Gallerist's small episodes vol.10 | Moving

【AKIRA UENO   Owner of Gogatsudo 】

On 24 September last year, the ‘Gogatsudo’ moved from Kyobashi, where we have been doing business for 46 years, to Nihonbashi.

My father and I had been talking about the relocation for more than 10 years. However, it was difficult to find a new premises to replace the one we had been operating under the favourable conditions of a street-front shop along Kyobashi Naka-dori Avenue. In the meantime, my father passed away in August 2023. In January 2024, when I was thinking that I would have to wait to talk about relocating for a while, I received a phone call from Mr G of Kotsukyo and was told that they were looking for a tenant for the first floor of the Hakuya Building. At that time, I was suffering from arthritis of unknown cause and was in hospital for surgery and treatment. I was having difficulty walking and didn't know what tomorrow would bring, so I told him I couldn't think about it at the moment. I could see a halo of hope shining on G's face.

Since my training days at Setsu Gatodo, I have looked up at the appearance of the Hakuya Building and thought it was a sophisticated building. The invitation to move into the building of my dreams, I thought about it all day long, day after day, in my bed in hospital, looking at the ceiling. What shall I do? At this point in my life? Thinking about it did not give me an answer, but when I was discharged from hospital in February and two weeks had passed, I came to the conclusion that it would be a shame to give up. After contacting the person of Kochukyo, I walked down Naka-dori Avenue with my walking stick and visited the shop. There, the president, Mr G, told me more about the Hakuya Building. We promised to take some time and went home that day.

After that, I continued to think about this and that, and when I discussed it with the owner of Setsu Gatodo, the main building, he told me that shortly afterwards he went to greet the president of Kochukyo and said, ‘Thank you for introducing a good shop to Ueno’. With your encouragement, I made the decision of a lifetime to move to Nihonbashi.
I asked Mr O, who has been my friend for more than 30 years, to do the interior design of the new shop, and he understood me (both in terms of my personality and my financial condition) and finished the interior to be even better than I had imagined. The construction was done by two young second brothers from M's Construction Company. They did a very diligent and careful job. We are especially grateful and impressed with the alcove, which is wonderful.

24 September marked the opening of the Nihonbashi branch of Gogatsudo. My wife and I have been running the shop since last year. We received many flowers from customers and colleagues on the day. We have been helped by many people to reach this point. After 36 years in the world of antiques, I have returned to Nihonbashi, where I started my art training. I am grateful for this opportunity and I will devote myself to antiques with the feeling that I am starting over. I would like to thank you in advance for your kind support.

In November last year, Mr Masafumi Inamura, a junior colleague in the art industry, opened a new shop in the old Kyobashi location. He left the modern interior design of the original "Mikazuki" art gallery untouched, and it has been transformed into a beautiful shop. We look forward to his future success.

【AKIRA UENO   Owner of Gogatsudo 】

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五月堂　Gogatsudo

10:00 - 18:00
〒104-0031 東京都中央区日本橋3-6-9 箔屋町ビル1F
1F HBL,, 3-6-9 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0031

休業日：日曜、祝日
CLOSE：Sunday, and Holiday
TEL：03-6281-9322 
WEB：ー
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"Gallerist's small episodes'' features contributions from unique gallerists who set up shops in this artistic town. If you have any interest in art, the town, or anything else, please come visit the owner's shop and listen to what he has to say.