About the artwork

What Was Seen in Akiyamago during the Edo Period
“Akiyama Kiko (Travelogue of Akiyama)” is a chronicle penned by Suzuki Bokushi, a late Edo period merchant and essayist. In September of the old calendar year 1828, Suzuki traversed the Akiyamago region alongside the Nakatsugawa River for a week, meticulously detailing the lifestyle, customs, and scenery of thirteen dispersed villages through text and illustrations. This exhibition serves as a complement to the initial stage project titled “Before the Rain”, undertaken by Isobe, which is based on the same historical material. Centered on the primary village of “Shimizugawara,” the exhibition quotes Suzuki Bokushi’s writings and showcases his illustrations. Additionally, it explores natural science perspectives on the changes in the Nakatsugawa River’s flow, its association with infectious diseases such as smallpox, local weather phenomena, and water circulation. These aspects are presented through informative panels and videos. Particularly striking are the aerial photographs of Nakatsugawa, adorning the entire floor of the gymnasium, and Suzuki Bokushi’s illustrations adorning the walls.