Uesugi Mochinori was born in 1844 as the first son of Uesugi Narinori, the 12th Yonezawa domain lord, and was educated to become Narinori’s successor. In the year 1866, he attempted to seize power in Kyoto but was captured by the police and failed. Then, at the start of the Meiji period in 1868, the Yonezawa domain participated in the Boshin War as a key member of the Ouetsu Reppan Domei alliance in northern Japan but was eventually defeated surrendered. Mochinori dispatched troops to fight in Shonai following this, and he succeeded his father as domain lord at the end of the year.

Later in 1871, he moved to Tokyo following the abolition of the han system. Then, he studied abroad in England, and later served as governor of Okinawa, became a member of the House of Peers and other governmental positions. As Mochinori worked to modernize Yonezawa’s industry and education, he also maintained a close relationship with the warrior family class and eventually moved back to Yonezawa in 1896.

As a member of the Kazoku upper class, he maintained the Uesugi family system and financial foundation while also managing the ancestral treasures like archives and swords he’d inherited. He passed away in 1919.

He lived through a tumultuous period in Japan’s history filled with institutional unrest, social changes and rapid modernization resulting from a volley of major historical events such as the end of the Edo period and the Boshin war. This exhibit focuses on the timeline from the end of the Edo period to the late 1890s, exploring Mochinori and the warrior family class’s lives, beliefs, their relationship, and the role he played in advancing the region’s modernization efforts.

Exhibition period

First half: 20th April (Saturday) ~ 19th May 2024 (Sunday)
Second half: 25th May (Saturday) ~ 23rd June 2024 (Sunday)

Opening Hours

9:00 am ~ 5:00 pm

Last entry at 4:30 pm

The museum is closed on 24th April and 22nd May (Wednesdays).

Entry Fee

Includes entry to the permanent exhibition

Adults: 800 yen (640)
High school and university students: 500 yen (400)
Elementary and middle school students: 300 yen (240)

Prices in brackets apply to groups of 20 and above

Children (High schoolers and below) can enter for free on 5th May, Children’s Day!
Free entry for all visitors on 18th May, International Museum Day as well!

Themed Seminar – The Kazoku domain lords and society in the region

Date: 11th May 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 2:00 pm
Lecturer: Junichi Miyama (Professor at Chuo University’s Faculty of Letters)
Venue: Denkoku no Mori 2F Grand Meeting Hall
Capacity: 120 people, on a first-come-first-served basis

Please register your interest to attend the seminar. Entry is free.

Gallery Talk (Registration not required)

The curator in charge will explain the exhibition. All talks begin at 2:00 pm.

1.    Look here! The key draws of the exhibit – 20th April (Saturday)
2.    The Boshin War and Uesugi Mochinori – 25th May (Saturday)
3.    Uesugi Mochinori and Modern Yonezawa – 22nd June (Saturday)

Venue: Special Exhibit Hall

You are required to pay the entry fee for entering the special exhibition.

For more information, please check the Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum website.

Limited Time Display of the Authentic version of the National Treasure - Rakuchu Rakugaizu Byobu (Uesugi Version)!

Dates: 20th April 2024 (Saturday) ~ 19th May 2024 (Sunday)
Venue: Permanent Exhibition Hall, Uesugi Bunkakan

Contact

Denkoku no Mori Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum

992-0052
1-2-1 Marunouchi, Yonezawa

TEL: 0238-26-8001