The Marukis: Their Paintings and Their Peace Activism in Postwar Japan

Iri and Toshi Maruki are known for their huge murals depicting the aftermath of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima. At first, their paintings focused on the horrors caused by the atomic bomb. From the 1970s on, their focus changed, and their paintings began to include other victims of war violence. Dr. Takashi Yoshida discusses the work of these two artists, addressing how and why their art changed over time. In addition to the Marukis, Dr. Yoshida’s presentation briefly analyzes pacifist movements among Japanese artists and the role of museums in postwar Japan.

Dr. Takashi Yoshida is a Professor of History at Western Michigan University. His publications include From Cultures of War to Cultures of Peace: War and Peace Museums in Japan, China, and South Korea (2014) and The Making of the “Rape of Nanking”: History and Memory in Japan, China, and the United States (2006).