Kenkichi Yoshida and His Tiny 12-Tsubo House
--Secrets of Dramatic Space Design

A cute house with a shed roof and red board walls accented with white window trim--the residence that Kenkichi Yoshida (1897-1982) built for himself after the war at age 52. Yoshida, while known as a stage designer, was active in many fields including book design, literature, and research in "modernology" (the study of modern social phenomena). His tiny 12-tsubo (39.7m2) house began as a place for his family of three to live in. Its principal feature--a small stage with an audience hall--reflected his mind and spirit as a stage designer. What kind of living space did he create in this tiny house with its own theater stage?
This exhibition explores the secrets of Kenkichi Yoshida's unique spatial design style, overflowing with novel ideas and humor. To do so, it traces--through some 140 historical materials--the lineages of thought and experience that led Yoshida to its development. The exhibition venue is arranged like a stage set guiding visitors around "backstage" in his tiny 12-tsubo house. Through Yoshida's house, which shows his many facets as a creator, we can know Yoshida the man--a person with great zest for living who liked bringing people enjoyment, and who fostered a creative new vision during a time of hardship in Japan.
We wish to extend our deep gratitude to Kenkichi Yoshida's family, especially his wife Kanoko and daughter Tamae Shiozawa, and everyone whose efforts have made this exhibition possible.