Celebrating the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Shosoin: Essential Treasures of Ancient Japan Passed Down by the Imperial Family
Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries October 14, 2019 (Mon)-November 24, 2019 (Sun)
In celebration of the enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor, the Museum will hold a special exhibition featuring culturally significant pieces from the formative Asuka and Nara periods (593–794). Visitors will have the rare opportunity to view the Shosoin Treasures and the Horyuji Treasures together in a single exhibition hall.
Man, God & Nature in the Ancient World: Masterpieces from The Al Thani Collection
Toyokan Room 3 November 6, 2019 (Wed)-February 9, 2020 (Sun)
This exhibition presents 117 masterpieces from the collection assembled by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, a prince of the royal family of Qatar.
Commemorating 30 Years of Conservation Projects Supported by the Sumitomo Foundation: Special Thematic Exhibition: New Life for Timeless Art
Honkan Room T4 & T5 October 1, 2019 (Tue)-December 1, 2019 (Sun)
An impressive number of Buddhist statues have survived to modern times in Japan. In mountainous and rural regions, traditions venerating Buddhist statues attest to the importance these statues held for local communities. This exhibition will present Buddhist statues that have been cherished and handed down by such communities, including those affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) and The Noto Hanto Earthquake (2007).
The Beauty of Unglazed Tea Wares: From the Kilns of Bizen, Shigaraki, Iga, and Tanba
Honkan Room 14 September 18, 2019 (Wed)-December 8, 2019 (Sun)
This exhibition showcases tea wares created at some of the major Japanese kilns—Bizen, Shigaraki, Iga, and Tanba—that are known for the production of unglazed ceramic wares.
Heian Court Calligraphy: The Iijima Shunkei Collection
Honkan Room T1 October 1, 2019 (Tue)-November 17, 2019 (Sun)
During the Heian period (794–1192), a Japanese phonetic script based on Chinese characters known as kana became widespread among the ruling class. Kana became a vehicle for the flourishing literary culture of the imperial court, where nobles developed distinct Japanese calligraphy styles on lavishly-decorated paper. In this thematic exhibition, we introduce works from the collection of Iijima Shunkei (1906–96), a collector and pioneering scholar of Heian court calligraphy.
Imperial Ceremonies
Heiseikan Thematic Exhibition Room October 8, 2019 (Tue)-January 19, 2020 (Sun)
Imperial ceremonies have traditionally been performed by the Japanese court and its central pillar, the emperor. This thematic exhibition focuses on five aspects of imperial traditions.
Museum Garden Opening (Autumn)
The Garden October 29, 2019 (Tue)-December 8, 2019 (Sun)
The Museum Garden behind Honkan (main building, Japanese Gallery) will be open to the public during the autumn season.
News
October 1, 2019 (Tue)
Admission to the Regular Exhibitions is free on October 22, 2019, the day the “Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor at the State Hall” will take place.
October 1, 2019 (Tue)
