Asakura Museum of Sculpture

Asakura Museum of Sculpture (台東区立朝倉彫塑館 Taitō kuritsu asakura chōsokan) or Asakura Choso Museum is an art museum in Tokyo, Japan, that showcases the sculptures and life work of Fumio Asakura (1883–1965). It is located in the Yanaka neighborhood of Taitō ward. The museum opened in 1967 after Asakura's death. Fumio Asakura was born in the town of Asaji in the Oita Prefecture in Japan. He moved to Tokyo where his brother lived when he was nineteen. Influenced by his brother's sculpting talent, Asakura attended the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) which propelled him towards his sculpting career. He focused on realism and was influenced by the naturalistic works of French sculptors like Bourdelle, Mailliol and most of all, Auguste Rodin. His work includes both human figures and animals, especially cats, which he had a deep love for and was inspired by his own pet cat. He is now considered the father of modern Japanese sculpture.