Looking back on life in the Showa era

2026/7/18-11/1

Permanent exhibition rooms 4 and 5

What kind of era was the Showa period?

The year 2026 marks the centennial of the start of the Showa era (which began in 1926). This exhibition divides the Showa era into two periods—using the end of the war as the dividing line—and presents them as the "Pre-war and Wartime" period and the "Post-war" period. The first section, covering the pre-war and wartime years, focuses on social conditions—such as economic depressions and conflicts—and their impact on people's lives; it looks back at daily life in Kagawa Prefecture during this time, centering on materials related to everyday living.

展示チラシ[PDF : 00KB]

Dates

2026/7/18-11/1

Hours of operation

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
*9:00 AM – 8:00 PM on days with extended evening hours
*Extended evening hours: August 8 (Sat) – 10 (Mon)

Days closed

Mondays (except open on July 20; August 3, 10, and 17; September 21; and October 12),
July 21 (Tue), September 24 (Thu), October 13 (Tue), and October 16 (Fri) through
October 21 (Wed)

Venue

The Kagawa Museum (5-5 Tamamo-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture)
Permanent Exhibition Rooms 4 & 5

Admission fee

General: 500 yen / Groups (20 or more): 400 yen
*Admission is included with the special exhibition ticket during the special exhibition period.
*Free admission for: high school students and younger; Kagawa Prefecture residents aged 65 or older; and holders of a disability certificate, a certificate for specific medical expenses (designated intractable disease), or a certificate for medical expenses for specified pediatric chronic diseases (plus one accompanying caregiver). Please present proof of eligibility.

Selected Exhibits

*All items are from the museum’s collection.

Commemorative postcard for the National Industrial Exhibition hosted by Takamatsu City 1928 (Showa 3)

This is a commemorative postcard from the National Industrial Exhibition held at the ruins of Takamatsu Castle in 1928 (Showa 3). Amidst a nationwide economic downturn during the late Taisho and early Showa periods, the exhibition was organized in Takamatsu with the aim of promoting industry and strengthening national power. The venue, illuminated by numerous electric lights, was described as a “dazzling city that never sleeps”; the fact that all the commemorative postcards feature night views of the site suggests that the brilliance provided by electric lighting was a major attraction.

Related Events

Museum Talk

*Free (admission ticket required) – Staff members will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the exhibits!

Dates: July 20, 2026 (Monday, national holiday), August 22, 2026 (Saturday), and September 6, 2026 (Sunday); all sessions start at 14:00.
Venue: Permanent Exhibition Rooms 4 & 5 (2nd Floor)

Workshop: “Try Your Hand at Showa-Era Games!”

*Free: Come enjoy Showa-era games with our museum volunteers!

Date & Time: August 12 (Wed) and 13 (Thu), 2026; 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00
Venue: Hands-on Learning Room (1st Floor)

Special exhibitions Permanent exhibitions Other exhibitions