I was surprised when I heard that there are many people in Japan who have never been to any art museums or concerts, and I hoped they would be aware that an art museum is a very enjoyable place that awakens aesthetic sensibility. To achieve this, exhibiting excellent works at an art museum is not enough. We should create a facility where visitors feel welcome and want to come again.

The concrete approaches to be taken by the Hyogo Museum of Art include enhancement of the facility's ability to send out messages by improving our website and other measures; further spreading the attractiveness of the excellent architecture by Tadao Ando; holding concerts and fashion shows, in addition to exhibitions, and using the entire facility. We always hope to establish stronger ties with local communities, and have Hyogo citizens feel at home our Art Museum. Cordial hospitality by all staff is also important to achieve this. On December 18, 2010, we gave the street connecting the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Hanshin Iwaya Station, JR Nada Station and the Oji Zoo a new name, Museum Road. We will make every effort to make this an attractive road with an artistic and cultural atmosphere so that people can enjoy walking to the Art Museum. We also hope that the Art Museum will bring a positive economic impact to local areas and inspire creative activities as a center of culture, thus contributing to the development of the community and the economy.

Professor Galbraith, a world famous economist, suggested that what Japan should expand on in the future is not its GNP (Gross National Product), but its GNE (Gross National Enjoyment). I would like to make the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art a facility that is a spiritual home for people. I strongly hope to make it a place where everyone can visit and have the luxurious experience of learning about and enjoying genuine art in a relaxed atmosphere, where international exchange starts, where children can expand their artistic creativity and where people can feel the joy of art from the bottom of the heart.