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Thanks to the energy of culture! The year 2012 marks the 140th anniversary of the Tokyo National Museum.

In 1872 (Meiji 5), an exposition was held in Tokyo at the Yushima Seido Shrine. This marked the beginning of the Tokyo National Museum, which celebrates its 140th anniversary in 2012. To the visitors who have supported the museum up to the present day, as well as to the people who have helped shape the museum’s history, we wish to say a heartfelt “Thank you”.

The items in the Tokyo National Museum collection have histories longer than that of the museum. We express our sincere respect and gratitude to the people in the past who created these precious objects, as well as to the people who, no matter the difficulties involved, carefully passed them down to following generations.

What has been bequeathed to us is culture, a culture filled with our sensibilities and vitality. What, though, do we do with this cultural wealth we have received? We believe the answer is to firmly grasp the power of culture, convey it to an even larger number of people, and assuredly pass it on to future generations. In its 140th anniversary year, Tokyo National Museum will carry out, on the theme of “Thanks to the Energy of Culture”, various activities connected to the museum’s past, present, and future.

	New Year's Celebration at the Tokyo National Museum　January 2 (Mon) - 29 (Sun), 2012   ・Tokyo National Museum’s 140th Anniversary Special New-year Exhibition  January 2 (Mon) -  15 (Sun), 2012   ・140th Anniversary Thematic Exhibitions: The Soaring Majesty of Dragons in Asian Art　 January 2 (Mon) - 29 (Sun), 2012, Honkan Room T1 & T2   ・New Year's Celebration Events　January 2 (Mon)- 3 (Tue), 2012   ・Visit the Dragons in the Galleries and Create your own 2012 Calendar  January 2 (Mon)- 3 (Tue), 2012   ・140th Anniversary Gift　Every day from January 2 (Mon) to January 9 (Mon), we will give the first 1400 visitors to the museum a dogu clay figurine strap (produced by Kaiyodo Co., Ltd.)
	Cherry Blossom Viewing at the Tokyo National Museum　March 20 (Tue) - April 15 (Sun), 2012   ・Finding Cherry Blossom in the Japanese Gallery (Honkan)　March 20 (Tue) - April 15 (Sun), 2012   ・Museum Garden Opening (Spring)　 March 10 (Sat) - April 15 (Sun), 2012   ・J-WAVE SPRING FESTIVAL@TNM　April 7 (Sat), 2012   ・Guided tours (in Japanese) and tea ceremony gatherings on cherry blossom themes　March 20 (Tue) , 2012, etc   ・Cherry-blossom stamp rally and pinback buttons presents　March 20 (Tue) - April 15 (Sun), 2012
	Autumn Special Viewing　September 15 (Sat) - 30 (Sun), 2012   ・ Autumn Special Viewing, Donated Masterworks in the Tokyo National Museum Collection 　September 15 (Sat) - 30 (Sun), 2012   ・Guided tours (in Japanese) on the history of the museum   ・Special Thanks Day: Open until 22:00 with evening concerts, etc.　September 21(Fri), 2012   ・Take photos with masterpieces Pine Trees and Scenes in and Around Kyoto (copies)　September 15 (Sat) - 30 (Sun), 2012    ・Come to the museum in kimonos: 100 yen off from regular exhibition admission fees　September 15 (Sat) - 30 (Sun), 2012
	Toyokan Renewal Opening and New Year’s Celebration at the Tokyo National Museum 2013　January 2 (Wed) - 27(Sun), 2013   ・Reopening of the Toyokan (Asian Gallery)　January 2 (Wed) , 2013   ・New Year's Celebration at the Tokyo National Museum　January 2 (Wed) - 27(Sun), 2013   ・Special New-year Exhibition　January 2 (Wed) - 14(Mon), 2013

Starts from Monday, January 2, 2012. Pick up a copy of the 140th anniversary brochure at the museum and participate in the commemorative stamp rally. Each month a stamp with a different design will be available at the Honkan and Heiseikan information counters. Collect 6 different stamp designs on your brochure and receive a commemorative present at the Honkan information counter. (Available for the first 3,000 visitors with completed brochures.)
Furthermore, we will present a pair of tickets of the special exhibition after collecting every 15 stamps during this campaign.
Exchange of presents is until Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Honkan information counter.

Thank You 140 Blog (in Japanese only)

These exclusive gift pair tickets, commemorating Tokyo National Museum’s 140th anniversary year, are on sale at the Regular Exhibition Ticket windows at the Main gate and the Tokyo National Museum Shop. For the special price of 1,400 yen, purchasers will receive an admission ticket for two persons to the regular exhibition, exchange coupons for a combined total of two tenugui (Japanese towels) from the Museum Shop or cake sets (cake plus drink) at Hotel Okura Restaurant Yurinoki, and an exclusive writing paper and envelope set. Pair tickets are valid until Sunday, July 29, 2012, and sale is until stocks last. How about presenting a pair ticket to that special person on your own anniversary?
* The admission ticket and exchange coupons can be used from the next day the museum is open following the day of purchase.
* The Sale of Pair Tickets ended on Saturday, June 30th, 2012, and are valid until Sunday, July 29, 2012.

    
(Left) Pair ticket, exchange coupons, and exclusive writing paper and envelope.
Why not write a message on the paper, seal it in the envelope with the ticket and exchange coupons, and present it as a gift?
(Center and right) Tenugui (Japanese towel) and Hotel Okura Restaurant Yurinoki cake set. Please use the exchange coupons at the register of the shop or restaurant.