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The Newly Discovered Portrait of ITO MANCIO, a Japanese Ambassador to Europe

  • Image of "Portrait of Ito Mancio (detail), By Domenico Tintoretto, Dated 1585 (Fondazione Trivulzio - Milano)"

    Portrait of Ito Mancio (detail), By Domenico Tintoretto, Dated 1585 (Fondazione Trivulzio - Milano)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 7
    May 17, 2016 (Tue) - July 10, 2016 (Sun)

    In celebration of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy, we are displaying for the first time ever the portrait of Ito Mancio, a member of the Tensho Embassy to Europe-the first "bridge" between Japan and Italy.

    In the 10th year of the Tensho era (1582), th e embassy departed from Nagasaki. It represented the three Christian daimyo, or feudal lords, of Kyushu and consisted primarily of Ito Mancio and three other young men. They sailed from Japan to China, India, Portugal, and Spain before reaching Italy during the time of its brilliant Renaissance. They were welcomed in the major cities of Florence, Rome, and Venice; received an audience with Pope Gregorius XIII; and participated in a dazzling ball before returning to Japan in 1590.

    More than 400 years later, in March 2014, a newly-discovered portrait of Mancio by the painter Domenico Tintoretto was unveiled by the Trivulzio Foundation of Milan. This portrait was a discovery of great historical significance, providing evidence that the embassy had been officially welcomed in Venice and that Tintoretto has indeed created oil portraits, the existence of which had been known only through historical documents.

    In addition to the portrait of Mancio, this Special Viewing features Concerning the Voyage of Four Young Japanese Men to Rome (Important Cultural Property), a book published in Italy to report the doings of the Tensho Embassy; items from the Museum's collection that bear connections with both Japanese Christians and Italy; and other objects that shed light on interactions through Christianity between Japan and Italy from the 16th to the 18th century.

General Information

Period Tuesday, May 17 - Sunday, July 10, 2016
Venue Room 7, Honkan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
Hours 9:30 - 17:00
Open until 18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays till June 19
Open until 20:00 on Fridays till June 19; and every day between June 22 and July 10

(Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed
Mondays (except June 27 and July 4, when Honkan will be open until 20:00)
Admission These works can be viewed by paying the admission fee for regular exhibils.
Adults: 620 (520) yen, University Students: 410 (310) yen
*  () indicates fees per person for groups of 20 or more.
* Admission is free for senior high / junior high / elementary school students and persons under 18 and over 70 years of age.(Please show proof of age when entering.)
* Persons with dlsabilities and one person accompanying each are admitted free of charge.(Please show ID when entering.)
* Special exhibition Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul (Tuesday, April 12 - Sunday, June 19, 2016, Hyokeikan), Special exhibition A Journey to the Land of Immortals: Treasures of Ancient Greece (Tuesday, June 21, 2016 - Monday, September 19, 2016, Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries), requires a separate admission fee.
Access 10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station
15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station
Organizers Agency for Cultural Affairs, Tokyo National Museum, The Yomiuri Shimbun
With the Special Cooperation of Embassy of Italy in ]apan
With the Cooperation of Alitalia-Societa Aerea Italiana S.p.A.
General Inquiries 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial)

 

Pamphlet

The Newly Discovered Portrait of ITO MANCIO, a Japanese Ambassador to Europe
The Newly Discovered Portrait of ITO MANCIO, a Japanese Ambassador to Europe
(In Japanese)

The pamphlet is available at the Information desk, Honkan 1st  floor during the Special Feature period

PDFPDF, 10.30MB)

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Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Auditorium  May 21, 2016 (Sat)   13:30 - 15:00   RESERVE_DAY
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) B1 Education Room  June 28, 2016 (Tue)   14:00 - 14:30   RESERVE_DAY

Other venue

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