Shuji Terayama Memorial Hall

About this Attraction

The Shuji Terayama Memorial Hall, located in Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, stands as a unique cultural institution dedicated to preserving the life, vision, and creative legacy of one of Japan’s most avant-garde and influential artists—Shuji Terayama. Constructed over three years and officially opened in July 1997, the hall was made possible by a heartfelt donation from Terayama’s mother, Hatsu, who contributed a wealth of personal and professional memorabilia to the city. The facility serves as an archive of Terayama’s multifaceted body of work and a space for reflection, inspiration, and exploration into the experimental world he created through theatre, film, poetry, and visual art.

The Memorial Hall is composed of two main sections—the Exhibition Wing and the Foyer Wing—linked by a connecting corridor. The Exhibition Wing alone spans approximately 833 square meters, offering visitors a spacious and immersive experience. Designed with symbolic intention, the building's layout, when viewed from above, resembles a wall clock—an object frequently used as a prop in Terayama’s plays and cinematic productions. This architectural detail pays tribute to his recurring themes of time, memory, and existential inquiry.

The exhibits include original manuscripts, photographs, scripts, personal items, rare video footage, and stage props used in his groundbreaking productions. Each artefact reveals another layer of Terayama’s boundary-pushing artistic approach and his enduring influence on Japanese contemporary culture. Meanwhile, the Foyer Wing extends the experience to the building’s exterior, where about 30 messages from his friends and collaborators are etched into the wall, serving as a public homage. Additionally, 149 porcelain panels line the outer wall, vividly portraying scenes and motifs from Terayama’s diverse creative works.

Whether you’re a scholar, an artist, or simply a visitor intrigued by unconventional creativity, the Shuji Terayama Memorial Hall offers a profound glimpse into the mind of a true visionary. With its carefully curated exhibits and architectural symbolism, the hall is not merely a museum—it’s a dynamic narrative space that continues to echo the spirit of Shuji Terayama’s experimental genius.