The founder

Born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1904, Mrs. Billie Trimble Chandler lived a life that reflects her personal maxim: "Life begins when you want it to begin and ends when you want it to end." She married Sidney Chandler in 1922 and moved to Corpus Christi, where she raised two sons and two daughters.

After her divorce, Mrs. Chandler decided to embark on a new path in life. In her late forties, she enrolled at the University and earned a master's degree in 1955. She began her teaching career as a schoolteacher and also traveled to various countries, eventually finding a teaching job in Japan.

Mrs. Chandler returned to Corpus Christi in 1971 after teaching abroad for nearly 17 years,mainly in Japan, bringing with her a significant collection of Japanese art. Her collection filled eight flat-bed railroad cars, making it the largest private shipment ever to cross the Pacific at that time. She acquired a warehouse and converted it into a Japanese art museum to share her collection and appreciation for cultures with others, especially children.

Eventuallty, Mrs. Chandler donated her art collection to a non-profit organization, the Billie Trimble Chandler Art Foundation, so that everyone could partake in the beauty of the art she had spent so many years collecting. It opened in 1974 and is now called the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center at 1809 N. Chaparral St, Corpus Christi.

Two women arranging flowers and a small figurine on a table, surrounded by foliage and decorative elements.

Creating Hakata Ryu Flower Arrangement

She is placing Prince Shotoku figure next to the five-story pagoda with flower arrangement for depicting the scene. He is well known for modernizing the government administration and for promoting Buddhism in Japan in 7 centuries.

Newspaper page with an article on students learning about Japanese culture, featuring photos of children engaging with exhibits and dressing in a kimono. Text Transcription: Headline: Students get taste of Japan Byline: By Patsy Lochbaum Article Text: Elementary school children in Corpus Christi have added Japanese culture to their curriculum. How to tie a kimono, hold chopsticks and paint Japanese brush characters are part of a crash course for student visitors to the Japanese Museum, 426 S. Staples. Five to six groups of students visit the museum each week, Director Joe McKinley said. Japanese-native Hisako Ochiai teaches the two-hour culture class and provides art collections donated by the Billie Trimble Chandler Arts Foundation. Mrs. Chandler collected more than 1,000 hand-painted Hakata dolls representing every phase of Japanese culture during 17 years of teaching American dependents in Japan. She paid more than $10,000 to ship the dolls and other collections from Corpus Christi to set up the museum in 1973. Many of the dolls are displayed in sealed models of Japanese land-marks, including the Gold Pavilion in Kyoto, a geisha house, a rural farm scene, and a fishing village. (More detailed article text continues...) Caption: Sixth grader Debra Smith, left, admires a model of a Japanese geisha house while, above, Steve Whiteaker and Dina Baugh dress Javier Garza in a kimono (Photos by Patsy Lochbaum).

Students get taste of Japan

Elementary School children in corpus Christi have added Japanese culture to their curriculum. They had a great time experiencing various Japanese cultures by using Mrs. Chandler's collections in the museum.

Black-and-white newspaper clipping with article about Billie Chandler at the Japanese Art Museum and a photograph of her with students viewing a doll collection. Transcription: Title: Children, teacher building bridge of friendship Caption: BILLIE TRIMBLE CHANDLER TELLS STUDENTS ABOUT DOLL COLLECTION IN MUSEUM

Museum to build a bridge of friendship

Her love for both the children of America and of Japan has prompted her to establish the museum for them. It was fulfilled her desire to bridge the gap between both countries through her collection. “I want to dedicate a museum to the friendship between Japan and America. I want to work for world unity and peace. “ she said.

As a school teacher

After graduating from university, Mrs. Chandler returned to Corpus Christi. She taught speech and social science at Tuloso Midways High School and later served as a Director for the American Junior Red Cross. Then, she taught sixth grade at Flour Bluff Elementary School.

One day, a magazine ad caught her eye, looking for teachers in Okinawa. She decided to take on a new adventure and moved to Japan in 1955. For a year, she taught at an American Dependent School in Okinawa. The following school year, she taught for the Air Force in the Philippines.

For many years after that, she taught at the American Dependent School in Tokyo and Itazuke, near Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu, in Japan.

Students seated in a classroom with floral arrangements on desks; papers and camera in the foreground.

Flower arrangement class in Japan

Life in Japan

In the 1950s, while teaching in Japan, she fell in love with the Japanese people, art, and culture. This love led her to study, research, and collect many works of art, including Japanese flower arrangements. Her passion for Hakata dolls, in particular, led her to amass a large collection, and eventually open her own museum. She earned teaching certificates from several schools of Japanese flower arrangements and devoted herself to learning more about Japanese culture, including Shinto and Buddhism. She traveled over 7,500 miles across Japan, visiting shrines and temples to gain a deeper understanding of the country's lifestyle and customs. Additionally, she commissioned two artists to depict the richness of Japanese culture.

The uniquely different aspect of Japan lies in the country's simple geographical limitations and the significant population density that is a part of everyday life. This constant crowdedness has influenced Japanese literature, art, architecture, manners, and morals over the centuries. If I had to describe the uniqueness of the Japanese people in one sentence, I would say, "So many people in such a small country" - Mrs. Billie Chandler.

She stayed in Japan at a time when the country was still recovering from the war and experiencing economic growth after the Allied Powers' occupation of Japan (1945–52) following its defeat in World War II.

Mrs. Chandler believed it was important to document in words and pictures some of the attitudes, customs, and traditions before they were altered by modern influences.

Black and white collage of photos depicting traditional Japanese themes, including people making models, scenic views, and cultural attire.

Japanese articles

Man and woman standing in front of the Hakata Doll House Museum with wooden cutout figures nearby. Text: "HAKATA DOLL HOUSE MUSEUM" "INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM" "HAKATARYU" "HISTORICAL STORYBOOK ART"

At her museum in Japan

Store interior with shelves of pottery; a woman assists customers at the counter.

Choosing flower base

Encountered the Yamaga Paper Lantern

" You never know when you open a door, you will find a new world to conquer," she said when she visited a small local shrine called Omiya Jinja in Yamaga City with her friends. While exploring the shrine museum, she was amazed to see miniature replicas of famous Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples of Japan made entirely of paper lanterns. She was speechless and began dreaming of sharing these delicately created architectures with people in America.

Determined to make her dream a reality, she asked the priest if she could buy the lanterns without asking their price. She purchased 13 of them that were available at the time and decided to meet the great architects of the paper lanterns and visit all places of these architectures. She visited Yamaga City and the Lantern Festival repeatedly to learn more about these artworks and architecture while in Japan.

A man in traditional Japanese clothing and a woman in Western attire stand on steps outside a building.

In front of Omiya shrine with Shinto priest

This is the place where she encountered the beautiful paper lantern architecture which is given as an offering to this shrine during the Yamaga lantern festival. These replicas of actual buildings are made to scale at around 1/120 to 1/30 reduction with only paper and glue. 

Two people examine an architectural model of a traditional Asian building.

With paper lantern maker, Mr. Higashida

Mrs. Chandler visited the atelier of Mr. Higashida making a paper lantern, a Konpira shrine. She learned the technique and process of making, and the story behind it. 

Two people beside a model of a multi-tiered pagoda indoors.

With paper lantern maker, Mr. Nakajima

The picture was taken when the paper pagoda of Yakushi-ji temple was completed by Mr. Tsugito Nakajima. As it only used Japanese Washi paper and glue, building up to this height without any distortion requires a high level of skills and training. 

Two people look at a model of a traditional Japanese building with detailed roofs and panels on a table. Shoji screens are in the background.

With paper lantern maker, Mr. Yamashita

She met Mr. Tastuji Yamashita, who was chosen as an honorary citizen in the city for his skillful technique, and showed it in front of the emperor. 
He showed a paper lantern, Romon gate of Aso shrine. 

Mesmerized by Hakata dolls

In 1955, while she was teaching at a school in Okinawa, she saw Hakata dolls for the first time at a small Japanese artifact shop. These dolls are traditional Japanese dolls made of unglazed clay, originally from the city of Fukuoka, which was previously known as Hakata. She was immediately drawn to their realistic appearance and intricate details, and began collecting them. Over time, she collected nearly 3,000 which built the largest private collection of Hakata dolls in the world at that time. She even visited many Hakata doll artists to learn more about them.

Later on, she created a unique flower arrangement style called "Hakata Ryu". This style beautifully combines artificial Hakata dolls with natural flowers in perfect harmony.

People working with and observing small sculptures in a workshop setting; sculptures and figures cover the tables.

Watching painting of a Hakata Doll

Hakata dolls are all handmade and unglazed clay dolls. It is said it requires years of dedication just to pick up the basics. 

Two women sculpting figurines at a table with various clay statues.

Visiting a doll artist, Mrs. Tami Nakanoko

Mrs. Tami Nakanoko is the granddaughter of Kichibei Nakanoko, the founder of Hakata dolls. She learned from her father, Kichisaburo, from her childhood, and at the age of 21, she started her own carrier.  She has lived her entire life devoted to doll making and was selected as a Designated Intangible Cultural Asset of Fukuoka city.

Two people examining traditional Japanese dolls on a table.

Visiting a doll artist, Mr. Zenjiro Hirano

Mrs. Chandler visited many doll artists during her stay in Japan in order to learn their skillful techniques and dedication to making dolls. She also ordered her original Hakata dolls, such as historical figures not only in Japan but the US.

Man painting a figurine with a woman observing in an art workshop.

Watching the making process

Each doll is meticulously handcrafted by a single artisan, who oversees every step from carving and sculpting to the final finishing. This results in a diverse range of works that showcase the unique creativity of the maker and exhibit a high level of artistry. Unlike mass-produced items, these carefully crafted dolls possess their own individuality and charm, giving them a sense of life and character.

Encountered an armless artist

In 1965, Mrs. Chandler met Junkyo Oishi for the first time. She was taken by a friend to a solo art exhibition being held at the Takashimaya department store in Japan. There, she met a charming artist who had created beautiful paintings and calligraphy, despite having no arms - she used her mouth to create her art.

Junkyo Oishi was born in Osaka, Japan in 1888. Her parents ran a small sushi restaurant, but she was adopted by the owner of a Geisha house due to her talent for dancing. She became a Geisha, but tragedy struck when her foster father went on a killing spree and cut off both her arms with a Katana sword when she was just 17 years old.

Despite this horrific incident, two years later, Junkyo was inspired by a bird she saw using its beak to feed. She trained herself to use her mouth to write and paint with a brush, and she made a living as an artist. Later in life, she became a nun and opened a small temple to support people with disabilities. She was dedicated to helping others and even founded an art school in Kyoto, Japan.

Mrs. Chandler was so inspired by Junkyo's story that she asked a doll artist to make a Hakata doll modeled after her. Sadly, Junkyo passed away on April 21, 1968, before the dolls were completed. The following year, when the dolls were finished, Mrs. Chandler tried to publish a biography of this unforgettable woman. She donated all the profits from selling the dolls to help disabled people in Japan.

Elderly person painting with a brush held in their mouth, wearing traditional robes and a beaded necklace. Text Section: "REVEREND JUNKO OISHI, WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS ARMLESS ARTIST"

Junkyo Oishi

Junkyo Oishi practiced painting and drawing by using her mouth after she lost both arms.  In later her life, she taught her technique and showed her resilience spirit to the people. Especially, she hopes disabilities are able to survive with their talents and positive mind.

Two individuals in traditional and modern clothing stand in front of art-adorned walls.

Reverend Junkyo and Mrs. Chandler

Reverend Junkyo and Mrs. Chandler met for the first time at her private exhibition held in Osaka. Mrs. Chandler was moved her charming but strong personality. She took photos of the artist on the day and decided to order to make Hakata dolls modeled by her.

Black-and-white photo of two dolls in traditional Japanese attire with a small toy dog.

Hakata doll of Junkyo

Junkyo Oishi opened her small temple to the people in need. Mrs. Chundler visited there to meet and interview her. 
When the doll was completed, she displayed it in a diorama to tell her story. Hakata dolls of Junkyo Oishi and Kingoro Yanagiya, a Japanese famous comedian and her good friend.

Japanese newspaper page with text and two photographs: a small portrait and a full-body image of a person in traditional attire.

Japanese newspaper article

She ordered the Hakata doll modeled by Junkyo Oishi in order to support disabled people by donating all profits from the sales, and wrote her biography to introduce her life to other countries. She believed that it encourages and inspires people.

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