Kita Ikki was a prominent figure known for his involvement in the attempted coup d’état on February 26th 1936 and consequently arrested and executed.

Born and raised in Sado, he was a child prodigy who skipped a grade in high school and even wrote a newspaper article while still in high school.

After he was executed, his memorial tablet was brought to Sado. It was so taboo that all the houses on the island closed their windows, and children were not allowed to go outside. His relatives were also unable to stay on the island, and the memorial tablet went missing.

Despite his controversial past, research has shed new light on Kita Ikki’s image. This exhibition features AI-aided readings and visualizations of books and materials related to Kita Ikki. You can also see his study desk and love letters from his youth on display.

Interestingly, the missing memorial tablet was found during a house cleaning. Someone with no connection to the family had treasured it next to their Buddhist altar.