Reopening of the Toyokan (Asian Gallery)

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Reopening of the Toyokan (Asian Gallery) ／ Asian Gallery (Toyokan) January 2, 2013 (Wed) - March 31, 2013 (Sun)

Enjoy a journey around Asian art through the Toyokan’s comprehensive collection

At the Tokyo National Museum, renovations to protect the Toyokan against earthquakes were recently completed. The refurbished Toyokan will open on January 2, 2013.
In addition to strengthening the building against earthquakes, a more comfortable viewing environment has been created with low reflection glass in display cases and LED lighting instead of fluorescent lights. The number of galleries has been increased, with special areas being created for the “Khmer Sculpture,” “Indian Miniature Paintings,” and “Decorative Art of the Qing Dynasty” sections, which were only exhibited for limited periods before. An elevator has been newly installed in the center of the building to improve accessibility. The panels that introduce each gallery, the object labels and other information appear in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

Opening Ceremony of the Toyokan (Asian Gallery)
January 2, 2013 9:45 outdoor-In front of Toyokan

Highlights
Recommended spots
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Highlights

Journey around Asian art

The concept of the galleries in the Toyokan (Asian Gallery) is a journey around Asian art. All visitors are invited to take a high-quality cultural journey through the Toyokan’s comprehensive collection encompassing the Asian world.

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The best collection of Asian art in Japan

The Toyokan collection contains approximately 20,000 items. In terms of scope and quality it is the best collection of Asian art in Japan. This collection encompasses cultures across Asia, from the Korean peninsula to Egypt, with Chinese painting and calligraphy from the Song and Yuan dynasties, Chinese ceramics and lacquerware, as well as art from the Western Regions (Central Asia). Highlights for the reopening in January are introduced as below.

Click the images to view detail of works

Special areas being created for new sections

The number of galleries has been increased, with special areas being created for the “Khmer Sculpture,” “Indian Miniature Paintings,” and “Decorative Art of the Qing Dynasty” sections, which were only exhibited for limited periods before. The “Chinese Literati” and “Art of the Joseon Dynasty” displays are another highlight, as they utilize the materials and genres of exhibited objects to introduce the environments in which art was produced.

Click the images to view detail of works

More comfortable

In addition to strengthening the building against earthquakes, a more comfortable viewing environment has been created with low reflection glass in display cases and LED lighting instead of fluorescent lights.
An elevator has been newly installed in the center of the building to improve accessibility. The panels that introduce each gallery, the object labels and other information appear in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

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Recommended spots

Educational Programs

In the two education spaces of the Toyokan, knowledge about Asia is introduced through various educational activities and image media. The concept of the Toyokan exhibitions is a “journey around Asian art.” However, as a long journey is tiring, the education spaces are oases for visitors to take a rest and to learn about or experience aspects of Asian culture.

Journey Information (2F)

Introducing various journeys with images

"The Merchants’ Journey"
In about the 1st century, Egyptian merchants crossed the Erythraean Sea (the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean) and traveled through India in search of Chinese silk, perfume, pepper and other goods. This program introduces the objects that merchants obtained in the areas they visited, as well as details about those areas.

"The Journey of Xuanzang”
This program introduces the major cities from China to India along the route traveled by the seventh-century Chinese monk Xuanzang. Visitors can also view related items in the museum collection as well as photos of the present-day cities.

Fortune-telling in Asia (4F)

Activity area: Fortune-telling in Asia. Recommended for visitors with children.

Mongolian Fortune-telling with Shagai
This type of fortune-telling uses four shagai (ankle bones of sheep or goats). By rolling them like dice, visitors can read their fortunes for the day from the combination of sides facing up.

Dream Fortune-telling in Asia
“If you dream of a large cat, there will be a large harvest” (Egypt); “Dream of eating an apple and your wishes will come true” (Mesopotamia). This activity introduces ten examples of dream fortune-telling from Asian areas.

Lucky Items of Asia
Five lucky items from Asian countries, such as Ganesa (India) and the baku (China), are introduced here. There are embossed stamps of these five items for visitors to use.

Terrace（3F）

Terrace adjacent to the room5 on the 3F, overlooking prized possession is a view spot of the Honkan, Hyokeikan, the tulip tree.

TNM & TOPPAN MUSEUM THEATER （B1F）

From 2007 until 2012, the TNM & TOPPAN Museum Theater has been jointly managed in the Tokyo National Museum’s Research and Information Center by the museum and Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. However, it will be reopened on the first basement floor of the Toyokan with the introduction of cutting-edge equipment and an enlarged capacity.
In this theater, visitors can appreciate cultural properties in new ways through virtual reality technology. By producing a computer-generated 3D visual space based on digital archives of cultural properties (mostly items in the museum collection), the theater creates novel methods for encountering and enjoying cultural properties.

These include digital images of cultural properties that provide viewers with the impression that the properties are really in front of them.

*This program is available in Japanese only.
*A separate admission is required.

Museum Shop（1F）

On the first floor of the Toyokan, products are on sale with designs featuring items in the Toyokan collection.
Visitors can find souvenirs here themed around their favorite artworks or artifacts.