"Shotaro Ikenami Exhibition: The Gaze of a Man of Humanity"

2025Years3Month29Day(Sat)~2025Years6Month9Day(Mon)

　Ikenami Shotaro (1923-1990) is a writer who created popular series such as "Onihei Hankacho," "Kenkaku Shobai," "Shikakenin Fujieda Baian," and "Sanada Taiheiki." His works, which have expanded the fan base through their adaptation into TV dramas, movies, and anime, are still read by many readers even now, 35 years after his death. Ikenami was born and raised in Asakusa, Tokyo, and started out as a playwright. His historical novels are filled with an atmosphere reminiscent of the town of Edo, and the scenes of the daily lives of his characters are colored with seasonal cuisine. His works also have an enduring appeal in that he looks deeply into the existence of "human beings," who are full of contradictions and possess both good and evil, and depicts the drama woven by the characters using his own coined words and writing style. With the special cooperation of the Ikenami Shotaro Memorial Library and the Ikenami Shotaro Community Center, this exhibition will delve into the appeal of Ikenami's works, which opened up a new world of period novels, and the behind-the-scenes of his creations through precious handwritten manuscripts, creative materials, original illustrations, etc. In addition, we will introduce the author's profile through essays about food, movies, travel, etc., which are as popular as his novels, the world of painting, which he took up as a hobby in his later years, and his interactions with the people of Etchu Inami, the hometown of his paternal ancestors.