Decorative Arts of Ryukyu

The Tokyo National Museum's collection of ethnological materials from Okinawa is mainly comprised of objects purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce from Okinawa prefecture in 1884. In 1882, the German Anthropological Society asked the Ministry to collect Okinawan ethnological objects as reference materials for study. Objects which were not collected in time to send to Germany and spare samples were sent to Tokyo and transferred to this museum.

Because many cultural properties, including ethnological objects, were destroyed in Okinawa prefecture during World War II, the Tokyo National Museum's collection is among the oldest ethnological collections of Okinawan objects in existence.

Of special note are materials related to the noro (ritual officers) of Yamato-mura, Amami-oshima Island, which were donated by Ms. Yamato Yoshiko in 1998. Formerly in the care of Mrs. Osada Suma, a researcher of the Amami dialect, they are important for the study of the Okinawan culture.

This display features examples of decorative art from Okinawa, including metalwork, colorful textiles, ceramics showing various influences, lacquerware showing Chinese influences, and jade objects thought to have been used by noro.