Genichiro Inokuma was one of the artists who was very close to Hyozo Hashimoto, the founder of Gekkoso.
After the couple watched a movie in Ginza, they came into the store and asked, "Dad, are you there?" and began telling us, with tears in their eyes, about a scene from the movie they had just seen.
Hyozo went to see off Inokuma as he left for Paris, but he stopped off in New York on the way and liked it so much that he stayed there for about 20 years. Everyone was fascinated by the freedom of his spirit.
Hyozo also went to see off the Inokuma couple on the ship bound for Paris.
Mural "Freedom"
Inokuma is a fan of Gekkoso's oil paints, and when he was creating the mural "Freedom," which was created in 1951 and still adorns the central ticket gate at Ueno Station, he requested that "we make a soft, creamy white," and the paint "Titanium White (No. 1)" was produced.
"Freedom" mural at the central ticket gate of Ueno Station
The mural was restored in 2002, and the paint had deteriorated, but the oil paints in the Gekkoso were fine. Together with the artisans, we were delighted to hear the news.
The true value of art is only revealed when it passes through the cruel filter of time. We felt a small sense of pride that we had been able to protect the artist's soul for at least 50 years, and that we had fulfilled the minimum responsibility of a paint store. At the same time, all of us at Gekkoso, including our artisans, felt a renewed sense of responsibility.
Sketchbook creation
In the development of the original sketchbook, Inokuma-san helped us come up with the basic design together, suggesting where to place the horn mark, which paper quality would be best, etc. The binding design, which reduces the amount of coils sticking out from the spine to prevent the coils from getting caught when taking the book out of a shelf or bag, was also completed through our discussions.
A sketchbook with a design that remains almost the same today as it was then
Friendship with friends
The Keio University Student Hall, built in 1949, was designed by architect Yoshiro Taniguchi, and the large mural in the hall was created by Genichiro Inokuma. Gekkoso was also the supplier of the paints. The relationship between these three parties extends to their private lives as well.
In 1955, ten friends who had received painting lessons from Inokuma got together and built a ten-house style villa called "Easy Forest" in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture.
Yoshitaka Mikimoto, the president of Mikimoto Pearl Company, came to Karuizawa looking for cheap land, and architect Yoshiro Taniguchi designed it. Gekkoso was also included in the group. In addition to Inokuma, Taniguchi, and Mikimoto, the Ten Houses were home to politician Kiyoshi Mori, composer Ryoichi Hattori, and Toshio Kobayashi of Senkosha. Every summer, an outdoor party called "Mori-biraki" was held, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono and their spouses, as well as former Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama and his spouse, came to visit.
There was a free and easy atmosphere there, like a secret base for adults, with no consideration of profit or loss.
On the day of the "Forest Opening," Inokuma-san held a drawing class for the children of the tenement house. Inokuma himself acted as a model, and the children drew freely using Gekkoso art materials.
"Is my hair really black? What about my skin color? Look carefully. It's fine to go with the color you think and feel." "I'm not one to sit still."
With that said, Inokuma-san moved around as he pleased.
