Article
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Niigata
A Journey into Niigata's Culture and Art Scene with Frankie
Situated in Niigata, Japan, Echigo-Tsumari Art Field stands as a pioneer in celebrating regional art festivals. Held in the serene Echigo-Tsumari area, this region seamlessly marries idyllic rural communities with contemporary art, creating an extraordinary fusion of tradition and innovation.
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Tokyo
A Trip to The Tokyo National Museum
Ueno, Tokyo – A place where art, culture, and nature harmoniously converge to create a captivating experience for visitors. It is home to some of Japan's leading art galleries and museums.
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Tokyo
Exploring Tokyo's Architectural Marvels with Loris
Embarking on a journey to discover the aesthetic wonders of Tokyo's museums, we teamed up with Japan-based content creator Loris for a captivating tour to see the architectural beauty found in the city.
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Tokyo
Dive into the Fun World of Yose Entertainment
The traditional Japanese performing arts come in many shapes and sizes, each with roots dating back to ancient times. Yose entertainment is no exception.
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Shizuoka
Discovering the Architectural Wonders of Shizuoka
Japan is home to one of the finest architectural structures in the world. Here, we venture into the beautiful landscapes of Shizuoka Prefecture and explore its magnificent buildings.
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Tokyo Ishikawa
Delving into Nara's Unique History and Culture
Japan’s capital of Tokyo is home to many galleries and museums. However, if you want to learn about Japan’s history and culture through …
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Tokyo Osaka Okinawa
Five traditional Japanese performing arts registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage!
Traditional performing arts strongly reflect the history and culture of Japan. The performing arts of nohgaku, bunraku, kumiodori, kabuki, and gagaku each have its …
Must-See
Art and Cultural Hotspots in Japan
Museum
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Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
The HYOGO Prefectural Museum of Art is located in HAT Kobe, an area developed as a new urban hub in the eastern part of the city. The museum, which opened in April 2002 as a symbol of cultural restoration in the wake of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, was designed by the internationally renowned architect Tadao Ando.
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SHIMANE ART MUSEUM
SHIMANE ART MUSEUM themed around harmony with water, blending into the beautiful landscape of Lake Shinji. The permanent collection includes the "Waterside Exhibition Room" and approximately 40 pieces from the world-class Hokusai Collection in the "Hokusai Exhibition Room."
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Yamatane Museum of Art
Yamatane Museum of Art was founded in 1966 by Taneji Yamazaki who has donated his numerous collection of Japanese art. The ex-chairman of the Yamatane Art Foundation, Tomiji Yamazaki collected 105 works of Hayami Gyoshū known as one of the most respected Japanese artists among scholars and collectors. The museum's collection of over 1,800 works is centered on modern and contemporary nihonga from the Meiji period on.
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Mitsui Memorial Museum
The Mitsui Memorial Museum is located in the Nihonbashi district, a few minutes walk from Tokyo Station. The museum opened in October 2005 as the successor to the Mitsui Bunko Annex facilities in Tokyo’s Nakano-ku district.
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Tokyo Arts and Space Hongo
Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS) has been active since 2001 as an art center dedicated to the creation and promotion of contemporary artistic expression from Tokyo, supporting a wide range of artistic activities including interdisciplinary and experimental endeavors.
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Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery
Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery holds a variety of exhibitions and other programs, including Art Brut, as a way to contribute to the promotion of understanding diversity and the realization of an accepting and inclusive society through art. The Gallery creates opportunities for people to encounter the diverse creativity and new values of individuals.
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EDO-TOKYO OPEN AIR ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM
In 1993, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government established the seven-hectare Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum as the Edo-Tokyo Museum Annex. This museum aims to relocate, reconstruct, preserve, and exhibit historical buildings of great cultural value that are impossible to preserve at their original location, as well as to pass on these valuable cultural heritages to future generations.
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Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Committed to contributing to art and cultural activities, especially contemporary art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) opened in 1995 and since then has been exploreing diverse approaches to contemporary art.
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TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM
The TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM is one of the few museums in the world dedicated to photography and film. The museum's three exhibition galleries hold about 15 exhibitions each year, including thematic exhibitions of works selected from the museum's collection of more than 37,000 pieces, some of which rare, and special exhibitions that present outstanding works from Japan and abroad from a unique perspective, highlighting the museum's extensive lineup and deep expertise.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum building, a spectacular feat of Art Deco design, was completed in 1933 as the residence of Prince Asaka. In 1983 the building, already something of a work of art in itself, opened its doors as a one-of-a-kind art museum, its ornate rooms now housing exhibitions set in the peaceful confines of the grounds’ lush gardens.
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TOKYO METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM
Opened in 1926 as Japan's first public art museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum holds numerous exhibitions throughout the year, including approximately three special exhibitions a year featuring both Japanese and international masterpieces, independent projects by the museum's curators and public exhibitions by art organizations.
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National Ainu Museum
The National Ainu Museum is the first national museum to come into existence in Japan specializing in the research and display of Ainu culture. It was established to revive and further develop the culture of the Ainu people.
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KYUSHU NATIONAL MUSEUM
Founded on the philosophy of mapping the formation of Japanese culture within the context of Asia’s history, Kyushu National Museum opened its doors in 2005. We are located in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Once known as the “Distant Imperial Court”, Dazaifu played a vital role in Japanese history as the seat of power in Kyushu. Our museum is a stone’s throw from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, a 10th-century aristocrat who is widely revered as a deity of learning, culture, and the arts.
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Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art was opened in 1933 as the Kyoto Enthronement Memorial Museum of Art to commemorate the enthronement of Emperor Showa. After World War II, it was renamed Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art and has long been known as the oldest existing public art museum in Japan.
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The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Located on the waterfront of Nakanoshima, Osaka, this is a “completely underground” museum, which is unusual anywhere in the world.
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Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art
The Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art opened in 2018 as the second exhibition venue of the Kosetsu Museum of Art located in Mikage, Higashinada Ward, Kobe (currently closed for reconstruction). It houses mainly Japanese and East Asian antique artworks collected by Murayama Ryohei (1850-1933), the founder of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper company.
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The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT), is Japan's first national art museum and is located across from the Imperial Palace. The museum is home to one of Japan's largest art collections, including countless masterpieces dating from the end of the 19th century to the present day by both Japanese and foreign artists.
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Okura Museum of Art
Okura Museum of Art is the oldest existing private art museum in Japan. It was established by Okura Kihachiro (1837-1928), an industrialist active from the 19th century to the early 20th century.
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ADACHI MUSEUM OF ART
Adachi Museum of Art was founded in November 1970 and has its core the life- long collection of Zenko Adachi, an entrepreneur who was born in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture. The museum is noted for its magnificent Japanese gardens and its superb collection of modern Japanese paintings.
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Sompo Museum of Art
In 1976, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. established a museum on the 42nd floor of its headquarters in Shinjuku.
Theatre
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Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan opened in April 1961 in response to public demand for an opera and ballet venue as well as to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the city by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Numerous legendary operas, ballet and classical music performances by celebrated artists from all over the world have honored the venue since its opening. The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan is also world-renowned for its amazing acoustics.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre was opened in October, 1990 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a base to promote art and culture and its globalization among the citizens by presenting quality programs mainly in the fields of music, theatre, opera, and dance.
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Yamamoto Noh Theater
The Yamamoto Noh Theater is located near Osaka Castle in the heart of Osaka City. Founded in 1927 by Hiroyuki Yamamoto, it is the oldest existing Noh theater in Osaka, with a history of nearly 100 years. It was once destroyed during World War II, but was rebuilt in 1950.
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COOL JAPAN PARK OSAKA
A facility consisting of three theaters of different capacities - large, medium, and small - equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate various genres of entertainment. With the theme of broadcasting entertainment that resonates worldwide, it aims to further increase the number of visitors, including international tourists, to Osaka Castle Park, thereby contributing to the enhancement of Osaka's appeal as a global tourist and entertainment city and to the economic and industrial growth of the entire Kansai region.
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Toga Art Park of Toyama Prefecture
Toga Art Park of Toyama Prefecture gassho-zukuri theatre and outdoor amphitheatre SCOT (Suzuki Company of Toga) "Mecca of Theatre.” The 9th Theatre Olympics
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National Theatre Okinawa
The National Theatre Okinawa hosts performances of Okinawan traditional performing arts such as "Kumi Odori", a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage, and "Ryukyu Buyo", a nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property. Additionall, it also features performing arts from mainland Japan that have influenced Okinawan performing arts, and performing arts from the Asia-Pacific region.
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National Bunraku Theatre
The National Bunraku Theatre opened in March 1984. It presents various traditional Japanese performing arts throughout the year, including Bunraku puppet theater, dance, traditional Japanese music, and other forms of entertainment. The theater usually features Bunraku during January, April, August, and November, as well as appreciation classes complete with commentaries and masterpieces in June.
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Shizuoka Performing Arts Park/ Shizuoka Arts Theatre
The Shizuoka Performing Arts Park lies on the hills of Nihondaira, overlooking Mount Fuji. It has an outdoor theater designed by the architect Arata Isozaki, including rehearsal studios for performing arts scattered around the area. Meanwhile, the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center is a specialized facility for the performing arts located at the tip of GRANSHIP (Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center). (Designed by Arata Isozaki) These two theater facilities are the base of operations for the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC), with Satoshi Miyagi serving as its artistic director. They also host the annual Fuji no Kuni ⇌ Sekai Engekisai theater festival.
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National Theatre
The National Theatre of Japan opened in November 1966, during the 41st year of the Showa era. As a hub for traditional Japanese performing arts, the theatre showcases performances such as Kabuki, Bunraku, and Japanese dance. However, due to the aging of the theatre's facilities and stage mechanisms, it will close for renovations at the end of October 2023, with plans to reopen in 2029 sporting a brand-new look. During closure, performances will be held at alternative venues.
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New National Theatre, Tokyo
The New National TheatreTokyo (NNTT) is Japan’s first and foremost national theatre for the contemporary performing arts. Since the doors of our world-class, state-of-the-art theatre opened in 1997, we have staged an incredible array of productions, totaling more than 800. The performance season runs from October to July of each year. In a single season, we offer some 250 performances. Each of our threedivisions (opera, drama and ballet &dance) has its own artistic director who is responsible for the high-stan-dard performances our audiences have come to expect. Meanwhile, nearly 450 young artists graduated from our training courses in opera, ballet and drama, and can be seen frequently at the NNTT and other prestigious theatres throughout the world. With the aim of fostering an appreciation for the performing arts,the NNTT also provides several programmes for youth throughout Japan. Moving forward, we will continue our endeavours to ever increase the caliber of our productions, and we will continue to stand as a symbol of the rich cultural offerings of Japan, both on the domestic and international stage.
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National Noh Theatre
The National Noh Theatre, which opened in September 1983, holds Noh performances yearly. It includes regular orthodox performances (twice a month), and popular performances with commentary (once a month), typically featuring one Noh play and one Kyogen play. The program is designed to give the audience a comprehensive understanding of the world of Noh and Kyogen should they view the performances over the course of a year. Additionally, the theatre presents special performances and Kyogen meetings to preserve and promote Noh by showcasing a broad range of shows, from rare and new to prominent and restored works. It also hosts affordable annual appreciation classes and performances, making the charm of traditional performing arts easily accessible to youths and adults. The sponsored performances are always subtitled with lyrics and commentaries in English and Japanese. Alongside this, exhibits with explanatory captions and a bilingual list of works are displayed, further enhancing the accessibility of Noh's beauty and history to a broader audience.
Art Festivals & Events
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Sanjo City Museum of Historical, Folkloric and Industrial Materials Renewal commemoration Sanjo sites Story Exhibition『Archaeological excavation bulletin exhibition 2024+What on Earth?! Japan Heritage in the Sanjo3』
Traversed by the Shinano River and its tributary, the Ikarashi River, Sanjo City encompasses a region rich in nature and water. The area was inhabited by the Jomon people, who lived here in harmony with nature, and features many archaeological sites from which a variety of Jomon artifacts, including the iconic flame-style pottery, have been excavated.
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Yamatane Museum of Art NIHONGA AWARD: Seed 2024 ― Meet the Future of Nihonga ―
The Yamatane Museum of Art is delighted to present Yamatane Museum of Art NIHONGA AWARD: Seed 2024, a juried public-entry exhibition aimed at discovering and encouraging excellent artists working in new creative directions in nihonga.
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Celebrating the New Year with Dragon-Motif; Art and Crafts Masterpieces from the Seikado Collection
From its beginnings in ancient China, the fantastical dragon has served as an auspicious symbol of power and authority, and has often featured in East Asian paintings and other arts and crafts. This exhibition marks the arrival of the Year of the Dragon with a rich array of artistic representations showing the multiple sides of this imaginary beast.
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90th Anniversary Setonaikai National Park The Sea and I ART/LIFE
In 1934, the region around the Seto Inland Sea (Setonaikai) was one of the first places in Japan to be designated as a “National Park” for its “outstanding natural landscapes that are worthy of representing the geographic features of Japan.” The 90th anniversary of that event is celebrated on March 16, 2024.
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Special Exhibition Celebrating the 900th Anniversary of Its Construction The Golden Hall of Chūson-ji Temple
The "Special Exhibition Celebrating the 900th Anniversary of Its Construction: The Golden Hall of Chūson-ji Temple" is centered around the history, faith, and cultural treasures of Chūson-ji Temple. The display brings together 11 Buddhist statues enshrined in the center of the Golden Hall, all designated as National Treasures,
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Henri Matisse - Forms in Freedom
This exhibition will feature a total of about 150 works and archival materials from the collection of the Musée Matisse Nice, France, including paintings, sculptures, prints, and textiles, with a particular focus on the Cut-Outs. Notably, Flowers and Fruits a large and stunning Cut-Out from the museum's collection, is a must-see, restored in France for this exhibition and on view in Japan for the first time.
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Special exhibition Nakaminato Reverberatory Furnace -Making iron , opening up the future-
This special exhibition showcases materials related to the reverberatory furnace, including diagrams of the cannons, scrolls depicting scenes of iron production, and raw materials for ironmaking. Through these artifacts, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the historical role of the Mito Domain in leading the establishment of modern industries during the Meiji era.
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Tamashin Art Museum / Murata Tanryo : A Yamato-e Painter Who Depicted Changing Times
This exhibition is the first full-scale exhibition to be devoted to Murata Tanryo (1872–1940). Apprenticed to Kawabe Mitate, a leading producer of musha-e (a genre depicting warriors and samurai from Japanese history and mythology), Tanryo won awards at various exhibitions from his teens onward.
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Development-From the ancient to medieval times in Nakatsu-
In commemoration of the 1300th anniversary of the Three-Generations-One-Household Law related to the land system of the Nara period, this presentation introduces the activities of people who lived in ancient and medieval times based on materials related to the development of fields. Focusing on the remaining jōri paddies in the city, official government office ruins, Usa Hachiman Shrine, and development landlords, the origins of Nakatsu are unraveled from the perspective of "development." Additionally, during this period, experiential events such as walking tours utilizing the ancient zone and observing aquatic life in the Okidai jōri will be held.
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Study:Osaka Kansai International Art Festival Vol.3
December 23rd to December 28th, 2023. 34°41′11″ North Latitude 135°31′12″ East Longitude ― A myriad of question marks in the form of art will appear in Osaka. It challenges all the assumptions we have taken for granted (sometimes themes we have avoided thinking or saying). "What is possible in art?" "What is impossible?" - Question. thinking. the study. investigation. discover. marvel. Outgoing. share.
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Special Exhibition: Healing Japanese Art ―Jakuchū’s Solace and Togyū’s Comfort―
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Barrier-free theater viewing party in Hino that everyone can enjoy “The Little Prince”
This performance is a barrier-free theater viewing event that everyone can enjoy.The aim is to create theatrical performances that everyone can enjoy, regardless of disability or nationality.In addition to subtitles for stage promotions and a live audio guide in which actors explain the actors' movements, sign language interpreters dressed in stage costumes will work with the actors and provide interpretation on stage.
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19th Wakamononoh
The Wakamono Noh event is an initiative led and managed by students, based on the concept of "Noh of the youth, by the youth, and for the youth." Celebrating its 19th year, the event is designed with the philosophy of "Noh made easy for first-time viewers," and involves planning, organizing, and promoting events that connect youth with the traditional Japanese theater of Noh. With a special student price of 1,000 yen and preschool children welcome to attend, it seeks to introduce people of various ages to Noh for the first time.
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Restored Cultural Assets Restoration Techniques Supporting Their Conservation and Utilization
The Maeda family, former lords of the ancient Kaga domain, were pioneers in the preservation of cultural heritage. This spirit has been passed down to the present day and is still alive in Ishikawa Prefecture. This exhibition showcases the initiatives of the Maeda family and the achievements of the Ishikawa Cultural Properties Conservation Studio, along with examples from Nara Prefecture.
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The Uniqueness of Hand-colored Japanese Photography in the Bakumatsu and Meiji Eras
This exhibition presents about 150 pieces of hand-colored photographs and related materials from the late Edo and Meiji periods, showing through their unique beauty a portrait of JAPAN that captivates people across time. We invite you to experience firsthand the rare hues of these original works.
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KYOTOGRAPHIE
KYOTOGRAPHIE, held in the spring in the ancient city of Kyoto, is one of the few truly international artistic events taking place in Japan. While honoring its millennium of history and tradition, Kyoto is at the same time a leading light of culture on an international scale.
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HIDEAKI ANNO EXHIBITION
Anno Hideaki ’s latest film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time, which he directed, was a blockbuster success with a box office of over 10 billion yen. This exhibition showcases the director’s past works, including those he was involved in during his time as an animator. It also includes his latest works as a director and producer, and delves into the secrets of his creative processes.
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KOBAYASHI Masakazu and His Contemporaries – Beyond Fiber Art
Although Kobayashi Masakazu (1944-2004), who was born in Kyoto City, majored in lacquer art at Kyoto City University of Arts, his desire to employ color in a freer way led him to take a job in the design department at Kawashima Selkon Textiles.
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NACT View 03: Atsushi Watanabe (I'm here project) I Hate Free Hugs
The National Art Center, Tokyo launched the NACT View series, a project utilizing the Center’s public area in 2022. Notable for its spectacular impact, the space was designed down to the smallest detail by the architect Kurokawa Kisho. Emerging and mid-career artists, designers, architects, and filmmakers will be invited to present a variety of contemporary works in the space, which resembles a public plaza where many visitors pass through or linger and enjoy leisure time.
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Yves Saint Laurent, Across the Style
This exhibition, organized with the full cooperation of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, marks the first retrospective of the designer’s works ever to be staged in Japan. Throughout his 40-year career, Yves Saint Laurent consistently devised styles with universal appeal while taking inspiration from a diverse range of cultural and historical influences.
What's New
- December 26, 2023 NEW National Noh Theatre Partners’ Program the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation
- August 31, 2023 New expanded content on the Japan Cultural Expo website Fuller coverage now available, including a column by art historian Sophie Richard
- June 9, 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit Partners’ Program Maki-e Experience
- May 18, 2023 Japan Cultural Expo has been featured in The Japan Times (HIROSHIMA G7 SUMMIT SPECIAL).
- May 11, 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit Promotional Video "an Invitation to Japanese Culture" has been released.
About
The Japan Cultural Expo is a nationwide celebration of Japanese arts and culture, designed to appeal to a broad domestic and international audience through a diverse program of content, including exhibitions, performing arts productions, and arts festivals.