Since Kawasaki was concerned about traditional artworks being exported to foreign countries, he began collecting them at around the time of starting Tsukiji Shipyard in 1878 and purchased more than 2,000 masterpieces in his lifetime.
川崎はこのような伝統的美術品が国外へ流出することを恐れる心情も手伝って、明治11年に築地造船所をの経営に着手したころからおりにふれて美術品を蒐集し始め、生涯にわたって2000余点の名品を買い集めた。