A native of Yokohama, Higashiyama Kaii (1908-1999) is one of the leading nihonga (Japanese-style painting) landscape artists of the postwar era. He was awarded the Japan Art Academy Award in 1956 and the Order of Cultural Merit in 1969. After he passed away, his family generously donated more than 270 lithographs to Kagawa Prefecture, since the painter’s grandfather was from Hitsuishijima Island in Sakaide, Kagawa. The Prefecture therefore decided to build the Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum to open his works to the public. It was Higashiyama who proposed that light grey colour would suit the Seto Ohashi Bridge. With a spectacular view of the bridge spread out before visitors, historic heritage with a romantic atmosphere of Man’yo Period, and the natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea, the museum offers a place where visitors can relax their mind. In this museum, explaining the association between Higashiyama and Kagawa Prefecture, the museum’s collections are exhibited under specific themes. The Museum is keen to promote exchange with other museums at various levels regarding Higashiyama, such as organising special exhibitions of artworks by Higashiyama and other related Japanese style painters.

See also Higashiyama Kaii Gallery (Nagano City, Nagaon Prefecture) and Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Hall (Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture)