ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) opened ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE in CI Plaza, a commercial facility situated next to ITOCHU’s Tokyo Headquarters, in 2012. The gallery was part of ITOCHU’s social contribution activities, with the aim of developing the future generation through art, contributing to the local community, and promoting both local and international art and culture. Since then various exhibitions have been held at that space.

In May, which is designated as the month of bicycles, ITOCHU will hold an exhibition titled “Bicycle Expo 2017: Bicycle and Mode ― Yagami Collection That Has Never Been Displayed” and will showcase the Yagami Collection (privately owned) that only a limited number of people have ever seen. The exhibition will provide a special display of real bicycle models that were actively used at their beginning as well as bicycle posters featuring images of cheerful modern women that were symbols of the era. In addition, by exhibiting a collection of colored woodblock prints in which the changes of famous spots in Tokyo from the Meiji period to the early Showa period are visible along with bicycles, the Bicycle Expo 2017 will highlight the Japanese mode and the lure of bicycle culture with a focus on bicycle design trends. We sincerely hope that you will enjoy our exhibition.