About the old Matsushima Orgel Museum

The “Matsushima Orgel Museum” was established on October 31st, 1992 as a facility with the purpose of preserving orgels from around the world here among the picturesque scenic beauty of Matsushima. The orgels here were all received from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium located in the city of Bruges, known for its scenic waterways. The collection featured the world’s largest concert organ ( 9m wide X 7m tall), an orchestra box produced in Switzerland more than a century ago, as well as organs specially produced for nobility, among other priceless pieces which were both historically and artistically significant. We took pride in having the largest collection of this kind in Japan, with hundreds of valuable pieces assembled over many years from countries all around the world. Unfortunately, due to extensive damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on March 11th, 2011, the Matsushima Orgel Museum was forced to close.

Profile: Teruhisa Kitahara

Born in Tokyo in 1948, Teruhisa Kitahara is known the world over for being the foremost collector of tin toys. In April 1986 he opened the Museum of Tin Toys in the Yamate area of Yokohama. He provided pieces for the “Tin Toy Stories Made in Japan” exhibit held at Disney World in Florida. The exhibit was on display for 6 years, beginning in November of 2011. He currently appears as an appraiser on TV Tokyo’s “Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan” as well as on various radio programs, commercials, and in local events. In addition, he is an author with a number of published works.
Director of Toys Club, Inc.
Museum Director of museums in Yokohama, Hakone, and Lake Kawaguchi.

コレクションについて

1858年、デザイナー第1号と言われているシャルル・フレデリック・ウォルトがパリにメゾンを開いたのをきっかけに、その後、様々なデザイナーたちが競い合って活躍し、パリ・モードを不動のものとしました。
当館では、19世紀の宮廷衣装からランバン、ディオール、シャネル等、現在に至るトップデザイナーたちの初期の貴重な作品をご覧いただけます。