中日新聞、2026年3月29日
デトロイト 米美術館の窮地救う 再建奔走 大光さん外務大臣表彰
（写真説明：自身が開設に尽力したデトロイト美術館の展示室「日本ギャラリー」に立つ大光敬史さん＝３月１日）
全米６位の所属品数を誇る米中西部ミシガン州のデトロイト美術館は2010年代、デトロイト市が財政破綻したあおりで世界的コレクションが売却の危機に瀕した。窮地を救ったのは企業うあ市民からの寄付で、日本企業も協力した。再建に奔走したデトロイト日本商工会顧問の大光敬史（おおみつ・たかし）さん（75）が、今月、日米の架け橋として評価され、25年度外務大臣表彰を受けた。（デトロイトで、山口哲人、写真も）
同館はゴッホの「自画像」やブリューゲルの「婚礼の踊り」など名作を含む6万５千点超を所蔵。運営していた市が財政破綻した13年ごろ、その総額は46億ドル（当時のレートで約4500億円）ともされ、売却が取り沙汰された。財政再建に向けて1億ドル必要だったが、２千万ドルが不足し、大光さんによると14年、館側が有力企業の幹部を集めて協力を懇願した。
訴えを受け、当時も商工会顧問だった大光さんが加盟団体に呼びかけると、既に寄付を決めていたトヨタ自動車など20社以上の現地進出企業と個人から計320万ドルが寄せられた。「日本企業がこんなに出してくれた」とニュースで取り上げられ、各社の米国人従業員も「自分の会社を誇りに思う」と喜んだという。
大光さんは名古屋市昭和区出身で名古屋工業大を卒業後、自動車部品大手のアイシン精機（現アイシン）に入社。1979年にデトロイト駐在となった。貿易摩擦で日本車が目の敵にされた時代を経て、日本企業は米国社会に溶け込んだと感じている。「美術品のない美術館などあり得ない。日系企業として手を差し伸べないわけにはいかない」と当時の思いを振り返る。
2015年にはアジア人として初めて同館理事に選ばれ、日本の芸術品を展示する「日本ギャラリー」の新設にも尽くした。ジュディス・ドルカート副館長は、大光さんの存在は「日本コミュニティーとデトロイト地域全体にとって大応援団だ」と称賛する。
今月1日に表彰を受けた大光さんは「日本に帰るまでに、私が担ってきた役割をう受け継いでくれる人を育てたい」と語った。
Chunichi Shimbun, March 29, 2026
Nagoya-born Takashi Omitsu Honored by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Because He Helped to Save Detroit Institute of Arts in Crisis and His Efforts for Revival Plan
(Photo caption: Takashi Omitsu, who contributed to establishing the Japanese Gallery in the Detroit Institute of Art, stands in the Japanese Gallery exhibition room on March 1, 2026)
The Detroit Institute of Arts in Michigan boasts the sixth-largest collection in the United States. In the 2010s, due to the City of Detroit's financial collapse, its world-renowned collection faced the risk of being sold off.
The crisis was averted through donations from corporations and citizens, including Japanese companies. Takashi Omitsu, a 75-year-old advisor to the Japan Business Society of Detroit (JBSD) who worked tirelessly for its revival plan, was recognized as a bridge between Japan and the U.S. and received the Japan’s 2025 Foreign Minister's Commendation in March 2026.
(From Detroit, Text and Photo by Akihito Yamaguchi, staff writer of Chunichi Shimbun)
The Detroit Institute of Arts at that time under management of the City of Detroit, houses over 65,000 art works, including masterpieces such as Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait" and Bruegel's "Wedding Dance." Around 2013, when the City of Detroit went bankrupt, the total value of the museum’s collection was estimated at 4.6 billion dollars (approximately 450 billion yen at the time), and there were discussions about selling the collection.
To restore its finances, 100 million dollars were needed, but 20 million dollars were short. In 2014, Takashi Omitsu reports that the museum gathered senior executives from major corporations to seek donation.
Responding to the appeal, Omitsu, who was an advisor to JBSD at the time, called on member organizations. Over 20 Japan-based companies, including Toyota Motor Corporation, which had already decided to donate, and individual donors contributed a total of 3.2 million dollars.
This generous donation from Japanese companies was highlighted by the American media, and American employees of these companies expressed pride in their companies.
Takashi Omitsu was born in Showa Ward, Nagoya City, and after graduating from Nagoya Institute of Technology, he joined Aisin Seiki, a major auto parts manufacturer (now Aisin). In 1979, he was posted to Detroit. Having experienced the era when Japanese cars were viewed with suspicion due to trade friction in 1980s’, he feels in 2010s’ that Japanese companies have integrated into American society.
"A museum without art is unthinkable. As a Japanese company, we cannot turn a blind eye," he reflects on his early motivations.
In 2015, he was elected as the first Asian board member of the museum and contributed to the establishment of the "Japanese Gallery." Judith Dolkart, the deputy director of the Detroit Institute of Arts, praises Omitsu's presence as "a great supporter for the Japanese community and the entire Detroit region."
Having received the award on March 1, 2026, Omitsu states, "Before returning to Japan, I want to nurture successors who will carry on the roles I have played."
