The 150th Anniversary of the Vienna World’s Fair
-
Boat (Model), Hokkaido Ainu,19th century (Gift of the Hokkaido Project Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 16
October 24, 2023 (Tue) - January 14, 2024 (Sun)2023 marks the 150th anniversary of Japan’s participation in the 1873 Vienna World’s Fair. As it was the first time the country had ever officially participated in a World’s Fair, the Meiji government considered this exposition a national enterprise. By exhibiting Japanese products, the government not only encouraged exports and boosted the growth of its industries, but also highlighted Japan’s prestigious standing as a modern country to the rest of the world.
At the same time, the Meiji government also exhibited many Ainu-related materials and objects, collected through the Hokkaido Development Commission. This had the political aim of demonstrating to domestic and international audiences that Hokkaido was now a part of Japan.
This exhibit introduces Ainu culture by focusing on the objects exhibited at the Vienna World’s Fair, as well as albums containing photographs of the artifacts taken before the event itself.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Exhibits for the World's Fair in Vienna, Austria | Photographed by Yokoyama Matsusaburō (1838–84) | Meiji era, 1872–1873 | R-2265-1 | On exhibit through December 3, 2023 | ||
| Highlight | Textile with a Geometric Pattern | China | Ming dynasty, 17th century | TI-61 | On exhibit from December 5, 2023 | ||
| Highlight | Boat (Model) | Hokkaido Ainu | 19th century | Gift of the Hokkaido Project Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, K-25788 | |||
| Highlight | Box | Sakhalin Nivkh | 19th century | K-27387 | On exhibit from December 5, 2023 | ||
| Highlight | Coat | Hokkaido Ainu | 19th century | Transferred from the Bureau for the Vienna World Exposition, K-25655 | On exhibit through December 3, 2023 | ||
| Highlight | Wine Cup and a Stand | Hokkaido Ainu | 19th century | Transferred from the Bureau for the Vienna World Exposition, K-25762 | On exhibit through December 3, 2023 | ||
| Highlight | Ainu Genre Paintings | By Hirasawa Byōzan (1822–76) | Edo period, 19th century | Gift of Mr. Yamataka Nobuakira, A-9880 |