Series Japanese Natural History : Ueno and the Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo National Museum was moved to the site of Kan'ei-ji temple (now Ueno Park) by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1882 (Meiji 15).

Kan'ei-ji was constructed in 1625 (Kan'ei 2) by Tenkai Sojo under the orders of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government). The temple presided over the Tendai sect of Buddhism and supported the shogunate's state-supported religion. In 1868 (Meiji 1), much of the temple was destroyed when Tokugawa loyalists (shogitai) were put down for resisting the new government. After the rebellion, the area was sealed off and controlled by the Tokyo government, but was opened to the public the following year.

In 1874, much of the former temple grounds was designated Ueno Park. In 1877, management of the area shifted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 1878, the park was the location of the First National Industrial Exposition. Afterwards, the park came under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Agency. Since the Taisho period (1912 - 1926), the park has been used as a central location for cultural institutions, such as the zoo and museums, including what is now Tokyo National Museum.

This exhibition shows the role that Ueno has played in history; viewed from images of crowds near Denpo-in of Senso-ji temple during the height of the Edo period, as well as scenes from before the Boshin War (1868 - 1869), which lead to the Meiji Restoration and after. This exhibition also features images of Kan'ei-ji and scenes from the National Industrial Expositions, archers on horseback, eternal images of cherry blossoms, woodblock prints of the opening ceremonies at Shinobazu Pond's horse-racing track and others.