The brick warehouse that houses the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art was built about 100 years ago as a brewery, and was also the first factory in postwar Japan to produce hard cider on a large scale. Before it was turned into an art museum, three exhibitions were held in the warehouse in 2002, 2005 and 2006 by Yoshitomo Nara, a contemporary artist from Hirosaki City. At the entrance of the museum now, you will be greeted by Nara’s “A to Z Memorial Dog,” which was donated as a token of gratitude to the volunteers who participated in the three exhibitions. The renovation turning the warehouse into a museum was designed by the energetic young architect Tsuyoshi Tane, who focused on three key points. 1. “Succession of memories” The building was reinforced against earthquakes while retaining as much of the existing brickwork and other elements as possible. 2. “Hirosaki-zumi stacked brick technique” The beautiful brick arch at the entrance, which provides a somehow warm feeling, were newly stacked for the museum in a technique named “Hirosaki-zumi,” as opposed to the existing English-style bricks. 3. “Cider gold hishibuki roof” Each roof of the museum is made from titanium, and the color changes depending on the way the light hits, yielding a variety of appearances. The exhibitions consist of three programs per year. Through contemporary art, the museum aims to be a creative hub (cultural hub) that connects the region to the world, exposes visitors to diverse visions and rich sensibilities, and inspires new creativity that connects the past to the present and the future. Enjoy spending a great time at the newly reborn Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art while experiencing the history and culture of Hirosaki.