Create Virtual Tours to Share the Hiroshima Panels

In this newsletter, we are pleased to share the latest updates from the gallery, including the progress on restoring The Hiroshima Panels, preparations for our upcoming event and special exhibition, and an introduction to our new curator.


The Hiroshima Panels (II): Fire returned to the gallery

The restoration of The Hiroshima Panels (II): Fire was recently completed at the Institute for Conservation of Cultural Property at Aichi University of the Arts, and the work returned to the Maruki Gallery on June 13, 2025. Compared to its previous state, the piece is now brighter, with clearer lines and more vivid flames, allowing viewers to better experience its texture and intensity with more realism.

For the first time in a long time, all of the artworks were on display together, and we had many visitors. Thanks to your support, we have been able to restore the A-bomb paintings little by little. We are very grateful for your donations. 

Restoration work will continue with Panels III, IV, and V. We deeply appreciate your ongoing support for the Hiroshima Panels Preservation Fund.


Preparing for renovation  

As we began clearing out the building in preparation for renovation work, we discovered a significant collection of valuable materials from the 1950s in the Odaka Bunko, which had served as Iri and Toshi’s shared atelier and study.

Among the materials found were approximately 330 letters to the Marukis, mainly from people involved in the exhibition tour in Japan and those affected by the atomic bombing; flyers and catalogs of the various traveling exhibitions.

In addition, letters and other materials related to the world touring exhibition are being constantly discovered. We plan to organize these materials and eventually make them available to the public.


80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima 

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings. The Maruki Gallery will commemorate this historic observance with a special Hiroshima Day program, which will be the final one held before the building closes for renovation.

Although the building has faced issues such as leaks, flooding, and other challenges resulting from the impacts of climate change in recent years, it remains a long-cherished space that has undergone four major expansions. We are committed to making the most of the precious time we have left in this beloved structure.

This year, we are pleased to present a performance titled Yamamba, kai, by choreographer and dancer Momoko Shiraga. Toshi Maruki once created a stage curtain called Yamamba of Peace for a community center in Higashimatsuyama City. She regarded the yamamba (a mountain-dwelling, witch-like figure from Japanese folklore) as a symbol of peace, one that lives in harmony with nature and nurtures life.

It takes inspiration from the idea of a “Yamanba Conference”, which Toshi Maruki once dreamed of and spoke about with Miyoko Matsutani and Michiko Ishimure. Drawing inspiration from this imagined gathering, the work seeks to create a space where diverse voices of today can come together. 

This year, for the first time in five years since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the toro nagashi (floating lantern ceremony) will once again be held at the Toki River. We warmly invite you to take part in this special ceremony.

For those unable to visit the Maruki Gallery in person, we invite you to watch our online video tour, What Are the Hiroshima Panels?, and take time on Hiroshima Day to reflect on the events that unfolded beneath the mushroom cloud.

 *This YouTube video was created in 2021 during the pandemic as part of the virtual tour project. Thank you again for your contribution! Subtitles are now available in both English and Japanese. 


 Special Exhibition: Masterpieces by Iri, Toshi and Suma: Kanzashi

 Beginning Saturday, July 19, 2025, we will present our final special exhibition before the renovation: Masterpieces by Iri, Toshi and Suma: Kanzashi.

Toshi Maruki wrote a text about the piece, which was painted in the spring of the year Suma passed away.

“There are cats, dogs, birds flying through the sky, flowers blooming in abundance – it became a mandala of Grandma’s life. We decided to name the painting Kanzashi, to honour the life of this woman who worked so tirelessly, adorning her life with a sparkling, radiant kanzashi.”

– Suma Maruki Collection: Flowers, People and Living Creatures, Shogakukan, 1984

As the Maruki Gallery prepares to close for an extended renovation this fall, we invite you to enjoy a final display of exquisite “Kanzashi” works featuring the finest paintings by Iri, Toshi, and Suma Maruki.


Introducing our new curator

On May 16, we welcomed Takuro Sekimachi as the newest member of our curatorial staff. Takuro previously completed an internship at the Maruki Gallery and later pursued studies in London, United Kingdom, before returning to Japan. He is currently conducting research on the international exhibition tours of The Hiroshima Panels.

With his addition, our team now consists of four full-time staff members. Together, we are dedicated to completing the upcoming renovation and welcoming visitors to the renewed Maruki Gallery.

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The Maruki Gallery will be temporarily closed for renovation of the entire building from September 28, 2025 (planned date of reopening is May 2027). Many visitors are visiting the gallery to see the Hiroshima Panels in the current gallery building for the last time.

We thank you again for supporting us throughout this process to enable us to pass the Hiroshima Panels on to future generations.