The Nippon Club WEB Gallery held a special exhibition titled “Good Luck Charms of Edo” from January 14 to February 17, 2021. In this exhibition, we introduced a number of auspicious items carefully selected by a small toy shop “Sukeroku” that was established around the end of the Edo period.

At the opening reception, Mr. Yoshitaka Kimura, the 5th owner of “Sukeroku”, introduced a small toy one by one, and everyone enjoyed a “rakugo” by the second generation Master Hayashiya Kikuzo.

GUEST

Yoshitaka Kimura

Born in 1937 and raised in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, Yoshitaka Kimura is a graduate of Keio University Faculty of Economics. In 1979, after working several years for a company, he inherited “Sukeroku,” a family-owned shop specialized in toys of Edo, from his father and became its fifth owner. Combining his profound knowledge of customs and cultures of Edo with a witty speech style, Kimura is a great storyteller, and regularly receives lecture requests.
In 1979, after working several years for a company, he inherited “Sukeroku,” a family-owned shop specialized in toys of Edo, from his father and became its fifth owner. Combining his profound knowledge of customs and cultures of Edo with a witty speech style, Kimura is a great storyteller, and regularly receives lecture requests.

Kikuzo Hayashiya

Hirotoshi Toyoda was born in Tokyo in September, 1975. After graduating from Tamagawa University College of Arts, he became a disciple of the first Kikuzo Hayashiya, his father and a master rakugo-ka (a traditional Japanese comic storyteller). In September 2007, he became a shin-uchi, the headliner, and succeeded the name, Kikuzo Hayashiya, from his father who took on a new name, Kikuou. In recent years, he has expanded the scope of his activities beyond rakugo (traditional comic storytelling) by appearing on TV and giving lectures throughout Japan. He is also an author, penning several books including “Easy Going Parenting,” which he co-wrote with his father.

Inquiry: gallery@nipponclub.org