“Great Buddha sculptor Matsumoto Meikei’s studio Buddhist sculpture exhibition – The spirit and technique of Unkei”

Matsuzakaya Ueno store

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 – Tuesday, June 10th, 10:00am – 6:30pm *Closing at 5pm on the final day (last admission 30 minutes before closing) / Matsuzakaya Ueno Store, 6th floor event space *Free admission

Matsuzakaya Ueno store will be holding its first ever "Great Buddha sculptor Matsumoto Meikei Workshop Buddhist sculpture exhibition" from June 4th (Wed) to 10th (Tue) in the event space on the sixth floor. More than 300 breathtakingly intricate and soulful wooden Buddha statues created by Matsumoto Meikei, a sculptor in the style of Unkei and Kaikei and known as the "great Buddha sculptor of our time," will be on display and for sale.

Mr. Akiyoshi Matsumoto

Great Buddha Master Akiyoshi Matsumoto
Born in Kyoto in 1945. He has been aiming to become a Buddhist sculptor since 1962 at the age of 17, and it has been 63 years since then. He currently lives in Oharano, Kyoto, and continues to carve the figures of Buddha every day, devoted to bringing light to people living in modern times, which are filled with hardships. He is also active in the creation and installation of a statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu and a shrine for the 850th anniversary of the founding of Zojoji Temple in 2024.

Examples of works

Bishamonten
(Kusunoki / Kirikane / 7 sun / total height 42.0 cm)

Bishamonten (camphor wood/Kirikane/7 inches/total height 42.0 cm)

Fugen Bodhisattva
(Kusunoki/Kirikane/Hanpotsu 3 sun/Total height 34.0 cm)

Fugen Bodhisattva (Kusunoki/Kirikane/half-prosidence 3-sun/34.0cm)

Daikokuten (with mouse)
(Kusu / 3 sun 2 minutes / total height 20.0 cm)

Daikokuten (with mouse) (camphor wood/3.2 inches/total height 20.0 cm)

Eleven-faced Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva
(Sandalwood / 2.5cm seat / total height 27.0cm)

Eleven-faced Thousand-armed Kannon Bodhisattva (sandalwood / 2.5 sun seat / total height 27.0 cm)

White Robed Kannon Bodhisattva
(Hinoki leaves/painted/6 sun/total height 37.0 cm)

White-robed Kannon Bodhisattva (Cypress leaf/colored/6 inches/total height 37.0 cm)

[Jodo sect] Amitabha Buddha
(Kusu / 5 sun / total height 30.0 cm)

[Jodo sect] Amitabha Buddha (camphor wood/5 inches/total height 30.0 cm)

Fudo Myoo
(Agarwood / Platinum Kirikane / 2.5 sun / Total height 13.0 cm)

Acala (agarwood/platinum kirikane/2.5 sun/total height 13.0 cm)

Demon (soul)
(Cherry blossoms / 2.5cm / total height 23.0cm)

Demon (Soul) (Cherry Blossoms/2.5cm/Total height 23.0cm)

Child Kannon (with frog)
(Sandalwood / 1 inch 1 minute / total height 12.0 cm)

Child Kannon (with frog) (Sandalwood/1.1 inch/total height 12.0 cm)

Incense holder Buddha
An incense container is a container for incense, with a Buddha engraved on the inside. Small and easy to carry, incense containers can be used as talismans, with a guardian Buddha associated with the zodiac sign of the year you were born or a Buddha you worship.

Incense holder Buddha Samantabhadra
(Sandalwood/Kirikane/Diameter 6.0cm)

Incense holder Buddha Samantabhadra (Sandalwood/Kirikane/Diameter 6.0cm)

Incense holder Buddha Dainichi Nyorai
(Sandalwood/Kirikane/Diameter 6.0cm)

Incense holder Buddha statue of Dainichi Nyorai (Sandalwood/Kirikane/Diameter 6.0cm)

*During the period, staff from Matsumoto Meikei Studio will be on-site to take special orders in addition to the exhibits.
*We provide free estimates and consultations for the repair and restoration of old Buddhist statues.


" Great Buddha sculptor Matsumoto Meikei's studio Buddhist sculpture exhibition – The spirit and technique of Unkei "
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025 → Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Venue: Matsuzakaya Ueno Store, 6th floor event space Admission: Free
Business hours: 10:00-18:30 *Closing at 17:00 on the last day *Last admission is 30 minutes before closing
Special page: https://www.matsuzakaya.co.jp/ueno/topics/250604_matsumotomyokei.html

From the press release of Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd.

Article provided by: Kokosil Ueno


See other exhibition information