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Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga and Nanban Art: Japan-European Exchange 400 Years Ago

  • Image of "Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga, By Archita Ricci, 17th century (Private collection)"

    Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga, By Archita Ricci, 17th century (Private collection)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 7
    February 11, 2014 (Tue) - March 23, 2014 (Sun)

    From the mid-16th to the beginning of the 17th century, during the Azuchi-Momoyama and the beginning of the Edo periods, was a time of encounters between Japan and Europe.

    Hasekura Tsunenaga (1571–1622), one of the few Japanese who actually traveled to Europe, was the leader of delegates which later became to be known as the Keicho Mission sent by the feudal lord of Sendai, Date Masamune, in 1613 (Keicho 18).
    This exhibit features a portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga, which is a portrayal of Hasekura in Rome when had an audience with Pope Paul V. Together with the portrait, Europeans in Japan, as well as the Map of the World, a work reminiscent of Hasekura's travel route across the Pacific Ocean and beyond Mexico, are also introduced. These two works are examples of Nanban Art, a style of Japanese art which flourished with influences from European culture.
    This exhibit aims to present an aspect of cultural exchanges between Japan and Europe four centuries ago.

    Highlights of the Exhibition

General Information

Period Tuesday, February 11  - Sunday, March 23, 2014
Venue Honkan Room 7, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
Hours 9:30 - 17:00
(Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed Mondays
Admission Adults: 600 (500) yen
University Students: 400 (300) yen
* ( ) indicate prices for those in groups of 20 or more.
* Persons with disabilities are admitted free with one accompanying person each.
* High/Junior High/Elementary School Students and persons under 18 and over 70: Free
Please show proof of age (driver's license, passport, etc.) when entering.
Access 10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station
15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station
Organizer Tokyo National Museum
With the Special Support of Agency of Cultural Affairs, Italian Embassy
 With the Assistance of  Sendai City Museum
General Inquiries 03-5405-8686 (Hello Dial)

Highlights of the Exhibition

 

支倉常長像   Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga
By Archita Ricci
17th century
Private collection

 

 

 南蛮人渡来図

Europeans in Japan
Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century
Important Cultural Property
Private collection

 

 

 世界図屏風

Maps of the World
Azuchi-Momoyama - Edo period, 16th-17th century
Important Cultural Property
Private collection

 

Leaflet

支倉常長リーフレット

Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga and Nanban Art: Japan-European Exchange 400 Years Ago

The leaflet is distributed in Honkan Room7 and information desk during the special exhibition periods.
PDFPDF, 14MB)