At the center are such items as an old textile register with Bunka and Bunsei period
fabric pieces from Kinran, Toshuchin, and Takeya-cho; family crest patterns for the
sorappi loom dating from late Edo to Meiji; and hand woven brocade samples. Currently, Mr.
Arai is researching the Berutsu collection from Germany's Roitoringen University.
In the roughly 6000 piece collection of writings, paintings, fabric and folk costumes
are over 1000 Edo period textiles, dated and including comments. These are being recorded
on film. According to the first and second volumes of his diary (Iwanami library) and
other writings, Dr.Berutsu (1849 - 1913) had strong ties with Gunma, visiting Kusatsu hot
springs to study thermal baths, etc.
The goal of Mr. Arai's research is to determine whether more can be learned about the
items in the collection, particularly those originating from the prefecture. |
