The program "Platinum Family: A Peek into the Lives of a Glamorous Family" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 7 PM *excluding some regions) introduces the lifestyles of "glamorous families." In the August 4th broadcast, an "extremely valuable treasure" was discovered at a historic sake brewery in Minamishimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
The place we visited this time was "Sakagura Yoshidaya," a sake brewery that has been making sake for over 100 years. The grounds, which consist of the main house built in the late Edo period and six storehouses, cover approximately 1200 tsubo (about 4000 square meters), and in the 24-tatami room, a large hanging scroll that had been passed down from his grandfather's generation as "a calligraphy piece by Saigo Takamori" was discovered. The family had never verified its authenticity before, and the fourth-generation owner, Yoshiaki Yoshida, also said he didn't know if it was genuine or not.
The appraisal revealed a complete set of Edo period coins, ancient documents describing Hara Castle and the Shimabara Rebellion, and traditional Japanese musical instruments such as the sho, toteki, and hichiriki. Furthermore, approximately 200 pieces of Fukagawa porcelain tableware, specially ordered by the Yoshida family around 1910, were highly valued for their excellent condition despite being over 100 years old, and for being a complete set for 25 people. The appraisal results surprised even the family.
Unable to determine the authenticity of Saigo Takamori's calligraphy, the hanging scroll was taken to Kagoshima. It was decided to request an appraisal from an expert at the Saigo Nanshu Commemoration Society, who has been studying Saigo Takamori for 50 years.
Experts meticulously examined the seal used by the artist, the way he wrote his signature, and the flowing handwriting and brushstrokes. When they concluded that it was "undoubtedly authentic," a huge murmur went through the studio. MC Kotaro Koizumi exclaimed in surprise, "It's the real thing?", and Chisako Takashima also cheered, "Amazing!"
