On Thursday, February 25, Keio University concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Century Cultural Foundation on its donation of artworks to the university.
A signing ceremony for the conclusion of the MOU was held in the conference room on the 9th floor of the East Annex at Mita Campus. The ceremony was attended by Keio President Akira Haseyama, Provost Tojiro Aoyama, Keio Museum Commons Director Takami Matsuda, and Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Director Takahiro Sasaki from Keio University, and President Akira Shimizu and Managing Director Mitsuharu Kanzaki from the Century Cultural Foundation. President Haseyama gave the opening remarks and an overview of the proceedings before he and President Shimizu signed the memorandum. Next, President Shimizu presented an inventory of the items donated by the foundation, with President Haseyama offering a letter of appreciation on behalf of the university in response. Finally, President Shimizu offered remarks in which he spoke of his gratitude for Keio University's cooperation as well as his expectations for the future use and deployment of the artworks.
Keio Museum Commons (KeMCo) will henceforth be responsible for running the "Century Cultural Foundation Akao Commemorative Fund," which was established and is operated using funds donated by the Century Cultural Foundation, as well as for the use of the total of 2325 pieces that have been consigned by the foundation. Additionally, KeMCo will link up with various educational and research initiatives to be rolled out at Keio University as well as make proposals on new models for museum activities going forward.
<About the Century Cultural Foundation>
The foundation was set up by Mr. Yoshio Akao, the founder of the educational publisher Obunsha Co., Ltd., with the aim of permanently preserving and passing down the culture of the written word, and is involved in the collection and preservation of cultural assets related to written culture, including calligraphic works and paintings, classical texts, and arts and crafts, as well as educational and promotional initiatives employing these materials. In 2009, the Century Cultural Foundation entrusted 1740 items from its collection to Keio University, which were stored at the Keio Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) and used for research and educational activities. With the current donation of a further 585 artworks to Keio University, adding to the 1740 items previously consigned at the university by the foundation, Keio Museum Commons and related facilities at the university will hereafter store and exhibit a total of 2325 artefacts. These will be deployed in education and research, as well as a wide range of public displays for visitors.