From Postwar Kanazawa to Global Art Dialogue: The Story of Ogawa Shoten

 

Ogawa Shoten was founded in 1945 by Chuji Ogawa in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the gallery primarily served Japanese collectors seeking classical Chinese and Japanese art objects. A pursuit deeply rooted in the cultural refinement of the Japanese tea ceremony and Zen philosophy, both of which flourished in Kanazawa.

In 1976, Chuji’s son Tadatoshi (Kyoji) Ogawa assumed leadership and relocated the gallery to Tokyo, establishing Ogawa Shoten Co., Ltd. in the capital to reach a broader and more international clientele. The gallery was initially based in Shinjuku before later moving to its current home in Kyobashi, near Ginza, one of Tokyo's most prestigious art and cultural districts.

Throughout its history, Ogawa Shoten has maintained a focus on:

1. Chinese and Japanese Ceramics, sourced from renowned Japanese collections

2. Chinese and Japanese Paintings and Calligraphy, especially those with connections to Zen aesthetics and tea culture

3. Japanese Modern Art, a category cultivated through Tadatoshi Ogawa’s connections with living artists following the move to Tokyo

However, 2nd owner Tadatoshi Ogawa made connections to Japanese Modern Artists when he moved from Kanazawa to Tokyo. At the time, our gallery was located in Shinjuku area in Tokyo. 

He held his own exhibitions 美淵 < Bien >

In 1987, he worked with celebrated works by renowned Japanese artists including Togyu Okumura 奥村土牛様, Yoshihiko Yoshida 吉田善彦様, Toshio Matsuo 松尾敏男様, Fuku Shoji 荘司福様, Toichi Kato加藤東一様, Chusaku Oyama 大山忠作様, Chikuhaku Suzuki 鈴木竹柏様, Chinami Nakajima 中島千波様, Koko Hatanaka 畠中光享様, Reiichi Tsuchiya 土屋礼一様, Yasuaki Hori 堀泰明様, Koichi Takeuchi 竹内浩一様, and Minoru Inamoto 稲元実様.

He also hosted special exhibitions such as "Kato Eizo Exhibition 加藤栄三様展" 1982, "Religious Iconography: Zuzo-ten 図像展" 1982, "Indian Rajput Miniatures" 1984, and "Photographic Exhibition by Yoshino Oishi 大石芳野様写真展"

   

Today, Tadatoshi Ogawa continues to lead the gallery alongside his daughter, representing the 3rd generation.

With a background in graphic design and business marketing from New York, she began her career in branding agencies before joining the family business in 2017, initially supporting sales and accounting operations of Ogawa Shoten Co Ltd.

Together, they are now expanding the gallery’s horizon seeking deeper engagement with collectors and scholars not only from East Asia but also from Western Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia, aiming to foster a more interconnected appreciation of Classical and Modern Art.

Membership

• Member of the Tokyo Art Club Association

• Member of the Osaka Art Club Association

• Member of the Kyoto Art Club Association
  

• Member of the Nagoya Art Club Association

• Member of the Kanazawa Art Club Association