Yumeiiro Museum
1-8-46 Kitaoka
Fujiidera, Osaka
Hours: 11:00-18:00 (23:00 on Sat.)
1F (A Room/B Room): Free admission
2F Takai Yoshikazu Exhibition (Closed Mon-Wed.)
Adults: 200yen Children:100yen Fan Club Members: Free
Courtyard/Yumeiro Music Hall

The Yumeiro Museum, located in Fujiidera, is housed in a building called a _machiya_ that was built some 120 years ago in 1877. This is the family residence of museum director, Tanaka Katsuaki, whose regular occupation is publishing. It was first opened as a museum exactly six years ago. The central area on the first floor is a gallery space. On the second floor, there is a permanent exhibition of works by Takai Yoshikazu that requires an admission fee. In the courtyard, there is a big stage and the Yumeiro Music Hall, which can hold up to 50 people.

The facility first came to my attention when Toyama Yuriko, who I came to know last year, played a concert there. But despite my interest in the museum, I never had a chance to go there. As it happened, I decided to go after receiving an invitation from the beeswax artist, Hiro, who was showing his work at the Machiya Flower Festival Exhibition.

This was also the first time I had ever been to the Fujiidera area. On that first visit, I took part in a mini-party that was being given during the exhibition period. There was a large, wooden table in the cafe at the back of the building, where the artists had gathered to have a few drinks and a pleasant chat. They told me that Saturdays are wide open like this until nighttime. Tanaka himself is a very friendly fellow who loves to talk. As the name of the place implies, the people there were filled with dreams.
Magatama Do, who I had met face-to-face for the first time recently, also showed up and it proved to be a very enjoyable evening.

Some days later, I made a return visit in the afternoon. This time the atmosphere of the _machiya_ was a bit different and since the weather was nice, there was a good breeze blowing through the space. At the music hall in the rear, there was quite a bustle as everyone gathered to take part in Kokubu Yumiko's "handmade class."