Ikuo Hirayama's early work back in hometown

A rediscovered early work by the late Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama has gone on show at a museum in his hometown in western Japan.

The painting "Gyofu" or "Fishermen" depicts 2 men standing. Hirayama finished the painting in 1958 when he was in his late 20s and still an unknown artist.

The painting sold as soon as it went on the market but its whereabouts remained unknown until 3 years ago, when it was found in the possession of an antiques dealer in the United States.

The Ikuo Hirayama Museum of Art in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, bought the painting late last month, a few days before Hirayama died on December 2nd.

Hirayama is said to have painted the scene after making several sketches of fishermen at work in the Inland Sea of Japan.

The painting and sketches are being exhibited at the museum from Monday.

The head of the museum, Sukenari Hirayama, the painter's younger brother, says the painting was put on the market one year ahead of "Bukkyo Denrai" or "The Transmission of Buddhism", which catapulted Hirayama to fame as an artist. He says "Fishermen" is a precious work that shows his brother's struggle.

On Monday, a son of one of the fishermen depicted in the painting was among people who came to see the work. 84-year-old Masuichi Kawahara said he was filled with emotion to see his father in the painting after 50 years.