Roads: Human Progress and Exchanges in Kitakyusyu Kitakyusyu islocated within close proximity to the Chinese mainland and the Korean peninsula,and Honshu islands. From ancient times, large quantities of people and goods passed through Kitakyusyu by lamd and sea, and in every age the city played amajor role in Japan’s economic and cultural development, it was in this environment that Kitakyusyu’s own history and culture developed. This exhibit introduces the city’s history from the perspective of ”roads”.

broad copper pike excavated site in Shigetome site in Kokura Minamiku	An Ancient Tomb on Hiagari Ipponmatsu Zuka	Statues of the Deva Kings in the Daikouzenji-Temple.

This broad copper pike is 83.5 cm long and weighs 1.7 kg. It was found at the excavation site in Shigetome site in Kokura Minamiku. It was found pointing South-West at a 45 degree angle under a house. It is the only case a pike was ever found under a house in Japan.	The decorated tomns was restored to actual size. The original built at the end time of the 6th century in Kokura. The radiation-like pattern is drawn on the back wall using red ocher. It is an ornament ancient tomb located in the Kyushu southernmost.	Legend has it that Daikouzenji-Temple were built by Tokiyori Hojo from the Kamakura shogunate ( 1185/1192 till 1333 ). These statues were made in the mid-13th century. The quality of the craftsmanship shows that the Hojo family had a deep connection with Kitakyushu.

Portrait of 24 important vassals of Kuroda clan	A map of famous spots of the Western part of Japan.	A bird’s eye view from Wakamatsu by Yosida-Hatsusaburo.

This portrait was depicted 24 important vassals who served Josui Kuroda and Nagamasa Kuroda. Josui and Nagamasa are not in this portrait. Nagamasa was deified by his subjects and for this reason he could not be shown in the portrait. However the helmet at the top of the portrait represents Nagamasa.	A bird’s eye view of Tokiwabashi and Nagasaki street in Kokura was drawn by Sadahide Gountei (1807-79) at the end of the Edo period. The town around the Kokura castle and lots of ships in the harbor are shown here.	This painting shows the development of Kitakyushu city. When maintenance of traffic and development of sightseeing are progressing from Taisho Era to the early stages of Showa Era, Yoshida Hatsusaburo made a lot of paintings of the national famous places, and these pictures became very popular. At first he performs a field survey, next, he makes the big original drawing; and he prints and makes a foldaway figure. About Kitakyushu which was original 5 cities; Wakamatsu, Tobata, Kokura, Yahata and Moji, we can see the original drawing of Wakamatsu and Tobata, and the printing figure in Kokura and Yahata.

Coal mine paintings by Yamamoto Sakubei

Yamamoto Sakubei used to work in the Chikuhou coal mine. After his retirement he drew a lot of paintings about the life of the miners depicting their work and daily life. In 2012 the Tagawa collection of Yamamoto Sakubei’s work were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage. The two largest works of all his works are in this museum. These works were made by the request of the former Kitakyushu History museum.