both men. Both studied haiku under Masaoka Shiki and were involved in publishing the literary magazine Hototogisu. Kyoshi played a central role as a haiku poet, editor, and publisher, while Tameyama added elegance to the pages by writing the title lettering and illustrating the first issue's cover. Tameyama even drew illustrations for Kyoshi's novels, suggesting that they were both dedicated to creative endeavors.

Kisaku, who was devoted to Shiki and had connections with his disciples, was also an avid reader of "Hototogisu." The museum keeps 136 volumes of the magazine that Kisaku owned (including 20 reprints). In addition, the museum has collected works by several artists, primarily Kyoshi and Tameyama, and these are works that show the interactions between the artists. We hope that you will enjoy learning about their activities and interactions through the appreciation of their works.