Brought innovation to the world’s art by inventing Japan’s first purely domestic paints and their original colors, The old-established art supply store “Gekko-so”

It can be said that Ginza having more than 200 art galleries is one of Japan’s art cities. This time, let’s visit an art supply store with a history of over 100 years which the poet couple, Tekkan and Akiko Yosano, named “Gekko-so (月光荘).”

“Gekko-so” was founded in 1917 by Hyozp Hashimoto who loved nature. He moved to Tokyo at the age of 18 and worked as a student at a house of Fisher, a leader of YMCA, that was across from a house where Mr. and Mrs. Yosano lived. In those days, the couple published a magazine ‘Myojo,’ so it seemed that lots of people such as poets and painters, architects and Kabuki actors visited here. Cherished by them, Hyozo was fascinated with painters’ an eye for art and hearts to express. Then, he opened Gekko-so with the hope of helping painters who were dissatisfied with art materials sold in Japan.
That’s why you can find its retro brick entrance with a signboard whose letters were written by Akiko Yosano. The moment you enter the store, a photogenic sight of neatly displayed colorful stationery is laid out before your eyes.

All products of Gekko-so that invented Japan’s first authentic domestic oil paints are original, so you can’t find them anywhere else. By the way, Cobalt Violet Pink called ‘Gekkoso Pink’ won the 1st prize at the 1971 World Paint Competition. At the time, Le Monde Newspaper evaluated it was ‘a miracle born in a country except for France.’ Your heart is sure to dance with various items from uncompromising drawing materials to playful stationery.