The in Takajō-machi, Kōchi

Kochi, Kochi

is the capital city of Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku island of Japan.Kōchi is the main city of the prefecture with over 40% of its population. As of May 31, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 340,515 and a density of...

, Kōchi Prefecture

Kochi Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, house historical materials related to the Yamauchi clan, rulers of the Tosa Domain

Tosa Domain

The was a feudal domain in Tosa Province of Japan during the Edo period. Its official name is . Some from the domain played important roles in events in the late Tokugawa shogunate...

. Going back to an agreement between the Yamauchi family and Kōchi Prefecture from December 9, 1994, this foundation was formally established as a collaboration between Kōchi city and Kōchi Prefecture on April 26, 1995, with the aim of preserving and exhibiting the family's ancestral heritage of historical records, arts and crafts items. On May 1 of the same year the museum hall was opened.

The items date to the Edo period

Edo period

The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

 and were found in and around Kōchi Castle

Kochi Castle

is a castle located in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.-History:Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Kōchi Castle was constructed in what was then the province of Tosa. It was built by Yamanouchi Kazutoyo, who took control of the province after the Tokugawa victory. The castle was constructed...

. Since the Meiji period

Meiji period

The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

, they had been in possession of the Yamauchi family. Materials were gradually transferred from the Yamauchi family to the custody of Kōchi Prefecture since April 28, 1995; a process that was completed in July 2004 with the simultaneous transfer of about 36,000 items. Since then, the complete material ancestral heritage of the family, amounting to about 67,000 items, has been held by the archives. In addition the archives have received materials entrusted or donated by temples and shrines.

The museum exhibits the collected items, conducts research and runs training and educational courses. A dedicated department is in charge of restoration and preservation of materials. Regular and special exhibitions on a variety of topics are changed periodically, with about 100 items on display at any given time. The regular exhibition is devoted to the Tosa Domain and the Yamauchi family.

In December 2010, the museum began displaying documents from the Chōsokabe clan

Chosokabe clan

The was a Japanese samurai clan of the Sengoku period, that controlled Tosa Province , and later Shikoku Island. The clan is sometimes also known as...

, which was ruled by Chōsokabe Motochika

Chosokabe Motochika

was a Sengoku period daimyo in Japan. He was the 21st chief of the Chōsokabe clan of Tosa Province . He was the son and heir of Chōsokabe Kunichika and his mother was a daughter of the Saitō clan of Mino Province....

 (1539–99) from Okō Castle during the Sengoku period

Sengoku period

The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

. The documents include the oldest paper known to be signed by Chōsokabe Kunichika

Chosokabe Kunichika

was a powerful warlord in Tosa Province, Japan. He is the son of Chōsokabe Kanetsugu. His childhood name was Senyumaru .His father was killed by the Motoyama clan in 1508. Therefore, Kunichika was raised by the aristocrat Ichijō Husaie in Tosa Province. Kunichika was reconciled with the Motoya clan...

 (Motochika's father), and documents covering the period from when the Chōsokabe clan rose to power until just before their decline.

The archives hold one scroll (no. 20) of the Kōya edition of the Kokin Wakashū from the 11th century Heian period

Heian period

The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...

. This is the oldest extant manuscript of the workOther, equally old, scrolls of the Kōya edition exist. and has been designated as National Treasure of Japan.