Satoshi Kako Exhibition

Satoshi Kako was born in 1926. He experienced the World war ll as a sensitive junior high school student, was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, and once aimed to become an air engineer officer, but gave up due to severe myopia. Then, he entered the Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Imperial University. The war finished when he was evacuated to Mie Prefecture. During the days, his home in Tokyo had been destroyed in the Great Bombing of Tokyo.

After the World War ll, the world’s values ​​have changed completely, and he has lost hope for the future. However, in that era he encountered “settlement activities”. “Settlement activities” had the philosophy of “loving peace as a human being,” “doing devotionally for the suffering people,” and “desiring to contribute to overcoming hardships in life.” He said of that time, “the activities slowly pushed my back forward when I was wandering aimlessly.” This philosophy would have a great influence on the later activities of Satoshi Kako.

Satoshi Kako, who participated in the Settlement Activity, drew, and performed “Kami-shibai” – a picture-story, show for the children of factory workers. Stories of “Kami-shibai” reflect the lives of workers and are somewhat melancholy. After that activity, Satoshi Kako made his debut as a picture book author in 1959 with “Dumu no Ojisan Tachi – workers for building Dams, and went on to create masterpieces one after another.

In this exhibition, there are many original drawings by pen and drawings of picture books such as “Daruma-chan” and “Karasu no Pan- ya-san – Bakery by Crows” that Japanese people have read at least once. Each one is drawn with amazing detail. Satoshi Kako, who studied science, reflects his unique observation of nature and his faithful depiction of factories and history. Also, the preciousness of work, peace, coexistence, affection, etc. are all common themes of those picture books. The theme is by no means obtrusive.But you will notice that the children who read picture books naturally have something warm in their hearts.

At the end of the exhibition, the “Universal Evolution Earth Life Transition Diffusion Comprehensive Map” (Life Encyclopedia) is a great masterpiece. This is both Kako Satoshi’s final message and a mandala. What Satoshi Kako wanted to convey to everyone was that all lives are equally precious.

• More Beautiful
• More Stronger
• More Healthier

The message left by Satoshi Kako is simple. Everyone wants to be like that, but how difficult is it to make it happen?

Through this exhibition, we are certainly exposed to the importance of peace, equality, human rights, and dignity once again.