News Release

High-resolution facsimile of 18th-century masterpiece Flock of Cranes
donated to Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History through the Tsuzuri Project

TOKYO, February 25, 2026—Canon Inc. announced today that the Tsuzuri Project (officially, the Cultural Heritage Inheritance Project), a joint project organized by Canon and the Kyoto Culture Association (NPO), has donated to the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History a high-resolution facsimile of Flock of Cranes, a pair of six-panel folding screens painted on gilded paper by Yūtei Ishida.

Born in 1721 in Akashi, modern-day Hyogo Prefecture, Ishida was an artist of the Tsurusawa school (a branch of the renowned Kano school). Flock of Cranes showcases Ishida’s signature style, which combines realism with decorative flourishes. Upon close observation, several species of crane can be distinguished—such as the red-crowned crane, white-naped crane, and hooded crane. Their varied postures and movements create a sense of dynamism throughout the composition.

Since the original belongs to the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the donation of the facsimile represents a symbolic homecoming to the artist’s birthplace. The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History, where the facsimile will be exhibited, maintains a significant collection of artworks with ties to the local area and is dedicated to preserving and sharing the region’s history and culture.

Canon photographed the original Flock of Cranes using full-frame mirrorless cameras, processed the data with its proprietary color-matching system, and printed the images using 12-color large-format Canon inkjet printers. Expert Kyoto artisans then applied gold leaf to the facsimile and mounted it on folding screen frames, producing a highly faithful reproduction of the original work.

To commemorate the donation, from February 25 to May 6, the facsimile will be displayed in the lobby of the museum, where visitors will be permitted to photograph and view it up close without a protective case. During the exhibition period, the museum will also exhibit another set of folding screens painted by Yūtei Ishida in a free-admission area. Flock of Cranes will continue to be displayed in future exhibitions and events at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History and will also be used in educational programs.

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  For information on museum opening hours and exhibition details, please visit the official Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History website: https://rekihaku.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/en/

About the Tsuzuri Project

Launched in 2007, the Tsuzuri Project is a joint cultural initiative organized by Canon and the Kyoto Culture Association. The project involves producing high-resolution facsimiles of historical artworks by combining Canon’s technical expertise in imaging, processing, and printing with the master craftsmanship of traditional Kyoto artisans. These high-resolution facsimiles are donated to shrines, temples, local governments, museums, and other organizations where they are made available for public display, education, and other purposes. So far, more than 60 high-resolution facsimiles of works by artists including Katsushika Hokusai, Tawaraya Sōtatsu, and Ogata Kōrin have been created.

For more information, please visit the Tsuzuri Project webpage: https://global.canon/en/tsuzuri/