The final opera performance at the cultural hall, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, will feature Mozart’s masterpiece “Don Giovanni” conducted by maestro Riccardo Muti.

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, which has supported Japan's performing arts for 64 years, will close for approximately three years for construction work starting in May 2026. The final opera performance before the closure has been decided to be "Don Giovanni" (conductor: Riccardo Muti).

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Ueno Park, Taito Ward) was built in 1961 by Kunio Maekawa, one of Japan's leading postwar architects. For 64 years, this "temple of the performing arts" has shone brilliantly as the center of opera, ballet, and orchestral performances in Japan. However, it has been announced that the building will be closed for approximately three years for construction work, starting in May 2026. The hall has previously hosted performances from some of the world's leading opera houses, including the Vienna State Opera and La Scala in Milan. It has now been announced that the final opera performance before the closure will be a performance of " Don Giovanni " (composed by W.A. Mozart) by world-renowned conductor Riccardo Muti. An opening press conference was held to welcome Muti, who was visiting Japan for the Italian Opera Academy in Tokyo .

Riccardo Muti photo Toru Hiraiwa

Muti's rare opera, conducted in Japan, even in his home base in Europe.

Riccardo Muti will conduct three staged opera productions of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in April and May 2026. Directed by Chiara Muti, the all-Italian cast (with the exception of Masetto), led by Luca Micheletti in the title role, will be presented in a full-scale stage format, rather than a concert performance. The Tokyo Spring Festival Orchestra will take the pit, and the Tokyo Opera Singers will provide the chorus. Having performed under Muti's guidance at the Italian Opera Academy in Tokyo, they have earned the maestro's deep trust, leading to the decision to perform this production, which has already been performed in Italy, in Japan. A press conference was held at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, the venue, on September 10th, welcoming Muti, NBS Executive Director Norio Takahashi, and Tokyo Spring Festival Executive Committee Chairman Koichi Suzuki, who are currently visiting Japan.

Norio Takahashi (Executive Director, Japan Performing Arts Foundation)
"The Tokyo Spring Festival has invited Muti 13 times since 2006, and to date has presented 11 concert-style opera performances of six works. We at NBS have conducted numerous operas at relocation performances at La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera, and the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. The last staged opera conducted by a maestro was at the Vienna State Opera in 2016. As you know, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan will undergo three years of renovation work in May of next year, and in fact, for about three years now we have been thinking about whether it would be possible to have a staged opera conducted by a maestro. I discussed this with Tokyo Spring Festival. Just before the three-year closure, we decided to split the work, with Tokyo Spring Festival providing the music and us (NBS), our specialty in the staging. All the sets and costumes will be rented from the Teatro Regio di Torino, which will cost as much as a relocation. Since we won't be going through the opera house's administrative office, the process will be a lot of work. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, will be involved as a sponsor, and the three parties will be working together to launch the project. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan will be unable to stage large-scale productions for the next three years, starting next May. We are concerned about the decline of performing arts, and we strongly believe that we must continue to promote culture. Incidentally, this "Don Giovanni" will mark the completion of Muti's Da Ponte trilogy, following "Così fan tutte" during his 2008 visit to Japan with the Vienna State Opera and "The Marriage of Figaro," also from Vienna, in 2016. It will be a culminating performance.

From the right, NBS Executive Director Norio Takahashi, Spring Festival in Tokyo Executive Committee Chairman Koichi Suzuki, Riccardo Muti, and Michiko Taguchi (coordinator and interpreter for this performance). Photo by Toru Hiraiwa

Koichi Suzuki (Chairman of the Tokyo Spring Music Festival Executive Committee)
"I'm not involved with music, but I started the music festival over 20 years ago, and Muti came in the second year, and he taught me that there's meaning in continuing the festival. The Italian Opera Academy has nurtured young performers and has achieved great results, and I myself was taught Verdi from scratch. That's why Muti often teases me, saying, 'Many people go from Verdi to Wagner, but the reverse is rare.' When I see the academy mentoring young people, I think it must be extremely strict and difficult. But when I listen, the sound changes every day. This year marks the end of the academy, but Muti and I have decided, 'Even though we're getting old, let's live on for a while' (laughs). I hope Muti will continue conducting until he's about 100 years old. I've had the pleasure of listening to Muti's Mozart symphonies, such as "Haffner" and "Jupiter," and I'm looking forward to seeing how he will interpret Mozart in next spring's opera."

Riccardo Muti photo Toru Hiraiwa

It would not be an exaggeration to say that I have devoted most of my life to the study of Mozart's works.

Riccardo Muti (conductor)
"Hello, fellow journalists. Thank you all for joining us today. I would like to thank my friend Suzuki Koichi. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Takahashi Norio, with whom I have built a cooperative relationship, and to the Nikkei Shimbun for lending their support to this operation. My long, long love affair with Japan began in 1975, with the Vienna Philharmonic's tour of Japan, and many more since then… Milan La Scala, Vienna State Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra – the list of concerts and operas alone is enormous.

My relationship with Mozart runs deep, just like my relationship with Verdi. As music director of La Scala, I conducted six of his works. In Salzburg, I conducted "Così fan tutte," "Don Giovanni," "La Clemenza di Tito," "The Magic Flute," and many other symphonies. I'm not a Mozart specialist. However, it's no exaggeration to say that I've devoted most of my life to studying Mozart's works. I've performed with Vienna orchestras in Japan, and thanks to Suzuki-san, I've also performed Mozart with the Tokyo Spring Festival Orchestra. I feel it's especially important to study with young orchestras here. Because of my long relationship with the Vienna Philharmonic, I want to share my experience with young musicians like ripe fruit.

The main visual for this performance has also been announced.

I consider Da Ponte's trilogy to be Italian opera. As we all know, Mozart understood and spoke Italian perfectly. The recitatives show how fluently Mozart spoke Italian. The recitatives in Don Giovanni are almost more important than the arias. Phrases, words, and things like that are important. It's not like the music comes first and the words are added later.

In Italian opera, it's especially important to understand Italian. The song in "Così fan tutte," "You have to know a lot of things by the time you're 15," is written to be spoken to. If a conductor who doesn't understand Italian were to conduct mechanically, it would immediately be obvious that it was wrong, not that it was German. At the academy, the students and the choir are wonderfully cooperative. I want to say that it's not that I know the truth. However, I'm able to teach today thanks to what my teachers have learned over generations.

Many years ago, a recording of "Don Giovanni" was released with some wonderful singers. Giorgio Strehler (1921-1987) was a brilliant director, and I consider him almost godlike as a director. My daughter, Chiara, studied at Strehler's school, and she also studied in my musical world. Chiara's production of "Don Giovanni," which will be performed here next year, was a great success at the Teatro Regio di Turin and also at the Teatro Massimo de Palermo. When this production was brought to Japan, I immediately said, "In that case, let's do it with a Japanese orchestra and chorus!"

Da Ponte's trilogy is described as "Dramma Giocoso" (tragicomedy), and jokes always have a bitter edge . The finales of all three operas are negative. I think it's a mistake to have the characters act like clowns at the end. Don Giovanni is not a clown, after all. I think it expresses the spirit of evil. At the end, he descends into hell, but before he does, a dark light shines on his world. When he disappears, those left behind lose something and don't know what to do. The tragic music in the prelude begins with D'mor, which is the same as in the Requiem. This is a complex opera, and one of its messages is that "you can't trust anyone." It's not a comedy at all, and there's a melancholy sadness hidden within. I'm not saying it should be made like a funeral, but… Mozart and Da Ponte may appear to be light-hearted characters on the surface, but deep down they were tough people. It's true that Da Ponte may have chased women around in his youth, but the 1700s were a special time.

I've said a lot, but I urge you to see the performance and decide for yourself whether it was good or bad. The production features a wonderful cast. First of all, the lead singer, Luca Micheletti, is the most interesting baritone in Italy right now, and he began his career as an actor. He is also the director, and the other cast members have already performed together in Italy and have been well-trained.

Muti has given his stamp of approval to the lead actor, Luca Micheletti. On September 12th, he also appeared in a special concert celebrating Italy's National Day at the EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, which was a huge success. His multi-talented talent, which has earned him acclaim as both an actor and director, is attracting attention. Photo: Fabio Anselmini

We can't erase the past

I have been fighting this battle for a long time. A conductor does more than just read the notes and move his arms. It is important to acquire culture. Performing Mozart is not just about learning the notes. You need to study his life, his world, the things he suffered, and at the same time, the world of Da Ponte.

History and events of the past cannot be erased. Don Giovanni is an opera that may not be easily performed due to modern restrictions. Both Mozart and Verdi were humane composers, and their works deeply challenge the listener to consider questions such as what love is and what humanity is.

We cannot erase the past. We can erase past mistakes. By doing so, we are teaching young people that "the past was perfect," which is problematic. It is wrong to omit words from a script because they are politically incorrect. If there were mistakes in the past, we must remember them in order to make them right.

Finally, music… and I'm not saying this because I'm a musician, but I think it's the most important element that brings people together. I'd like to conclude this interview with the words of St. Agostino (354-430, Christian theologian, philosopher, and bishop). He wrote in Latin, so I'll start by reading it in Latin. Here's the Italian translation:
"All who sing and play are people who know how to love"
thank you very much.

Interview and text: Hisae Odashima (music writer)

Opera "Don Giovanni" composed by W.A. Mozart
Conductor: Riccardo Muti

■Official website : https://www.nbs.or.jp/stages/2026/dongiovanni/

■Performance Schedule
2026
April 26th (Sun) 14:00
April 29th (Wednesday) 14:00
May 1st (Fri) 14:00

■ Venue: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Ueno)

■ Main scheduled performers
Don Giovanni: Luca Micheletti
Donna Anna: Maria Grazia Schiavo
Donna Elvira: Mariangela Sicilia
Don Ottavio: Giovanni Sala
Leporello: Alessandro Luongo
Zerlina: Francesca Di Sauro
Masetto: Leon Kosavich
Knight Commander: Vittorio de Campo
Orchestra: Tokyo Spring Festival Orchestra Chorus: Tokyo Opera Singers

■Ticket prices
S=¥59,000 A=¥46,000 B=¥36,000 C=¥28,000 D=¥21,000 E=¥15,000
Supporter seats = 109,000 yen (S seats with donation)
U39 seat = ¥13,000 U29 seat = ¥10,000

■ Release Schedule
・NBS WEB Ticket & Tokyo Spring Music Festival WEB advance sale
2025/10/3 (Fri) 19:00 – 10/26 (Sun) 18:00

・General sale starts at 10:00 on Thursday, October 30, 2025

・U39 Seats & U29 Seats: Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 7:00 PM

*Supporter seats and U39 & U29 seats are only available through NBS WEB tickets.

Organized by: Japan Performing Arts Foundation / Spring Festival in Tokyo Executive Committee / Nikkei Inc.

[NBS] Press Release


See other exhibition information

We will hold a workshop to reuse umbrellas that would otherwise be discarded.

We look forward to seeing you at "Peace of Light" and the "Ueno Hirokoji Hiroba Social Experiment"!

Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Tokyo Metro") will be holding a workshop in collaboration with the City Arts Cultivation Association (hereinafter "Arts Cultivation Association") at "Peace of Light," hosted by the Ueno Tourism Federation on Saturday, November 1st, and at the "Ueno Hirokoji Hiroba Social Experiment," hosted by the Ueno Urban Development Council on Sunday, November 2nd. The workshop will focus on plastic umbrellas that were scheduled to be discarded as lost property within Tokyo Metro.

One type of waste generated through railway operations is plastic umbrellas left behind on Tokyo Metro trains and in stations. In fiscal 2024, approximately 9,000 plastic umbrellas were recovered as lost property, but of these, approximately 8,500 were not collected by customers (number of umbrellas returned: approximately 500 (return rate: approximately 5.6%)).

"Peace of Light: Art Metro of Light," to be held on Saturday, November 1st, is a project in which participants who apply in advance are invited to decorate 500 plastic umbrellas that were scheduled to be discarded with LED lights as they like, and then parade through Ueno Park at night holding their homemade umbrellas.

The "Ueno Hirokoji Hiroba Social Experiment" will be held on Sunday, November 2nd, and two types of craft workshops will be held at Hakamagoshi Square in Ueno Park. Participants will be able to work with artists from the Geikukai Association to create a doll called "Reborn from Forgotten: Discarded Umbrella Kapparoid" by freely combining parts of discarded plastic umbrellas, and will also be able to decorate the discarded plastic umbrellas as they like.

The aim of this workshop is not only to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions caused by discarding plastic umbrellas, but also to highlight the power of art and encourage people to develop an attachment to their plastic umbrellas, thereby encouraging them to reconsider the habit of leaving their umbrellas on trains and other places, and to become aware of the importance of using things for as long as possible.

Tokyo Metro will continue to uphold the goal of "realizing a decarbonized, circular society," and will continue to make railways an even more environmentally friendly means of transportation. We will also promote various initiatives that encourage behavioral change in each individual while ensuring the enjoyment of our passengers, thereby contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.

About the "Peace of Light: Ueno Hirokoji Hiroba Social Experiment" Workshop

1. Peace of Light "Light Art Metro " 
(1) Overview
This event involves participants (500 people in total) decorating plastic umbrellas that were scheduled to be discarded with LED lights in their own way, then lighting up the completed umbrellas as they parade from Ueno Park to Shinobazu Pond. The parade will begin with a signal of "All aboard!" from a current Tokyo Metro station employee, and will then parade in a line that resembles a train through the tunnels of Ueno Park and along the banks of Shinobazu Pond, while listening to subway-related background music.

(2) Date and time: November 1st (Saturday) 14:30-17:30
*Participants will be divided into three groups (starting at 14:30, 15:30, and 16:30) to create their own original LED umbrellas.

(3) Workshop location: Hakamagoshi Square in Ueno Park

(4) Parade time: 18:00-18:30
*Meet at 17:45 (meet next to the statue of Saigo Takamori)

(5) Parade route: Statue of Saigo Takamori – Kiyomizu Kannon Hall – Gojo Tenjin Shrine – Lakeside of Shinobazu Pond – Lotus View Deck
*Routes may change depending on congestion.

(6) Supervising Artist: Kenta Ichinose (Moderator: Yunosuke Oka)

(7) How to participate
A. Eligibility: Anyone can participate
Capacity: 500 people (excluding accompanying persons)
*Preschool children must be accompanied by a companion.
C) Application period: October 16th to October 30th
D. Participation fee: Free
How to participate: Please apply using the application form below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccyBXQnn65Zj2QuFwMJMIXl_vSEnyL1ijpSLwszQFENj3CbA/viewform

* Advance registration is required. Registration will close once capacity is reached.
*Please check Geikukai's X (formerly Twitter) for application status.

(8) What to bring
Nothing in particular

(9) Notes
Please use public transportation on the day

2. Ueno Hirokoji Hiroba Social Experiment (Craft Workshop)

2-1 Let's make "Born from Forgotten: Discarded Umbrella Kapparoid"!
(1) Overview
This workshop involves working with artists from the Art Education Association to create a doll (Kapparoid) from umbrellas that have been broken down into bones and vinyl. There are a variety of parts that can be freely selected and arranged. The aim is to foster a "mind that values things" and "free creativity" through creative work. A vinyl umbrella that would have been discarded will be reborn as a special, one-of-a-kind figure.

"Kapparoid" *Image

(2) Date and time: Sunday, November 2nd
①11:00-12:30 ②14:00-15:30

(3) Venue: Hakamagoshi Square in Ueno Park

(4) Supervising Artist: Chika Toys Kobori Sayaka

(5) How to participate
A. Target: Elementary school students
Capacity: 40 people (20 participants per workshop, excluding accompanying persons)
C) Application period: October 16th to October 30th
Participation fee: Please purchase a participation ticket that can be used for both the workshops held at Hakamagoshi Square.
(500 yen per session)
Time required: 60 to 90 minutes
How to participate: Please apply using the application form below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKTeQXKcl_3c_fksRV8TMpuQGeJvfJTxh_h1e3ZqoQX7viyg/viewform

* Advance registration is required. Registration will close once capacity is reached.
*Please check Geikukai's X (formerly Twitter) for application status.

2-2 "Consumption choices that can be taken home"
(1) Overview
Participants can experience positive reuse by customizing discarded umbrellas that are still in good condition with Metro's original numbering stickers and taking them home. This event allows participants to pick up an umbrella from the umbrella box set up in Hakamakoshi Square, wander around the square looking for stickers scattered throughout the square, and create their own special umbrella.

"Take-home consumption options" image

(2) Date and time: Sunday, November 2nd, 11:00-16:00

(3) Venue: Hakamagoshi Square in Ueno Park

(4) Supervising Artist: MAHANA

(5) How to participate
A. Eligibility: Anyone can participate
Capacity: 100 people (first come, first served)
Participation fee: None
How to participate: Anyone can participate on the day

3. Artist introduction

Kenta Ichinose

Based in Ueno, Tokyo, and New York, he develops a wide range of expressions with the aim of "making the world happier through art." His signature work, the "Happy Panda Bench" in front of the main gate of Ueno Park (co-created with the Tokyo Ueno Lions Club), is beloved by many visitors to Ueno. He has curated events such as Art Fair Tokyo and Tokyo Gendai, and is also involved in artist production. His wide-ranging activities include artwork creation, exhibition planning, and urban development utilizing art with an emphasis on economics and business. He has also made numerous media appearances, including appearances at "Ad-Machi-Kantei-Ji Temple" (2018) and "Ueno Park" (2022), and playing the role of Geek in King Gnu's "Tokyo Rendez-Vous" (2017). He completed his doctoral studies at the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School of Fine Arts. He founded the "Geiiku-Kai"*, an organization that supports artists in the Ueno area community, and will serve as its secretary general until 2023.

Chika Toys

Sculptor. His works explore the coexistence of AI and humans through futuristic, retro designs. The robots with oddly shaped heads exude a charming sense of humor, and at times a hint of melancholy, in contrast to their rugged, rusted appearance. He reexamines the relationship between technology and humans, and takes a critical view of a sustainable future. His unique worldview invites viewers to consider what it means to be human, through the relationship between society and themselves.

Sayaka Kobori

Soft sculpture artist. Believing that "cuteness will save the world," she works to bring healing and hope to people living in oppressive societies. Using high-quality materials such as German-made fur fabric, she is committed to consistently high-end handmade production, from creating patterns to sewing, dyeing, and accessories. Rooted in her childhood as a school dropout and recluse, she learned sewing from her grandmother and mother in order to survive. This was the catalyst that led her to embark on her career as a stuffed animal artist. She explores the possibilities of stuffed animal media through advertising visuals, event booths, and social media posts, primarily using the Uchinoko series.

MAHANA

Creative director of artist/designer brand "fair enough" and sculpture shop MAHANA.
An artist whose work spans genres including fashion, sculpture, and graphics. His approach explores the boundaries of sight, physical sensation, and emotion while addressing social issues, resonating with the viewer's inner self and creating new connections between art and fashion.

Yunosuke Oka

A talk artist/host. He began working as a radio personality while still in college, appearing mainly on talk variety shows and news programs. He has also hosted medical conferences and auctions, and acted as a reporter on cable TV programs. He also works as a "talk artist," narrating on stage and demonstrating sales using his special talent for sales pitches, mainly in Ueno, Tokyo. He currently works as an employee of a major consulting firm, while also working irregularly as a radio personality and event host.

* Geikukai: An organization that brings together businesses in the Ueno area, including Ueno, Yushima, Ikenohata, Okachimachi, Nezu, Yanaka, and Akihabara, with the aim of revitalizing the town together with young artists. Ueno is known for art, Yushima for performing arts, Okachimachi for crafts, and Akihabara for technology art. By promoting the appeal of each town as a "town that nurtures the arts," the organization builds an art brand image for the Ueno area. The organization aims to create lasting connections with young artists throughout the town and develop the town with the goal of promoting the arts.

4. Contact details for workshop inquiries
Tokyo Metro Customer Center https://www.tokyometro.jp/support/index.html

5. Details of the Peace of Light Ueno Hirokoji Hiroba Social Experiment
Please check the event page for details.
Peace of Light: https://ueno.or.jp/peaceoflight/
Ueno Hirokoji Hiroba Social Experiment: https://ueno-machi.org/

[Tokyo Metro] Press Release


See other exhibition information

Enjoy a winter museum experience! “Christmas at the Museum” held at the National Museum of Western Art

National Museum of Western Art

Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 – Thursday, December 25th, 2025 Open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays!

"Christmas at the Museum" will be held for approximately one month from Wednesday, November 26th to Thursday, December 25th, 2025, allowing visitors to enjoy a winter day at the National Museum of Western Art in their own way. This project, which began in 2007, is a winter tradition at the National Museum of Western Art, which has a rich collection of Western art with Christian themes.

There's plenty to enjoy, including the winter-only audio guide "Curator's Voice 2025," in which researchers themselves talk about the works on display in the permanent collection; the "Everyone's Christmas Carol Concert," which anyone, including small children, can enjoy; and gallery talks that will help you enjoy the permanent collection even more. The museum is also open until 8:00 PM every Friday and Saturday, and after viewing the art, you can enjoy dinner in the museum's restaurant. From families with children and first-time museum visitors to regulars, we have events to suit everyone's tastes, so please take advantage of this opportunity to visit.

Christmas tree in the lobby of the National Museum of Western Art © National Museum of Western Art

■ Winter only! Audio guide "Curator's Voice 2025" [Free]

This year we will be offering a new version of the audio guide narrated by a researcher from the National Museum of Western Art, which was well received last year.
The program will explain the works and special feature corners on display during the period of the permanent exhibition. In addition to being available in the exhibition room, you can also listen to it online from the comfort of your own home.
Scan the 2D barcode at the information desk to access the audio guide web app. Please bring your smartphone and earphones when using it in the exhibition rooms. A script is included, so text information is also provided.
Screening period: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 – Thursday, December 25, 2025

Winter only! Audio guide "Curator's Voice 2025" © National Museum of Western Art

■ Kawasaki Free Sunday

In principle, the permanent exhibition is free to view on the second Sunday of every month. Enjoy the Christmas tree in the lobby and other decorations unique to this time of year.
Date and time: Sunday, December 14, 2025 9:30-17:30 (last entry at 17:00)

■ Relaxing Day with Your Baby — Art Museum for Ages 0 and Up — [Advance registration required / First come, first served / Free]

On this day, you can freely view the permanent exhibition with your small children on closed days. Picture book readings are also planned.
Venue: Permanent exhibition room and other locations
Date and time: Monday, December 15, 2025, 10:00-15:00 *Closed on
*The same program is scheduled to be held on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Relaxing Day with Your Baby —Art Museum for Ages 0 and Up— © National Museum of Western Art

■ Everyone's Christmas Carol Concert [Advance registration required / First come, first served / Free]

This is an a cappella concert featuring Christmas-themed songs. The lighting in the auditorium will be bright, making it easy to enter and exit the hall even during the performance. This concert can be enjoyed safely by everyone, including those visiting an art museum for the first time, small children, people with disabilities, and art and music fans.
Cast: Ai Okada (soprano), Momoka Osawa (soprano), Masanori Taguchi (tenor), Naohito Sekiguchi (baritone)
Venue: Auditorium *Capacity 100 people per session, same program for each session
Date and time: Saturday, December 20, 2025 15:00-15:40
Sunday, December 21, 2025 13:00-13:40

Everyone's Christmas Carol Concert © National Museum of Western Art

■ Gallery Talk [Registration on the day / Free (however, a ticket valid for admission to the current exhibition is required)]

Volunteer staff will talk about several works from the permanent exhibition that are related to Christianity and Christmas.
Venue: Permanent Exhibition Room *Maximum of 15 people per session (first come, first served)
Date and time: Saturday, December 20, 2025 11:00-11:30/13:00-13:30
Sunday, December 21, 2025 11:00-11:30/13:00-13:30
*Sign language interpretation and the hearing aid system "Roger" will be available for rental on Saturday, December 20th from 11:00 to 11:30.

Gallery Talk © National Museum of Western Art

■ Volunteer Tour [Registration on the day / Free (however, you will need a ticket valid for admission to the current exhibition)]

This program is open to everyone, from children to adults, and allows them to enjoy simple creative activities inspired by artworks in the museum's collection. It is planned and run by volunteer staff. Interpreters will be available, so those who use sign language can participate with peace of mind. Further details will be posted on the National Museum of Western Art's website.
Venue: Workshop Room (New Building, 2nd floor, near the Print and Painting Exhibition Room)
Date and time: Saturday, December 20th, 2025 and Sunday, December 21st, 2025 *Sign language interpretation available on both days

*For programs that require advance registration, applications will close once capacity is reached. For details on each program, including how to apply, please visit the National Museum of Western Art website.
https://www.nmwa.go.jp/jp/experience-learn/detail/christmas2025.html


Open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays! Enjoy a special Christmas dinner and sweets in addition to appreciating the art.

●CAFÉ Suiren
This popular, open café restaurant faces a lush courtyard. We offer roast beef courses and original Christmas cakes for a limited time only (11/26 – 12/25).
Open until 8:00 PM every Friday and Saturday (food 11:00 AM – 7:10 PM last orders, cafe 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM last orders)

Roast beef course ¥3,300 (tax included) © National Museum of Western Art
Limited-time offer: Suiren Christmas Cake (November 26th to December 25th) © National Museum of Western Art

Christmas version wrapping available

●SHOP
We will be offering a picture book based on the National Museum of Western Art, "The Story of the Museum at the Edge of the Forest" (National Museum of Western Art limited edition cover version), in Christmas packaging, and a stuffed toy with a ribbon featuring John Everett Millais's "The Duckling," which appears in the picture book.
Other popular sweets will also be displayed with ribbons. Come and find a gift!

Picture book: ¥2,200 (tax included) Plush toy: ¥2,640 (tax included) © National Museum of Western Art
Pound Chocolate ¥2,400 (tax included) © National Museum of Western Art

■ Exhibitions held during the "Christmas at the Museum" period

・Special Exhibition "Impressionism from the Musée d'Orsay – A Tale of Interiors"
Dates: Saturday, October 25, 2025 – Sunday, February 15, 2026 Venue: Special Exhibition Room
・Permanent Exhibition
Small Feature Exhibition: "Black Lines that Tell a Story – Woodblock Prints from Dürer's 'Three Great Books'"
Dates: Saturday, October 25, 2025 – Sunday, February 15, 2026 Venue: Print and Painting Exhibition Room (Permanent Exhibition Room)
"Flemish Saints' Panel Paintings from the Groening Museum and the National Museum of Western Art: A Reunion After 100 Years"
Dates: Saturday, October 25, 2025 – Sunday, May 10, 2026 Venue: Main Building Exhibition Room (Permanent Exhibition Room)


National Museum of Western Art [Ueno Park, Tokyo]
7-7 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007 https://www.nmwa.go.jp

Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays and closed the following weekday), New Year's holiday (December 28, 2025 – January 1, 2026)
Opening hours: 9:30-17:30, until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. *Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Permanent exhibition admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 250 yen for university students
*Permanent exhibitions are free for high school students and younger, those under 18, those 65 and older, and those with a disability certificate* and one accompanying person (please present proof of age, such as a student ID, or a disability certificate upon entry).
*Applicable certificates: Physical disability certificate, Rehabilitation certificate, Mental disability health and welfare certificate, Atomic bomb survivor health certificate
*A separate admission fee will be charged for the special exhibition "Impressionism from the Musée d'Orsay – Tales of Interiors."
For inquiries, please call 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)
Directions | 1 minute walk from JR Ueno Station (Park Exit)
7 minutes walk from Keisei Ueno Station on the Keisei Electric Railway
8 minutes walk from Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or Hibiya Line
*There is no parking lot at the National Museum of Western Art, so please refrain from coming by car.

[National Museum of Western Art, Independent Administrative Institution, National Museum of Art] Press Release


See other exhibition information

Tokyo Biennale 2025, an international art festival originating from Tokyo, will be held from Friday, October 17th. Discounted tickets are on sale at ArtSticker.

Kan'ei-ji Temple on Mount Toei

The Chain Museum Co., Ltd. has begun implementing the ticket sales system of its art communication platform, "ArtSticker," for the Tokyo Biennale 2025, an international art festival originating from Tokyo, which will run from Friday, October 17th to Sunday, December 14th, 2025.

Event theme

The Tokyo Biennale is a "social dive" international art festival that "dives" into various areas of the city of Tokyo, discovering and creating together the charm and new value that lives in the culture and lifestyles of the people who gather there.

This year's theme, "Would you like to take a walk together?" focuses on how the way we connect changes depending on "who" and "where" we walk, connecting us in a soft, gentle way. This year's Tokyo Biennale attempts to discover and create new relationships through a variety of artworks themed around "walking." The base venue, Toeizan Kan'ei-ji Temple, dates back to the Edo period, and Etoile Kaito was founded in 1902, making it a place with a long history in the region. You can experience the profound meaning of "walking" from the comfort of your own home at these two historic venues, or you can actually walk through the six areas. Why not experience the expression of a "social dive" that creates encounters between people, and between people and cities?

■Message from the General Producer

The mission is to dive into Tokyo and become deeply involved with the city.

The Tokyo Biennale is a "social dive" international art festival that "dives" into various areas of the city of Tokyo, discovering and creating together the charm and new value that lives in the culture and lifestyles of the people who gather there.
The theme of this year's event, "Would you like to take a walk with me?" focuses on the fact that the way we connect with others changes depending on "who" we walk with and "where," and is an attempt to create a new form of "walk" that gently and tenderly connects us. Through this uncharted walk, we will explore the expression of a "social dive" that creates encounters between people and people, and between people and cities.
Even in a world where conflicts are deepening, the physical act of walking side by side with someone, even if it's the first time we've met, can provide an opportunity to get to know each other, spark interest in the city and its culture, and become the seed of dialogue. Tokyo, a city twice reduced to ruins by the Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II, continues to nurture diverse streetscapes and people's lives. We want to cherish the miraculous moment of being able to walk together. In particular, we must not forget the existence of "underlying culture"—the wisdom, faith, self-governance, performing arts, and townspeople's culture of urban life that has continued since the Edo period. These traditions still live on inconspicuously throughout the city, and are important cultural resources that can serve as breeding ground for new creativity in the modern era. Tokyo Biennale 2025 will carefully uncover these hidden corners of Tokyo's culture and attempt to connect them to the future through art projects.
To that end, we will explore forms of expression that involve deliberately drifting around the streets of Tokyo, actively taking detours, using the imagination and methodology of artists. This art project, which involves a "stroll" that weaves new relationships, gently connects the city and its people. For example, when you go to see the installation at Toeizan Kan'ei-ji Temple, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary since its founding, or the collection of artworks quietly placed in the gaps of the city, it is in the scenery you encounter along the way and the casual interactions with people that you will make discoveries that can only be experienced here and now. When you come across something that catches your eye, be sure to stop and take a moment to look at it. There you may find an unexpected moment of spiritual opening.
Tokyo Biennale 2025 will dive into Tokyo through 14 exhibition venues, works by 39 participating artists, and numerous walking programs, creating art projects that are deeply connected to the city.

General Producer: Masato Nakamura

Three Features of Tokyo Biennale 2025

Feature 1: A citizen-led, participatory art festival with the theme "Stroll"

Tokyo Biennale 2025 will feature two exhibition locations and six areas filled with artworks and projects. Participating citizens will create their own routes and discover things beyond the artworks that make them wonder, "Is this really art?" This is an art festival created by citizens. A "Stroll University Special Lecture" will also be held before the event begins, sharing the meaning of strolling and new perspectives. Numerous walking-related workshops and tours will also be held during the event.

Feature 2: Two "art maps" – paper and digital – connecting two bases and six areas

Illustration: Kazuki Takahashi

The Art Map will accompany you on your walks and discoveries as you participate in Tokyo Biennale 2025. With fun illustrations and an art map that shows you the highlights at a glance, you can explore the exhibition venues and areas. In addition to the exhibits, the "This Is Art Discovery Team" has been formed to connect interesting information hidden in local cultural facilities, public art, and the city, and will conduct research and gather information in advance. Traces of social trends, culture, and people's lives will also be plotted based on "Edo/Tokyo Lifestyle Studies." These will be reflected on a single map in digital space, connecting the Tokyo Biennale's host areas.

Feature 3: International and local, where people intersect

Adam Roygard, FOR THE PUBLIC I-III, 2024

Through collaboration with artists invited from overseas, such as through the international artist open call project "SOCIAL DIVE" and the "Overseas Collaboration Project," we will rediscover and reconstruct the potential hidden in our lives, culture, behavior, and language from a multifaceted perspective. Through walks, events, dialogue, and more, we will discover new perspectives and possibilities for Tokyo together with the citizens that we would normally not notice.

■Venue and exhibiting artists – The venue will be in six diverse areas in northeastern Tokyo

Tokyo Biennale 2025 will be held in multiple facilities and public spaces in the northeastern Tokyo wards of Chiyoda, Chuo, Bunkyo, and Taito. Centered around two main exhibition venues (fees apply), Toeizan Kan'ei-ji Temple and Etoile Kaito Living Hall, visitors can enjoy exhibitions and events in six free areas, each with its own history and culture.

Base Exhibition
Kan'ei-ji Temple, Toeizan (1-14-11 Ueno Sakuragi, Taito Ward)
Etoile Kaito Living Hall (1-15-15 Higashikanda, Chiyoda-ku)

Exhibition Area
Ueno/Okachimachi area, Suidobashi area, Kanda/Akihabara area, Otemachi/Marunouchi/Yurakucho area, Nihonbashi/Makuicho area, Yaesu/Kyobashi area

Tokyo Biennale 2025 Events

Sanpo University Special Lecture No. 4 "Sanpo no Machi" (Strolling Town)

Toshiya Yoshimi

President of Sanpo University Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Urban Planning, Kokugakuin University

General admission: 1,500 yen / Students: 500 yen
We will listen to the genius loci hidden in the local areas of Tokyo and engage in dialogue with the history and memories that have been passed down there.
Date and time: November 6, 2025 (Thursday) 18:30~20:00
Guest: Naoki Oshiro (Professor of Cultural Geography, Faculty of Letters, Meiji University)

Event Overview

title
Tokyo Biennale 2025: An international art festival originating from Tokyo

theme
Would you like to take a walk with me?

Dates
October 17, 2025 (Friday) – December 14, 2025 (Sunday)

venue
Base exhibition (2 venues): Toeizan Kan'eiji Temple, Etoile Kaito Living Hall
Exhibition areas (6 locations): Ueno/Okachimachi area, Kanda/Akihabara area, Suidobashi area, Nihonbashi/Bakurocho area, Yaesu/Kyobashi area, Otemachi/Marunouchi/Yurakucho area
*Historic buildings, public spaces, stores, unused buildings, etc. in each area

Ticket prices
Advance tickets (two venues common ticket)
General admission: 2,500 yen
Students: 1,500 yen

General ticket (two venues common ticket)
General admission: 2,900 yen
Students: 1,700 yen

Tickets by venue: Etoile Kaito Living Hall
General admission: 2,100 yen
Students: 1,400 yen

Tickets by venue: Toeizan Kan'eiji Temple
General admission: 1,100 yen
Students: 400 yen

Organizer
Tokyo Biennale General Incorporated Association

Sponsor
Chiyoda Ward, Chuo Ward, Bunkyo Ward, Taito Ward, Chiyoda Ward Tourism Association, Chuo Ward Tourism Association, Bunkyo Ward Tourism Association, Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Japan, Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Embassy of Norway, Embassy of Brazil in Japan, Polish Information and Cultural Center

Special Grant
Ishibashi Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation

Grant
Arts Council Tokyo [Tokyo Arts and Culture Appreciation Support Grant]
The Japan Foundation

Sponsorship
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd., Palace Hotel Tokyo, Fujifilm Business Innovation Japan Co., Ltd., YKK Corporation, Park Hotel Tokyo, Wonder Powered You Co., Ltd.

Business Partner
Tokyo Dome Corporation

Special Cooperation
Kan'ei-ji Temple, Etoile Kaito Co., Ltd.

cooperation
Kyobashi Saiku Area Management General Incorporated Association, NTT East Japan, Ebiwara Shoten, Otemachi First Square Co., Ltd., Command A LLC, Tokyo University of the Arts, Toda Corporation, East Japan Railway Company

Subsidy project
FY2025 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project (Japan Arts Council/Agency for Cultural Affairs)

This project supports the "All Welcome Tokyo" campaign, which aims to create a Tokyo that everyone can enjoy, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, or whether they have a language or cultural difference.

List of participating artists (in alphabetical order)

[Domestic]
Tamari Akiyama, Junko Iwaoka, L PACK., Kaze Ouchi, Junya Kataoka + Rie Iwatake, Mari Katayama, Nozomu Kubota, Yoshiaki Kurihara, Takeru Kurokawa, Mami Osemura, SIDE CORE, Naoki Sato, 6lines studio + Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, Shingo Suzuki, Akio Suzuki, Risaku Suzuki, Kazuki Takahashi, Mika Terauchi, Sachiko Toda, Yasuko Toyoshima, Masato Nakamura, Naoya Hatakeyama, Nobuyuki Fujiwara, Hogarty, Chihiro Minato, Milk Warehouse The Coconuts, Goro Murayama, Junichi Mori, Yasushi Mori, Shun Yonaha, Eiji Watanabe

[abroad]
Naraka Wijewardene (Sri Lanka), Camilla Svensson (Brazil), Tenthaus Art Collective and the OVEN Network (Norway/Thailand), Mariam Tovmasyan (Armenia), Truong Que Chi/Nguyen Phuong Linh (Vietnam), Piotr Buyak (Poland), Elke Leinhuber (Germany), Adam Leugert (Sweden)

Website
https://tokyobiennale.jp/

About ArtSticker

Operated by The Chain Museum Co., Ltd., this platform provides opportunities to encounter art and places to enjoy dialogue, "connecting a series of experiences" in art appreciation. It features a wide range of works, from well-known artists to up-and-coming young artists. The genres of the works are also diverse, including installations, paintings, and performing arts.
ArtSticker also hopes to connect art and artists directly with the world by connecting them to unique real-life locations, not just digitally.

▽ArtSticker Website
https://artsticker.app/

▽ArtSticker download URL
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/artsticker/id1446438049


For museums and event organizers who want to implement ticket sales functionality

ArtSticker is currently looking for event organizers who would like to implement the ticketing feature.
It is also possible to sell and link audio guides to the exhibits.
For more information, please see below and contact us.

▽Contact us here
Ticket: https://artsticker.app/services/ticket/
Audio guide: https://artsticker.app/services/audio-guide/

Overview of The Chain Museum Co., Ltd.

Company name: The Chain Museum Co., Ltd. (pronounced: The Chain Museum)
Address: Daikanyama TOKO, 3rd floor, Daikanyama Art Village, 17-10 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director Masamichi Toyama

▽The Chain Museum Official Website
https://www.tcm.art/

[The Chain Museum Co., Ltd.] Press Release


See other exhibition information

Approximately 400 original drawings will be gathered together! The largest original art exhibition in City Hunter’s history, “City Hunter Original Art Exhibition ~ FOREVER, CITY HUNTER” will be held at the Ueno Royal Museum from Saturday, November 22nd!

Ueno Royal Museum

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the serialization of "City Hunter," published by Coremix Inc. , on February 26, 2025, the largest original art exhibition in the series' history, "City Hunter Original Art Exhibition ~FOREVER, CITY HUNTER~," will be held at the Ueno Royal Museum from Saturday, November 22, 2025 to Sunday, December 28, 2025.

Tickets for the exhibition will go on sale from 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 25th. This exhibition is dedicated to all fans of "City Hunter," and is the largest exhibition in the series' history, packed with memorable scenes and lines that are etched in everyone's hearts. The fateful encounter between Ryo and Kaori. The trust built with unique colleagues and clients. And the bond between Ryo and Kaori, who recognize each other as irreplaceable partners. This cool, comical, sometimes poignant, and deeply moving story is now condensed into one big exhibit. An impressive display of over 400 original drawings will be on display. Furthermore, the exhibition is packed with must-see exhibits for fans, including rare materials, photo spots where you can immerse yourself in the world of the series, and special videos.

Please enjoy to your heart's content the endless charm of "City Hunter," which has continued to shine for over 40 years. Further information regarding this exhibition will be announced in late October or early November. In addition, a crowdfunding project titled "XYZ…We want to bring Ryo Saeba to the Ueno Royal Museum!!" is also being held in preparation for the exhibition.

Exhibition ticket information

In addition to regular tickets, we have prepared tickets for the 11/22-23 designated date and time for those who want to enjoy the exhibition before the general public. We also have a wide variety of tickets available for sale, including set tickets that come with special perks like an original snow globe and original pins, and partner tickets that offer great deals for two people visiting together. For more details about tickets, please refer to the exhibition website or each ticket agency.

■Release date
September 25th (Thurs) 10:00~

■Ticket sales URL
e+
Full-year ticket/11/22-23 designated date and time ticket
https://eplus.jp/cityhunter40th_ex/

JRE MALL
Seasonal ticket
https://event.jreast.co.jp/activity/detail/a075/a075-00012
11/22-23 date and time ticket
https://event.jreast.co.jp/activity/detail/a075/a075-00001

■Ticket details
11/22-23 Scheduled Date Ticket: 3,500 yen
*November 22nd (Sat) and 23rd (Sun), designated time slots every hour, admission bonus (holo sticker) *Not for sale
Regular advance tickets and same-day tickets will not be valid for admission on these two days.

Same-day tickets: Adults 2,900 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 1,100 yen
Advance tickets: Adults 2,500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 800 yen
Partner ticket: 4,500 yen
*Partner tickets are available for a limited time from Thursday, September 25th to Friday, October 10th.
*Please come in groups of two. Entering one person at a time is not permitted.

Ticket with special merchandise
Ticket with bonus goods①: 10,000 yen
Ticket with bonus goods②: 13,000 yen


Bonus Item 1: "City Hunter Original Art Exhibition Original Snow Globe"


Bonus Item 2: "City Hunter Original Art Exhibition Original Pin Set"

*All prices include tax.
*The bonus image is for illustrative purposes only. The design may change without notice.

XYZ…I want to invite Ryo Saeba to the Ueno Royal Museum!!

To mark the 40th anniversary of the start of the serialization of "City Hunter," we will be holding a crowdfunding project to recreate famous scenes together with fans.
At the venue of the City Hunter Original Art Exhibition ~FOREVER, CITY HUNTER!!~, there will be a life-size reproduction of Ryo relaxing and sipping coffee at the counter of the Cat's Eye Cafe, a spot often seen in the City Hunter series. We will work with you to create a spot where you can sit next to Ryo Saeba at the counter of the Cat's Eye Cafe and take commemorative photos!

■Application period
September 24th (Wednesday) 19:00 – October 26th (Sunday) 23:59

■Project page URL
https://ubgoe.com/projects/981

■Examples of return gifts
*Supporter names and comments will be posted on the "Giant XYZ Message Board" at the exhibition venue.
※SAEBA Shoji employee giveaway set of 6 items [①SAEBA Shoji business card (with your name), ②SAEBA Shoji president Ryo Saeba business card, ③pass case with neck strap, ④special ballpoint pen, ⑤special memo pad, ⑥special towel]
*Invitation to a premium preview on the day before November 21st
* Catalog signed by Hojo Tsukasa
※Life-size Ryo Saeba

Overview of "City Hunter Original Art Exhibition ~FOREVER, CITY HUNTER~"
Event period: Saturday, November 22, 2025 to Sunday, December 28, 2025
Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entrance 16:30)
Venue: Ueno Royal Museum (1-2 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
Organizer: Toei Coamix
Official website: https://www.cityhunter-ex.jp
X: https://x.com/cityhunter_ex
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityhunter_ex/

Original information

The three letters "XYZ" are written on the message board at the east exit of Shinjuku Station – a desperate message from a client who has "no more chances." Ryo Saeba, a top-notch sniper but also an unrivaled lover of beautiful women, and his partner Kaori Makimura team up as "City Hunters," sweepers of the underworld, to solve various requests, sometimes even getting aroused by beautiful clients. The series was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1985 to 1991, and celebrated its 40th anniversary on February 26, 2025.

[Comics information]
Zenon Selection "CITY HUNTER" all 29 volumes on sale now
Tsukasa Hojo
Published by: Coremix
Price: 880 yen (tax included)

[Coamix Corporation] Press Release


See other exhibition information

[Ueno Royal Museum] Report on “Shosoin THE SHOW.” Experience the beauty of the treasures with your whole body, including a recreation of the scent of the legendary fragrant wood “Ranjatai.”

Ueno Royal Museum

Located within the former grounds of Todaiji Temple in Nara, Shosoin is a miraculous treasure house that has protected and passed down for nearly 1,300 years 9,000 treasures that convey the essence of Tenpyo culture. Every autumn, the Shosoin Exhibition is held, where the treasures are open to the public, but recently, the Ueno Royal Museum is holding "Shosoin THE SHOW – Feel. The miracle that exists here, now," which proposes a new way to enjoy the treasures that takes a different approach from viewing the actual items.

The event will run from Saturday, September 20th to Sunday, November 9th, 2025.

"Shosoin THE SHOW – Feel the miracle that exists here and now" venue view

Empress Komyo (701-760) supported the 45th Emperor Shomu (701-756), known for the construction of provincial temples and the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple, and worked on Buddhist policies and relief for the poor. The history of the Shosoin treasures began when Empress Komyo, praying for the repose of Emperor Shomu's soul, donated some of Emperor Shomu's beloved belongings to the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple. Among the approximately 9,000 treasures, many have clear records of their dates of creation, purpose, and origin, conveying to the present day the techniques, aesthetic sense, and aspirations of the people of that time.

This exhibition is under the full supervision of the Imperial Household Agency's Shosoin Office and has the theme of "Weaving Love and Beauty," unraveling the various stories behind the treasures that have been carefully protected under the imperial seal system, allowing visitors to experience their charm with their whole body.

At the beginning of the venue, a full-size replica of the "National Treasure Book," a catalogue of the donated treasures and measuring over 14 meters in length, is displayed unfolded on a full sheet of paper, showing the origins of the Shosoin treasures. While this exhibition is a traveling exhibition from the Osaka venue, the "National Treasure Book" is a new exhibit from the Tokyo venue.

Reproduction exhibition of “National Treasure Book”

At a press briefing held prior to the event, Takehiko Iida, director of the Imperial Household Agency's Shosoin Office, spoke of the dilemma that trying to strictly manage the treasures, which have become fragile over the course of 1,300 years, makes it difficult to open them to the public, and explained that this exhibition was born as a solution. "We wanted to provide a more innovative experience than just looking at the treasures themselves, so we have also included exhibits that appeal to all five senses, allowing visitors to appreciate the appeal of the treasures from all angles," he said, and as such, the exhibition does not feature actual treasures on display .

Some people may be disappointed and think, "What, there are no real ones?", but instead, there are "reproductions" on display that have been researched and produced for many years by the Shosoin Office of the Imperial Household Agency .

Reproduction of "Mother-of-pearl and purple sandalwood five-stringed biwa"

Unlike ordinary replicas, reproductions do not simply resemble the appearance, but rather utilize a variety of analytical and optical equipment to investigate the materials and techniques of the time, and Living National Treasures and other master craftsmen use their skilled techniques to aim to recreate the original appearance of the treasures. This exhibition features 11 reproductions, including the world's only surviving ancient five-stringed biwa, the "Mother-of-pearl Purple Sandalwood Five-Stringed Biwa," and the "Mother-of-pearl Box," both of which are renowned as representative treasures of the Shosoin Repository.

Reproduction of the "Mother-of-pearl box"
"Kontama Obi" Reproduction
Reproduction of "Gold and Silver Inlaid Tang Sword"

The goal of the Shosoin Office is to "create another Shosoin treasure." The replica is like a treasure that has traveled back in time to the present day, allowing us to see the treasures as close as possible to the ones that people of the Nara period actually saw, without any discoloration or damage.

In addition, since 2019, the Shosoin Office has been collaborating with TOPPAN to create detailed 3D digital data (digital archives) of the treasures, making full use of the latest 3D measurement, high-resolution photography, and texture capture technologies .

In this exhibition, a video work that adds special effects to this 3D digital data will be projected in high-definition video of approximately 12K on a huge screen approximately 4 meters high and 20 meters wide. The screen uses screen paint developed based on research on "Quantum Dots," which won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2023, making the treasures shine with even sharper contrast.

Story video

The approximately 17-minute screening is set to magnificent music and is divided into three parts: a "story video" about the hidden tales of Shosoin, a "digital treasure video" that approaches the overwhelming "beauty" of the treasures themselves, and a "reproduced and imitation treasure video." The most impressive part is the "World of Beauty of Shosoin" in the story video, which recreates a fantastical universe of "beauty" with camels, elephants, and mythical beasts strutting about among the flower and bird patterns and mother-of-pearl decorations on the treasures. The sense of beauty embodied in the treasures is condensed into this video, and standing in front of the screen provides an even greater sense of immersion.

Scene from the digital treasure video "Circular Mirror, Flat Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, No. 11"

The digital treasure footage projects treasures at angles that allow viewers to glimpse the details and textures of treasures that are difficult to see with the naked eye, such as the gorgeous decorative mirror "Circular Mirror with Flat Mother-of-Pearl Back No. 11," featuring a floral and bird motif interspersed with lapis lazuli and turquoise flakes, and the beautiful incense burner stand "Urushi-Kin Usu-Eban (Lacquer and Gold Thin Picture Board) B," featuring 32 brilliantly colored petals. A truly immersive viewing experience is possible even without the use of monoculars. "Urushi-Kin Usu-Eban (Lacquer and Gold Thin Picture Board) B" offers a truly enjoyable experience that can only be achieved with digital data, with the petals being disassembled to reveal the design, as if a flower is blooming, and the appearance of incense rising.

Digital Treasure Video "Scene from "Urushi-kin Usu-eban Otsu"

One of the highlights is the display of a reproduction of the scent of the legendary fragrant wood "Ranjatai ." Ranjatai (treasure name: Huang Jukkou) is a type of agarwood made by depositing resin and essential oils on the stumps of the Aquilaria genus of the Thymelaeaceae family, which is found in Southeast Asia. It was coveted by rulers of the time, such as Oda Nobunaga, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and Yoshimasa, and has been called "the most famous fragrance in the world." Amazingly, it is said that you can still smell a faint scent of it today.

"Ranjatai (replica)"

To record the fading scent, the Shosoin Office, with the cooperation of Takasago International Corporation, will begin analyzing the aromatic components in the air volatilizing from the Ranjatai starting in 2024. Furthermore, through the perfumer's 'monko' (a method of savory aroma appreciation in which fragrant wood is heated in an incense burner and the aroma is savored), they discovered that the fragrance resembled labdanum, a natural fragrance extracted from the resin of the cistus plant, and created the first-ever replica fragrance based on this.

Ranjatai fragrance experience exhibit

Takashi Suzuki of Takasago International Corporation's IR/PR department explained, "Rather than the scent of Ranjatai itself, it is closer to the scent you smell when you listen to it, the scent that Oda Nobunaga and others smelled." At the venue, a replica fragrance will be placed in a glass container so that visitors can actually enjoy the scent.

The writer felt that it had an elegant fragrance reminiscent of cinnamon and apricot kernel. This world-famous fragrance has been revived in modern times, and we highly recommend experiencing it at the venue.

The newly established "Avenue of Beauty" at the Tokyo venue

Beyond the "Avenue of Beauty," which is covered up to the ceiling with colorful designs of a wide variety of treasures, lies an exhibition area where new works created by contemporary artists inspired by the Shosoin treasures are on display.

The participating artists are music producer Kameda Seiji, photographer Takimoto Mikiya, ceramic artist Kamee Michiko, and designer Shinohara Tomoe .

Michiko Kamee's exhibition

Seiji Kameda has released a piece called "Hikari," which combines recordings of his treasured biwa and shakuhachi instruments with contemporary music.
Takimoto Mikiya exhibited a series of monochrome photographs of the majestic Shosoin Repository illuminated by moonlight in the dark, evoking the nocturnal world seen by people 1,300 years ago, when there was no light like we have today.
Michiko Kamee imagined the stories of people at the time who would have been moved by the colors, materials, and patterns they had never seen before, and acted out those stories while creating her works.The small plates and vases on display are decorated with patterns created by skillfully combining digital technology and analog brushwork.

Shinohara Tomoe, who attended the press preview, spoke about the production process and details of her "LACQUERED EWER SHOSOIN DRESS, " a dress that combines tradition and modernity with a motif of a Persian-style water pitcher called a "lacquered gobin," inspired by the "beauty that is relevant to the present day" of the Shosoin treasures.

Tomoe Shinohara and her new dress "LACQUERED EWER SHOSOIN DRESS"

"Lacquer Hubin" is a delicate design of flowers, birds and animals made from thin silver plates using lacquer art unique to East Asia. Shinohara was captivated by the overwhelming presence of this piece, saying, "I felt a sense of the generous flow of the continent and a timeless aesthetic sense."

The creation of this piece, which took about a year from conception to completion, involved hand-tracing over 400 different pattern parts based on 3D data of the treasures, while also embracing the passion of past artisans. Intensely committed to embodying 1,300 years of history, the designers repeatedly applied the cut brass pieces to the crushed velvet fabric, soaking them in chemicals and applying heat to add nuances through repeated trial and error.

The focus of the dress was on its form, and she commented, "I made sure to preserve as much of the oriental form of the lacquered gobin as possible, based on the 3D data. It was my first attempt at creating a costume from 3D data, but I created it with the hope that people would feel as if they were actually peering into a treasure."

Even the handle of the pitcher has been incorporated into the design with respect.

While observing the lacquered gobins, he noticed that not only animals such as deer and birds, but even small insects existed in pairs of male and female. He shared the following story, revealing how he was moved when he discovered a "love story between Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo" in the lacquered gobins.

"The main feature of this exhibition is that it allows you to experience the Shosoin treasures as art, and it is an exhibition that shows the seriousness of the Imperial Household Agency's Shosoin Office. I would be very happy if this exhibition allows you to feel the charm of the Shosoin treasures, the value of handiwork, and the passion of our ancestors who have passed them down to the present. I hope everyone will come and see it."

"Shosoin THE SHOW – Feel the miracle that exists here now" allows you to not only experience the charm of the treasures that have been brought back to life in modern times using the latest technology, but also to come into contact with the feelings of the people who have protected and passed down the history of the ancient treasures. The exhibition will run until Sunday, November 9th.

Overview of "Shosoin THE SHOW – Feel the miracle that exists here and now"

Dates Saturday, September 20, 2025 – Sunday, November 9, 2025
venue Ueno Royal Museum
Opening hours 10:00-17:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission fee (Same-day tickets) Adults: 2,300 yen, High school and university students: 1,700 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 1,100 yen
*Free admission for preschool children
*For ticket details, please see the exhibition's official website.
Organizer The Ueno Royal Museum, "Shosoin THE SHOW" Executive Committee (Yomiuri Television, The Yomiuri Shimbun, TOPPAN, Kadokawa Media House), Nippon Television Network, BS Nippon Television
Supervision Shosoin Office of the Imperial Household Agency
inquiry Hello Dial 050-5541-8600 (9:00-20:00 open every day)
Exhibition official website https://shosoin-the-show.jp/tokyo/

*The content of this article is current as of the time of coverage. Please check the official exhibition website for the latest information.


View other reports

Report from the “Berabou Edo Taito Taiga Drama Museum.” Experience the story of Tsutaju, the “Edo Media King.”

"Berabou: Tsutaju Eika no Yumebanashi" is a historical drama that depicts the turbulent life of Tsutaya Juzaburo, also known as Tsutaju, a media mogul active in the mid-Edo period.

The "Berabou Edo Taito Taiga Drama Museum" that we visited this time is a facility that opened in Taito Ward, Tokyo, an area associated with Tsutaya Juzaburo, the main character of "Berabou – Tsutajueika no Yumebanashi." The Taiga Drama Museum is packed with content that will allow you to enjoy the drama even more, such as the costumes and props of the characters.

In this report, we will introduce its charms and highlights.

Exterior of the "Berabou Edo Taito Taiga Drama Museum" (Taito Civic Center)

Experience the atmosphere of the Edo period

There are various gimmicks in the corridor leading from the Taiga Drama Museum
Large-format main visual of Tsutaju, played by Yokohama Ryusei

The Taito Civic Hall, where the Taiga Drama Museum is located, is just a few minutes' walk from Asakusa Station. The 9th floor is an Edo-period town called "Oedo Karamarumachi," and upon stepping inside, you'll feel as if you've traveled back in time.

The corridor leading from the elevator to the Taiga Drama Museum is also filled with various gimmicks that entertain visitors, such as panels where people appear from silhouettes when photographed with a flash, and walls painted with ukiyo-e art that changes depending on the angle from which you view it.

When you step into the "Berabou Edo Taito Taiga Drama Museum," you will be greeted by the main visual of Tsutaju, played by Yokohama Ryusei.

Tsutaya Juzaburo was born in 1750 in Shin-Yoshiwara, Edo (present-day Senzoku, Taito Ward), and opened the bookstore "Koshodo" in front of the Yoshiwara Daimon Gate in his twenties. He interacted with Toshusai Sharaku, Kitagawa Utamaro, and other writers who represent Edo culture, and achieved great success as the "media king of Edo."

The historical drama "Berabou: Tsutaju Eika no Yumebanashi," which depicts the life of Tsutaju, will begin airing on January 5, 2025, and was already entertaining many viewers at the time of this interview in early October.

"Berabou Introduction" introduces the main cast and staff

Costumes actually worn by Yokohama Ryusei are on display

The Taiga Drama Museum is divided into nine zones.
The "Berabou Introduction" section will feature an exhibition of Tsutaju's costumes and an introduction to the main cast and staff.
The highlight is Tsutaju's costume displayed in the center. It is the black-green tsumugi striped kimono that Tsutaju wore in the drama.

Sachiko Ito, who was in charge of costume design, explained why she chose green for the kimono worn by the main character, Tsutaju, instead of the more common indigo blue:

"He's still nobody, but he's not bound by anything, and he's mischievous and imaginative, and he's going to create something new. I chose the color green, which is not easy to reproduce, as a color to symbolize the start of such an original life."

He said:

Production team message board
There are photo spots set up everywhere

The exhibit also features comments from actors such as lead actor Yokohama Ryusei and narrator Ayase Haruka, who plays Kurosuke Inari, as well as from the production team, including screenwriter Morishita Yoshiko, composer John Graham, and title calligrapher Ishikawa Kyuyo.

The photo spot featuring the English title for overseas audiences, "UNBOUND," seems to be extremely popular, with many people taking the same arm-crossed pose as Tsutaju to have their photo taken.

Incidentally, "UNBOUND" means "liberated" or "unconstrained." It seems to have been chosen as a word to describe Tsutaya Juzaburo, who lived a life unconstrained by social status or origin, and unconstrained by convention.

The "Ijikkenmichi Zone" displays props and panels related to Tsutaju.

"Ichikendo Zone"
"Ehonmushi Erami" appeared in the 34th edition of Berabou
The character of "Edo Nama Tsuyaki Kabayaki" is very unique.

The next zone, the "Ichikkenmichi Zone," displays props related to Tsutaju, the publisher (a modern-day publishing company; originally referring to the business owner who owns the "plates" used in printing), as well as panels of related characters. The exhibit also includes costumes and props (some of which are replicas) actually used in filming, making for an extremely valuable exhibit.

In particular, "Ehon Mushi Erami," which appeared in the 34th competition, is a gorgeous picture book that fully demonstrates Utamaro's keen observational skills and realism. You will be captivated by the vivid colors and exquisite realism.
It's a rare opportunity to see items that are essential to the drama's episodes up close.

Tsutaya, Tsutaju's base of operations, replica set
Books published by Tsutaju and rental books are lined up in front of the store.

A replica set of "Tsutaya" is also on display. Of course, the scale is adjusted to fit the venue, but it is truly "Tsutaya" itself. The level of reproduction is amazing.

The interior has been meticulously recreated, from the chest of drawers to the household altar, and the eaves are lined with books that Tsutaju was involved in publishing and rental books. You can even sit inside, so be sure to take a commemorative photo.

Recreating Yoshiwara's main street! "Nakanomachi Zone"

Costumes worn by Segawa, played by Fuka Koshiba, are on display
Special panels and props delving into Yoshiwara are lined up

The most eye-catching exhibit is the costume worn by Segawa, the legendary courtesan played by Fuka Koshiba, during her courtesan procession. You can picture the courtesans walking briskly down the main street, garnering attention.
The visual of Nakanomachi, Yoshiwara's main street, in the background also leaves a striking impression, but since it would not be possible to build such a long set during the actual filming of the drama, a panel explained that an LED wall of images was used to create depth.

Additionally, the 4K Theater next to the Nakanomachi Zone screens video content that delves into the themes and behind-the-scenes of the program, and also introduces famous places and historical sites in Taito Ward related to Tsutaju.

There is also a circular bus that runs from the Taiga Drama Museum to places associated with Tsutaju, such as Shohoji Temple, Tsutaju's family temple, and the grave of Hiraga Gennai, who had a connection with Tsutaju, so it's a good idea to actually visit the spots you saw in the theater (you will need to present a commemorative visitor's card from the Taiga Drama Museum to board the circular bus).

The official website for "Taito Ward, a place associated with Tsutaju" introduces model tourist courses that take visitors to the Taiga Drama Museum and places associated with Tsutaju, as well as events and traditional rites related to the culture of the Edo period, when Tsutaju lived.
If you're interested, please check out the official website of "Taito Ward, the place associated with Tsutaju."

The Edo Castle Zone focuses on the Shogunate and its retainers

Costume worn by Ken Watanabe as Tanuma Okitsugu
Introducing the Shogun family and their retainers

Edo Castle is also an important location in the story.
The setting of "Berabou: Tsutaju Eika no Yumebanashi" is the mid-Edo period, a time of prolonged peace and flourishing arts and culture. However, with the "Kansei Reforms" of Matsudaira Sadanobu as a turning point, the circumstances surrounding Tsutaju and his friends also began to change dramatically.

The Edo Castle Zone features exhibits focusing on people associated with the Edo Shogunate, such as the Shogun family and their retainers, as well as panels introducing the program's art and behind-the-scenes filming.

At the end of the Taiga Drama Museum, handwritten messages and autographed colored paper from the cast members are displayed, conveying the passion they have for this drama. It's also a great way to find the autograph of your favorite character, or to remember characters who have unfortunately already left the show.


Experience the Edo market! "Taito Edo Market"

Entrance to the Taito Edo Market
A wide variety of ukiyo-e related goods on sale
You can get information about the actual store from the QR code in the product description.
Take on the Edo riddle "Hanjie"!
A vibrant display of cherry blossoms. The interior is simply stunning.

The adjacent Taito Edo Market sells souvenirs bearing the logo of the historical drama "Berabou," as well as items related to Edo and products made by local Taito ward companies.

The Taito Edo Market has such a wide variety of souvenirs that you could easily spend an hour just looking around, and the beautiful interior decorations are also noteworthy. There is also a corner where you can try your hand at solving "hanjie," a type of riddle that was popular in the Edo period, and it's full of fun. It would be fun to try it with your children.

Commemorative stamp corner
You can experience a little bit of multicolored Ukiyo-e printing

Speaking of fun, the commemorative stamp corner in the lobby also has a unique feature.
By layering five color plates on the back of the visitor's certificate, you will eventually complete Utagawa Hiroshige's "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Asakusa Kinryuzan." This is a fun experience of the multicolor printing technique of ukiyo-e.

The Taiga Drama Museum is currently holding guided tours, which are enjoyable for both first-time visitors and repeat visitors, so why not give it a try?

Although I had not seen the drama, I was intrigued by the character of Tsutaju, the "media king of Edo," portrayed through the drama, and the place where he grew up, Taito Ward.

The Taiga Drama Museum will be open until Monday, January 12th, 2026 (national holiday).
After viewing the Taiga Drama Museum, why not take a tour of the places associated with Tsutaju and let your thoughts wander back to the Edo period?

■ Overview of the "Berabou Edo Taito Taiga Drama Museum"

period February 1, 2025 (Saturday) – January 12, 2026 (Monday/Holiday)
Opening hours 9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30)
Closed days The second Monday of every month (the following day if the second Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays, etc.
place Taito Civic Hall, 9th floor, 2-6-5 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Organizer Taito Ward Historical Drama "Berabou" Promotion Council
inquiry 03-4330-1409 (Taiga Drama Museum)
"Taito Ward, the place associated with Tsutaju" official website https://taito-tsutaju.jp/features/exhibition

■ Overview of the Taito Edo Market

period February 1, 2025 (Saturday) – January 12, 2026 (Monday/Holiday)
Opening hours 9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30)
Closed days The second Monday of every month (the following day if the second Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays, etc.
place Taito Civic Hall, 9th floor, 2-6-5 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo
inquiry 03-6802-8150 (Taito Edo Market)
"Taito Ward, the place associated with Tsutaju" official website https://taito-tsutaju.jp/features/edomonoichi

*The content of this article is current as of the time of coverage. Please check the official website for the latest information.


View other reports

“Van Gogh Exhibition: A Painter’s Dream Continued by a Family” (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum) Coverage Report. Why did Van Gogh become such a beloved painter around the world?

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

 

The exhibition “Van Gogh: A Painter’s Dream Passed on by a Family” is currently being held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum , tracing the activities of the Van Gogh family, including the devoted support of the globally beloved painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), his brother Theo, his wife Jo, and his nephew Vincent Willem, and showing how Vincent’s dreams and works have been passed down to the present day.
The event will run from Friday, September 12th to Sunday, December 21st, 2025.

“Van Gogh Exhibition: A Painter’s Dream Connected by a Family” venue photos
“Van Gogh Exhibition: A Painter’s Dream Connected by a Family” venue photos

Vincent van Gogh started his career as a painter somewhat late, in 1880, at the age of 27, but he produced around 2,000 works in the short 10 years until his death in July 1890 at the age of 37. During his lifetime, Vincent was devotedly supported both emotionally and financially by his younger brother, close friend, and fellow artist, Theo (Theodorus van Gogh), but he passed away six months after his brother’s death.

Vincent van Gogh and Theodorus van Gogh

Although Vincent was not unknown during his lifetime, it is well known that he only sold a few of his works. So how did he come to achieve such a brilliant reputation today as a painter whose works are treasured in art museums around the world?

Theo’s wife, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, who inherited the vast collection after his death, played a key role in this. Jo dedicated her life to bringing her brother-in-law’s work to the world, working tirelessly to ensure that he was properly recognized as a painter by exhibiting his works in exhibitions, strategically selling them, and organizing and publishing his correspondence.

Johanna van Gogh-Bonger
Vincent Willem van Gogh

Furthermore, Theo and Jo’s son, Vincent Willem van Gogh, established the Vincent van Gogh Foundation in 1960 to prevent the collection from being dispersed, and was instrumental in opening the National Vincent van Gogh Museum (now the Van Gogh Museum), which has a generous policy on lending artworks.

This exhibition is the first in Japan to focus on this carefully handed-down family collection. It features over 30 of Vincent’s oil paintings and drawings, primarily from the Van Gogh Museum’s collection. In addition, the exhibition is divided into five chapters, showcasing oil paintings and drawings by Paul Gauguin and Édouard Manet, illustrated prints from British and French newspapers, and ukiyo-e prints, all of which reveal the interests of the Van Gogh brothers and the art trends of their time, as well as four handwritten letters by Vincent, which will be shown in Japan for the first time.

John Peter Russell, Portrait of Vincent van Gogh, 1886, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Paul Gauguin, Paris in the Snow, 1894, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Matthew White Ridley, Miner, from “The Face of the People IV” in The Graphic, April 1876, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Vincent aspired to be a painter, and from 1881 he honed his drawing and oil painting skills in The Hague and the rural village of Nuenen in the Netherlands. He established his modern style in Paris, where he moved in 1886, and went on to create innovative masterpieces in Arles, Saint-Rémy, and Auvers-sur-Oise, the place of his death in the south of France. The works on display at this exhibition allow visitors to trace the artist’s career over those intense 10 years.

Vincent van Gogh, “Face of a Fisherman in a Waterproof Hat”, January 1883, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

“Face of a Fisherman in a Waterproof Hat” (1883) was painted during his time in The Hague, when he was enthusiastically studying black media such as pencil, chalk, and ink, influenced by the realistic subject matter and black-and-white contrasts found in illustrated newspaper prints. During his stay in Nuenen, his interest in color theory grew, and he began actively working on still lifes as a way to practice working with color. “Vase with Lunaria” (1884) is one of his first botanical still lifes, produced in late autumn and early winter of 1884.

Vincent van Gogh, Vase with Lunaria, Autumn-Winter 1884, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Upon arriving in Paris, he was astonished to find that the works of the new avant-garde painters were completely different from what he had imagined, and he began to move away from the dark tones seen in this work and to seek out new colors and brushwork. Taking inspiration from the painters he respected, such as Delacroix’s colors and Monticelli’s impasto technique, he produced over 30 still lifes of flowers in the summer of 1886 alone. One of these, Vase with Gladiolus and Aster Flowers (1886), features a distinctive background resembling overlapping crosses.

Vincent van Gogh, Vase with Gladiolus and Daisies, August-September 1886, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

If you turn your eyes to the highlight of this exhibition, the masterpiece Self-Portrait as a Painter (1887-1888) , which is said to be the last work he produced during his time in Paris, you will be amazed at how, in just two years, he had transformed into an extremely modern painter, compared to the oil paintings he produced during his time in the Netherlands.

Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait as Artist, December 1887 – February 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

The rich and skillful use of color, the fruit of his color theory studies in Paris, is born from the palette of colors that can be seen on the canvas, and the brushstrokes, imbued with unwavering confidence, spread vividly across the canvas. His posture is good, and his gaze, though slightly shadowed, is directed directly at the viewer, giving the impression of a strong will, perhaps a declaration of his pride as an artist, or perhaps a declaration of his resolve.

 There is an anecdote about this work, about the first time Vincent and Yeo met in 1890, before Vincent left the Saint-Rémy asylum and headed for Auvers-sur-Oise. Yeo had heard many stories about Vincent’s illnesses and poor health, so he imagined him to be a frail-looking man, but in his memoirs he wrote that he found him to be “a sturdy, broad-shouldered man with a healthy complexion, a smile on his face, and a very resolute demeanor.” He added, “Of all his many self-portraits, this one, in which he is at his easel, is the one that most resembles him at that time.”

Vincent himself seems to have had a negative impression of the painting, associating it with the Grim Reaper, but in any case, this work is considered one of the most important treasures of the Vincent van Gogh Foundation and, by extension, the Van Gogh Museum.

Vincent van Gogh, The Sower, November 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Vincent also admired Jean-François Millet, known as the “rural painter,” from the early days of his career, and left behind many copies. His “The Sower” (1888), painted during his time in Arles, was based on Millet’s work of the same name. Wanting to paint his own colorful “The Sower,” he repeatedly made prototypes until he was satisfied with the composition of this work.

The influence of ukiyo-e is clearly evident in the treatment of motifs and the deformed depictions, such as the innovative composition that boldly crops the farmer below the knees, the tree trunk that is shown close up in the foreground with extreme perspective, and the huge sun that shines divinely on the farmer, and so the work is being exhibited alongside a collection of ukiyo-e prints.

On the left is Vincent van Gogh’s Night (after Millet), October-November 1889, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Vincent van Gogh, The Olive Garden, September 1889, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

At the same time, the exhibition also includes a section featuring works that Yeo sold, i.e., works outside the Van Gogh Museum’s collection, in order to showcase his unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit and achievements in the art world .

Although Yo was originally an amateur in the field of art, after marrying Theo, she gradually became familiar with modern and contemporary art, including Van Gogh, the world of private collectors and museums, and the mechanisms of the art trade. After Theo’s death, she regularly sold Vincent’s works, but the economic reason of making a living for father and son was secondary; it was her ambitious goal to establish the reputation of Vincent, whom she believed to be a central figure in modern art.

Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Accounting Books of Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger, 1889-1925, Van Gogh Museum (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

The “accounting books” kept by Teo and Yeo shed light on Yeo’s efforts. Initially, they only recorded the household income and expenditures, but after Teo’s death, sales of his artworks were also recorded, leaving behind a vivid record of which works Yeo sold, when, to whom, and for how much. As a result of research and investigation, over 170 paintings and 44 works on paper have been identified, of which three oil paintings are on display in this exhibition.

“Van Gogh Exhibition: A Painter’s Dream Connected by a Family” venue photos

The Van Gogh Museum boasts the world’s largest collection of Vincent’s works, with approximately 200 oil paintings and 500 drawings, and it is said that if Yeo had not sold them, there would have been around 250 more. However, it was Yeo’s strategic maneuvering that allowed his works to be included in collections around the world, making it relatively easy for those of us living in Japan to see the originals and properly appreciate them. Vincent’s dream of “having his paintings seen by people living 100 years from now” has thus been realized.

The Van Gogh Museum’s collection has gradually expanded, particularly since the late 1980s, thanks to donations and grants. While the collection has expanded to include works by the Barbizon School, the Hague School, Symbolism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism, as well as works on paper such as prints and posters, Vincent’s works and letters have also been incorporated. This exhibition marks the first time that four letters addressed to Anton van Rappard, whose whereabouts had been unknown for a long time but were discovered in a private collection in 2006, will be coming to Japan.

Exhibition of letters addressed to Anton van Rappard
Vincent van Gogh, “Letter to Anton van Rappard with the Back View of an Old Man Holding an Umbrella,” c. 23 September 1882, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

These are four pieces of paper from four letters addressed to Van Rappaardt, a senior painter whom Vincent met in Brussels, containing illustrations of people sitting on benches and old people he saw in a workhouse. These letters are prone to deterioration and are very rarely exhibited in exhibitions, making this an extremely rare opportunity.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, At Saint-Lazare, 1886, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Jules-Bastien-Lepage, Grape Harvest, 1880, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Paul Signac, The Flelicite’s Pontoon, Asnières (Op. 143), 1886, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Immersive Corner

At the end of the exhibition, an “Immersive Corner” will be created, offering an experience of a space over 4m high and 14m wide. High-definition images of Van Gogh Museum masterpieces such as “Branches of Blossoming Almond Trees” and “Wheat Field with Crows Flying” will be projected on a giant monitor, along with a 3D scanned CG video of “Sunflowers” (SOMPO Museum of Art). Come and enjoy this immersive experience, where you can expect to make new discoveries from a bold perspective that is too close for the naked eye.

Overview of the “Van Gogh Exhibition: A Painter’s Dream Continued by a Family”

venue Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Dates Friday, September 12, 2025 – Sunday, December 21, 2025
*Reservations are required for specified dates and times on weekends, holidays, and after December 16th (Tuesday).
Opening hours 9:30-17:30 *Until 20:00 on Fridays (Entry until 30 minutes before closing)
Closed days Monday, October 14th (Tue), November 4th (Tue), November 25th (Tue)
*Open on Monday, October 13th (national holiday), Monday, November 3rd (national holiday), and Monday, November 24th (holiday)
Admission fee Please check the official exhibition website.
Organizer Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), NHK, NHK Promotion, Tokyo Shimbun
inquiry (Hello Dial) 050-5541-8600
Exhibition official website https://gogh2025-26.jp

*The content of this article is current as of the time of coverage. Please check the official exhibition website for the latest information.

Article provided by: Kokosil Ueno


View other reports

The game-like garbage collection event “Seisochu” will be held in Ueno, Taito Ward, Tokyo!

On that day, your city will become a huge gaming space.

Gab Inc. is pleased to announce that it will be participating in the planning and management of "Seisochu," a game-style litter collection event scheduled to be held in Ueno, Taito Ward, Tokyo on October 18, 2025.

The game-like trash collection event "Seisochu" is coming to Ueno, Taito Ward, Tokyo!
Complete various missions and aim to achieve them!
Ueno becomes a game area, and you can enjoy a new experience where fallen trash turns into points.

・Event details

[Implementation Information]
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Reception location: Okachimachi Park
Organized by: Taito Ward Tourism Division
Planning and management: Gab Co., Ltd.
Capacity: 100 people selected by lottery
Reception begins: 9:15 / Opening ceremony: 9:45 / End: 12:00
Participation fee: Free
Will proceed in light rain / Will be postponed in severe weather

[In the event of an event postponement]
The event may be postponed depending on the weather on the day of the event.
Postponed date: October 19, 2025 (Sunday)
Reception location: Okachimachi Park
Reception begins: 9:15 / Opening ceremony: 9:45 / End: 12:00

[Application Deadline]
Until 23:59 on Sunday, October 12th

[Lottery results announcement]
October 13th (Monday)

If the event is postponed, we will contact you by email around Wednesday, October 15th.
Important emails regarding the event will be sent, so please make sure that you can receive emails from seisouchu@gab.tokyo. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder.

【Items to bring】
·drink
・One smartphone that can use LINE per team
・Comfortable clothing (comfortable shoes, hat, rain gear)
*Please bring a mobile battery if you have one.
*Tongs, bags, gloves, and other equipment will be provided by the organizers, so there is no need to bring cleaning supplies.

[Participation Q&A]
Q: Can elementary school students participate alone? Also, do infants and toddlers need tickets?
A: For safety reasons, elementary school students cannot participate alone. Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian aged 18 or over. All guests, including parents and infants, will need a ticket.

Q: How many tickets can I apply for?
A: Because Seisou is a team event, the maximum number of people per application (one team) is 5. If you are participating with 6 or more people, please apply for separate teams.

Q: Do I need to bring cleaning supplies?
A: Equipment such as tongs, bags, and work gloves will be provided by the organizers, so cleaning supplies are not necessary. Please bring drinks, comfortable clothes, comfortable shoes, etc. If there are any items to protect yourself from the heat, please bring them with you.

Q: Do I need to bring a mobile battery?
A: This event will use the free calling app "LINE" and the map app "Google Maps" to distribute missions during the event. If you need one, please prepare a mobile battery.

Q: What if I don't want to be photographed or photographed in media coverage?
A: There may be photography and media coverage on the day. If you do not want to be photographed, please let the event staff know in advance.

[Notes regarding participation]
・Data communication charges are your responsibility.
・In the event of an infectious disease outbreak or a disaster, we may be forced to postpone the event.
・Please note that once you have submitted the application form, you will not be able to add or edit any information.
・Photographs and videos will be taken during the event. The rights to the images belong to Gab Inc. and the Taito City Tourism Division, and they may be used for news reports, social media, and other promotional purposes during the event. (If you do not want your images to be used, please inform the reception staff on the day.)
・Please note that there may also be media interviews.
・By completing your application, you agree to this notice, disclaimer, and the Seisouchu Privacy Policy ( https://www.seisouchu.com/privacypolicy ).

[Disclaimer]
・One person can participate with one ticket.
・Ticket cancellations will be subject to teket's ticket cancellation regulations.
・Personal information entered on the application site will be strictly managed in accordance with the Seisouchu Privacy Policy and shared internally. It will also be used as part of public relations activities, but will not be used for any purposes other than those related to this event.
・If you violate the terms of use or other rules set by our company, this ticket may become invalid.
・If the event is postponed or canceled due to force majeure or other reasons beyond our control, we may not be able to provide refunds or other compensation for this ticket.
・We are not responsible for any damages caused by natural disasters, troubles, incidents, accidents, etc. that occur during the event.
・We cannot be held responsible for any of the following issues that occur during the event.
1. A malfunction of the mobile device occurred while the game progress page was open.
2. Troubles between participants that occur during the event
3. Accidents and incidents caused by using a smartphone while walking
4. Accidents or incidents that occur intentionally outside the game area
5. Any trouble, incident or accident that occurs in a building unrelated to the event.
6. Troubles, incidents, and accidents caused by not following precautions
7. Troubles, incidents, or accidents caused by not following the instructions of staff during the race
8. Natural disasters, etc.
*This event is insured.

▼If you would like to participate, please apply below.
https://teket.jp/9471/54434

・What is Seisouchu?

"Keisouchu" is managed and operated under the responsibility of Gab Inc. with the official permission of Fuji Television Network, Inc. and the "Run for Money" production team.

Seisouchu is a garbage collection event that combines gamification (*1) with garbage collection. Teams work together to collect garbage, and points are awarded based on the type and weight of the garbage collected, as well as the degree of mission completion notified via smartphone, with the top teams receiving luxurious prizes. By creating a world where littered garbage is transformed into items and the entire city becomes a game area, this near-future environmental education content provides an opportunity to think about garbage issues through the introduction of "fun."

*1 Gamification refers to the application of game design elements and game principles to things other than games. Research has been progressing in recent years because of its effectiveness in promoting stress-free learning and behavior while still providing a fun, game-like experience.

・About the operating company

Company name: Gab Inc.
Address: Shibuya 3-chome Square Building 2F, 3-5-16 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Moeto Yamauchi
Company Overview: A startup company in its fifth year of business with the mission of "Solving Problems in a Unique Way." The company is involved in projects that contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, such as the game-like litter picking event "Seisochu," the Instagram account "Ethical Living" which provides lifestyle tips that lead to solving social issues, the "Ethical Living Online Store" where you can solve social issues just by enjoying shopping, and pop-up events held in various locations.
Website: https://www.gab.tokyo/

[Gab Inc.] Press Release


See other exhibition information

The key visual for Emperor Rockhopper’s 5th stage performance “Things Left Undone,” written, directed and starring Kurihara Taiga, Hayakawa Iori, Sato Tomohiro and others, has been released!

Emperor Rockhopper, which creates emotionally honest entertainment theatre with the concept of "easy to understand and easy to watch" and the motto of "truth in a world of lies," will perform their 5th stage performance, "Things Left Unfinished," at Ueno Storehouse from November 6th (Thurs) to November 10th (Mon), 2025. The key visual for the performance has been released.

In this film, Hayakawa Iori, who is active mainly in stage productions such as the play "Furiko" and the musical "Nintama Rantarou," and Sato Tomohiro, who is expanding his range of activities with the film "Futari Futatsu no Saien" and the musical "Nintama Rantarou," play brothers, as the older brother (Sato Tomohiro) desperately searches for "unfinished business" for his younger brother (Hayakawa Iori), who has been given a terminal diagnosis. Other unique actors also appear in the film, adding to the excitement of this film.

The script and direction will be handled by Taiga Kurihara, a talented actor who has appeared in many popular stage productions, including the musical "Nintama Rantaro," the stage production "Yowamushi Pedal," and the stage production "Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru." Tickets will go on sale from Monday, September 22nd.

[Comment from Taiga Kurihara]
I'm Kurihara Taiga, the scriptwriter and director. This production will be themed around "things left undone" as it is the last act of one's life. We've brought together a wonderful cast of actors, including the two co-stars. Each character has their own struggles. What the person who is dying has left undone. What the person who is leaving has left undone. I hope you enjoy each perspective.

[Comment from Iori Hayakawa]
This time, I will be co-starring with Sato Tomohiro. My name is Hayakawa Iori. I am very excited to be appearing in a work written and directed by Taiga for the first time! Just reading the synopsis has me excited to see what kind of work it will be! I will work with all my heart to create a work that will make people glad they watched it.

[Comment by Tomohiro Sato]
Nice to meet you if this is your first time. Thank you as always to those who already know me. I'm Sato Tomohiro. After hearing about this role, reading the synopsis, and moving on to the visual shoot, I feel that I'll regret it if I don't cherish each and every scene and word. I'm sure I'll feel even more motivated once I read the script. I'll make sure to keep it all going from rehearsals to the final performance.

——————————————————–
<Performance details>
Emperor Rockhopper 5th stage performance "Things left unfinished"
Screenplay and direction: Kurihara Taiga

■ Performance Schedule
Thursday, November 6th – Monday, November 10th, 2025
November 6th (Thursday) 7:00 PM
November 7th (Friday) 14:00/19:00
Saturday, November 8th 13:00/18:00
November 9th (Sun) 13:00/18:00
November 10th (Monday) 14:00
*Doors open 45 minutes before the start of the show, and reception and same-day ticket sales begin 60 minutes before the start of the show.
*The performance is scheduled to last approximately 120 minutes.
*Preschool children not allowed
*★ indicates that Blu-ray filming will be included.

■ Theater: Ueno Storehouse (NORD Building B1, 1-6-11 Kitaueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo)

■Synopsis:
Ryota is a young man who has been told he has only a short time left to live.
Ryota says there is one thing he has left to do before he dies, but he won't tell us what it is.
His older brother Yuta continues to desperately search for that “unfinished business.''
Will Ryota's wish be granted?

■ Cast:
Hayakawa Iori (co-starring)
Tomohiro Sato (co-starring)

Takuya Ohara
Moeha Gomoto
Manami Tanaka
Tsukino Miumi

Nana Mihime
Masato Kushida
Hiromasa Kudo
Takuya Murakami
Asuka Kanzaki
Kanon Minami
Hikaru Hoshina

Taiga Kurihara

■Ticket information:
Front row with special benefits* ¥8,500
Second row with special benefits* ¥7,500
Regular A seat ¥5,900
Same-day tickets +¥500
*Includes a not-for-sale 2L-size bromide (signed)
Please note that the seats in the front row will be mini chairs.

■Ticket sales
General sale: Monday, September 22, 2025, 10:00
Confetti https://www.confetti-web.com/@/kouteirockhopper_5
Corich https://ticket.corich.jp/apply/400815/

■ Staff
Script and direction: Taiga Kurihara (Emperor Rock Hopper) / Stage director: Keiichi Maeda (LDA) / Stage art: Aiko Maeda (LDA) / Sound: Yusuke Kakumaru (DISCOLOR Company) / Lighting: Kaori Iwaisako (DISCOLOR Company) / Merchandise photography: Taichi Maruyama / Merchandise hair and makeup: Kaori Mochizuki / On-site merchandise: satsuki / Practice Manager: Yuka Mikuni (Emperor Rock Hopper) / Promotional art: Shuho Sakato / Videography and editing: Akinori Onodera / Production and ticket sales: style office / Organizer: Vtoly / Planning: Emperor Rock Hopper / Producer: Takuya Ohara (Emperor Rock Hopper)

■ Cooperation (in alphabetical order)
Adesso / Apollo Bay / RMP / It's Follies / SPM / All Staff / Queen's Avenue / Space Craft / Timely Office

■Organization name: Emperor Rockhopper
■Official website: https://kouteirockhopper.wixsite.com/main
■Official Group X: https://x.com/k_rockhopper
■Performance website: https://yarinoko2025.com/

[Style Office Co., Ltd.] Press Release


See other exhibition information