This museum was founded to exhibit the works of Takabatake Kasho, a prominent painter of the Taisho era--a 15-year long period precedent to the Showa era.

Despite the orthodox education in Japanese art he received, Kasho kept a cautious distance from the mainstream artistic circles of the country, and developed a very distinct lifestyle, as well as a style of art, where eastern and western cultures merged into one.

He was particularly popular for his drawings of beautiful women and young boys, and the romantic touch peculiar to his artwork was called "Kasho Gonomi" (lit. "tastes of Kasho"). His body of artwork was broadly accepted as symbolic of the liberal spirits of the Taisho era, in transition from the old feudal Japan.

After World War II, he created quite a number of impressive illustrations for children's picture books that are published by KAISEI-SHA and Kodansha Limited. His works around this period demonstrate some obvious features that are common with Japanese manga of today.

Besides regular exhibitions held three to four times annually, the museum also offers a couple of special exhibitions to showcase valuable historical objects borrowed from related organizations.