The National Museum of Western Art will hold a "Livid Saturday" on Saturday, August 3rd, during which admission to the permanent and special exhibitions will be free, allowing everyone to enjoy the art in their own way, including chatting with others while viewing the works.
■ Purpose of the event
"I feel nervous because I have to be quiet in museums" "It's hard to go to an exhibition with small children"… We want even such customers to be able to enjoy appreciating the artworks at the museum without hesitation. With this in mind, we will be holding "Livid Saturday", a day where you can talk freely about the artworks, further expanding the circle of surprise and joy that comes from appreciating the artworks. On the day, we will also set up a kids' space and a nursing room, and have planned events so that people of all ages can enjoy appreciating the artworks. (There will be no restrictions on conversations between customers on normal opening days.)
Overview
Date: Saturday, August 3, 2024
Venue: National Museum of Western Art (permanent exhibition/special exhibition)
Opening hours: 9:30-20:00
Cost: Free (However, if you use the shop or CAFÉ Suiren, an additional fee will be charged.)
Website: https://www.nmwa.go.jp/jp/experience-learn/detail/event_74.html
[Permanent Exhibition Project]
The permanent exhibition, which displays works that you may have seen before in textbooks such as Monet's "Water Lilies," is holding a "Let's go find this work!" project. Each person will be given a postcard with a cut-out photo of a part of the work attached, allowing you to enjoy art appreciation like a game. You may make a new discovery by paying attention to the details of the work.
[Special Exhibition Planning]
The special exhibition "Naito Collection Manuscripts – A Microcosm of the Elegant Middle Ages" is currently being held. In addition to distributing pamphlets with questions and explanations of the works to help visitors enjoy them more, this year we will be offering a bingo game featuring some of the manuscripts. There are lots of interesting elements in the manuscripts. While appreciating the works, try to find pictures and initials and aim for bingo!
(Image: A pamphlet distributed to each person)(Image: Bingo with one ticket handed out to each person)
All of these events are enjoyable not only for children, but for people of all ages, both first-time museum visitors and repeat visitors.
■About the National Museum of Western Art
The National Museum of Western Art was established in April 1959 (Showa 34) as an institution to make works of Western art available to the public, based on the Matsukata Collection (including masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Rodin, etc.) donated and returned by the French government. The main building was designed by French architect Le Corbusier (1887-1965) and completed in March 1959 (Showa 34). It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2016.
(train)
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
The National Museum of Western Art will hold the exhibition "Monet: Water Lilies" from Saturday, October 5, 2024 to Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (national holiday). This time, we will introduce the information about this exhibition announced at the press conference on Wednesday, June 12.
Purpose of the event
Claude Monet (1840-1926) was one of the most representative painters of the Impressionist movement.
Monet's final years were a time when he faced many difficulties, including the death of a beloved family member, his own eye disease, and World War I. However, even in these times, his greatest source of creativity was the water lily pond he created in the garden of his house at Giverny, where the surrounding trees, sky, and light were reflected in its surface.
The idea of a "large decorative painting" in which a huge canvas of this subject would cover the entire wall of a room would remain in Monet's mind until the very end. The focus of this exhibition is on the large-scale "Water Lilies" paintings that were created during this process of trial and error.
This time, about 50 pieces will be coming from the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, including many important works that will be shown in Japan for the first time. In addition, works from collections around Japan will also be added, making this a rare opportunity to see the largest collection of Water Lilies ever in Japan.
1. Monet's final challenge: the ultimate exhibition of Monet, focusing on his later works as a culmination of the "painter of light"
2. The Marmottan Monet Museum, which boasts one of the world's largest collections of Monet paintings, will bring about 50 carefully selected works, including seven works that will be shown in Japan for the first time! In addition, the museum will also have masterpieces from Japan, bringing together a full lineup of Monet masterpieces from Japan and abroad.
3. More than 20 works on Water Lilies, the most important theme of Monet's later years, will be on display
4. A truly immersive experience of being immersed in Monet's world, surrounded by over 2m of large-scale Water Lilies
Exhibited Works
We will introduce some of the works on display in this exhibition.
It is believed that Monet first painted water lilies in 1897. This work is believed to be one of his earliest "Water Lilies" paintings. In contrast to his later series, this work focuses on the lily flowers themselves, depicted with delicate brushstrokes, rather than the effect of light that paints the water a pale pink.
Claude Monet "Water Lilies, Reflection in the Willows"
Monet, on the verge of going blind, painted this work of thirst for light.
The forked trunk of a weeping willow forms a gentle S-shape in this enormous study, measuring two meters in length and width. The glittering sunlight filtering through the trees, expressed with sharp vertical strokes, seems to convey the artist's thirst for light, at a time when he was in the midst of the fear of going blind due to cataracts.
The color and abstraction brought about by an encounter with Ukiyo-e.
The motif of an arched bridge is said to have been inspired by the ukiyo-e prints of Katsushika Hokusai and Kitagawa Utamaro, which Monet collected. In the "Japanese Bridges" series, which he painted towards the end of his life, of which 24 pieces are known today, Monet boldly portrayed this motif with colors and brushstrokes that could almost be called abstract.
Exhibition ambassador Yuriko Ishida will be speaking!
Actor Yuriko Ishida, who has been appointed as the exhibition ambassador, appeared on stage at the press conference held at the Nippon Television Hall on Wednesday, June 12th.
Ishida, who appeared in a lustrous purple outfit reminiscent of Monet's water lilies, is the ambassador for the exhibition, the audio guide, and the theme song for the exhibition. The theme song, "My Monet," is Ishida's first new song in about two years, produced by Ohashi Trio under her artist name "lily."
When asked how she felt when she was appointed as the ambassador for this exhibition, Ishida
"It really felt like a dream come true. I had always dreamed of being an ambassador for a major art exhibition, and to be chosen for an exhibition of my favorite artist, Monet… I couldn't imagine a more wonderful and rewarding job."
He expressed his joy.
When asked about the theme song for this exhibition, for which he wrote the lyrics, Mr. Ishida said:
"I've been doing my music career really quietly. I wanted to remain unknown (laughs). But when I heard about this opportunity, I thought I might never get another chance like this, so I accepted."
", she confessed her thoughts with a bit of embarrassment.
After this, music producer Ohashi Trio gave a surprise comment, which made everyone emotional. We got a glimpse of Ishida's pure, genuine face, which has not changed even as she has gotten older.
When asked about his personal preferences when appreciating paintings, Mr. Ishida said,
"I want to see it based on my senses, without getting too much knowledge. Some people may think that prior knowledge of Monet's paintings is necessary, but I think each person's perspective and way of accepting things are infinitely different. I want people to simply immerse themselves in the art with a clear mind."
I was very impressed by the answer.
Including works from collections in Japan, "Monet: The Water Lilies" traces the rich development of Monet's art, which "transcended Impressionism."
We hope you will enjoy Monet's feast of light and water using your own sensibilities.
The event will begin on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Event Outline
Dates
Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Tuesday, February 11, 2025
venue
National Museum of Western Art
Opening hours
9:30 – 17:30 (until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays) *Last admission 30 minutes before closing
closing day
Mondays, October 15 (Tue), November 5 (Tue), December 28 (Sat) – January 1, 2025 (Wed, holiday), January 14 (Tue)
(However, the museum will be open on October 14th (Monday, holiday), November 4th (Monday, closed), January 13th, 2025 (Monday, holiday), February 10th (Monday), and February 11th (Tuesday, holiday))
Organizer
National Museum of Western Art, Marmottan Monet Museum, Nippon Television Network Corporation, The Yomiuri Shimbun, BS Nippon Television
Sponsored by the Taito Arts and Culture Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation, “UENO JAZZ INN’24” will be held on Saturday, August 3rd at the Ueno Onshi Park Outdoor Stage (Water Music Hall). Tickets will go on general sale at Confetti from 10:00 on Wednesday, June 5th.
“UENO JAZZ INN’24” will be held on Saturday, August 3rd!
The outdoor jazz concert is coming back to Ueno for the first time in two years!
The venue will be filled with exciting performers, including a collaboration between the currently active and talented musicians Oki Jin and Onuma Yosuke, as well as the professional jazz band GENTLE FOREST JAZZ BAND!
Would you like to join us in making Ueno’s summer even more exciting? Please come along!
Tickets are now on sale!
Showa University of Music Lily Jazz Orchestra
2023 54th Yamano Big Band Jazz Contest 1st Place Grand Prize Winner
2023 41st Asakusa JAZZ Contest Grand Prix Session
YOKO SUZUKI QUINTET (Band Division Grand Prize Winner)
KALUAGE (Vocal Division Grand Prize Winner)
■ Performance Schedule
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Doors open at 16:30 / Show starts at 17:00 / Finishes at 20:00 (scheduled)
■Ticket prices: Advance tickets 3,000 yen, same-day tickets 3,500 yen (all unreserved seats, tax included)
Same-day tickets are available for a 500 yen discount if you show your student ID.
Children of elementary school age or younger are admitted free of charge.
Tokyo’s cultural facilities will be hosting the “Summer Night Museum” again this year!
From Thursday, July 18th to Friday, August 30th, 2024, we will be offering special benefits such as discounts on admission fees every Friday night*, and we look forward to welcoming you. Why not spend a cool and relaxing time on a hot summer night? *Tokyo Photographic Art Museum is also open on Thursdays.
Detailed information on “Summer Night Museum 2024”
◆Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Ueno)
・”Listening to the Earth: Presence and Texture”
<Dates: July 20th (Sat) – October 9th (Wed) / Venue: Gallery A, B, C> Nighttime opening dates during the Summer Night Museum period: July 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
・“De Chirico Exhibition”
<Dates: April 27th (Sat) – August 29th (Thu) / Venue: Special Exhibition Room> Nighttime opening dates during the Summer Night Museum period: July 19th, 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
◆Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (Meguro)
・“140th Anniversary of the Birth of YUMEJI Exhibition: Taisho Romance and the New World”
<Dates: June 1st (Sat) – August 25th (Sun)> Special night opening dates: July 19th, 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
・Garden open to the public Special nighttime opening dates: July 19th, 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
◆Tokyo Photographic Art Museum (Ebisu)
・“Mitsuhiko Imamori: Japanese Villages”
<Dates: June 20th (Thursday) – September 29th (Sunday) / Venue: 2nd floor exhibition room> Special night opening dates: July 18th, 19th, 25th, 26th, August 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th
・“TOP Collection: An ensemble of sights”
<Dates: July 18th (Thursday) – October 6th (Sunday) / Venue: 3rd floor exhibition room> Special night opening dates: July 18th, 19th, 25th, 26th, August 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th
・“WONDER Mt.FUJI – Connecting the wonders and excitement of nature to the future”
<Dates: June 1st (Sat) – July 21st (Sun) / Venue: Exhibition Room on the 1st basement floor> Special night opening dates: July 18th and 19th
・“Iwai Toshio x Tokyo Photographic Art Museum: 100 Story House of Light and Movement – Connecting 19th Century Video Devices and Media Art”
<Dates: July 30th (Tuesday) to November 3rd (Sunday, National Holiday) / Venue: Exhibition Room on the 1st basement floor> Special night opening dates: August 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th
◆ Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Kiyosumi Shirakawa)
・”Personal View of Contemporary Japanese Art: Ryutaro Takahashi Collection”
<Dates: August 3rd (Saturday) to November 10th (Sunday)> Special night opening dates: August 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
・”Yoshiaki Kaihatsu ART IS LIVE – Welcome to One-Man Democracy”
<Dates: August 3rd (Saturday) to November 10th (Sunday)> Special night opening dates: August 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
・”MOT Collection”
<Dates: August 3rd (Saturday) to November 10th (Sunday)> Special night opening dates: August 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
◆ Shibuya Park Street Gallery (Shibuya)
・”Daily updates”
<Dates: June 15th (Sat) – September 1st (Sun)> Special night opening dates: July 19th, 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
Other Summer Museum Events
The Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum will be holding the event “Evening Cool Down at the Open Air Architectural Museum in the Downtown Area” (Dates: Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th, 16:00-20:30 (opens at 9:30, admission until 20:00))
Official website ( https://www.tatemonoen.jp/)
◆ A mystery-solving event will be held at national and metropolitan museums at the same time as “Summer Night Museum 2024” (Dates: Thursday, July 25th to Sunday, September 29th)
For details, please visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture website ( https://www.rekibun.or.jp/ )
It is scheduled to be released in mid-July.
If there are any additional information or changes to the event or benefits, we will announce it on the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture website ( https://www.rekibun.or.jp/nightmuseum2024/ ).
[Contact Information]
Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Arts Council Tokyo, Planning Department, Public Relations Division, Tel: 03-6256-9967
*Business content is subject to change.
[Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture] Press release
92-year-old Shuntaro Tanikawa has been asking himself throughout his life, "What does it mean to be alive?"
This collection of art quotes to soothe your soul is a book you'll want to give to yourself and your loved ones.
When you feel emotionally exhausted, when you want to reset your mind, when you want to relax, just open to your favorite page and you will find a world that reflects your heart, and your own story will unfold. You are sure to find something that will support you through the "words" and "pictures" of this book.
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, who also sent a comment, gave the book high praise, saying, "No matter what mood I'm in, turning the pages soothes my heart."
This time, an exhibition of original artwork by the author, Yoshio Miyauchi, will be held at Matsuzakaya Ueno store (June 19th to 24th).
In addition, to commemorate the reprinting shortly after the book's release, we will be giving away limited edition postcards to readers only available at the original exhibition.
【notice】
Original Art Exhibition: Matsuzakaya Ueno Store, 6th floor event space, Wednesday, June 19th to Monday, June 24th, 2024
(Business hours: 10:00-18:30 (closing at 18:00 on the last day)
*A signing session with author Yoshio Miyauchi has also been scheduled! Details will be announced on Kobunsha Promotion Department X.
[Author Profile]
Shuntaro Tanikawa
Born in Tokyo in 1931. Poet.
He made his debut in 1952 with "Two Billion Light Years of Solitude."
He received the Japan Translation Cultural Award for "Mother Goose Songs."
Since then, he has won numerous awards.
In addition to writing poetry, she is active in a variety of fields, including translating "Peanuts," as well as writing picture books, children's stories, scripts, and lyrics.
His recent book is "Into the Void" (Shinchosha).
Yoshio Miyauchi
Born in Tokyo in 1964. Illustrator.
Graduated from Tama Art University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Design, majoring in dyeing and weaving design.
Using transparent watercolor paints, she expresses and creates "a warm storybook world."
He has worked on corporate calendars for companies such as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and Isetan, as well as animation for the songs on NHK Educational TV's "Inai Inai Baa!"
Creator of Panda Label's official character, "Rainbow Panda Runrun."
[Bibliographic information]
Author: Words by Shuntaro Tanikawa Illustrations by Yoshio Miyauchi
Price: 1,800 yen (1,636 yen + tax)
Format: B5 variant hard cover
Publisher: Kobunsha
Uenoshita Studio, which was established with the aim of supporting young artists, will close at the end of June 2024. This exhibition will be a presentation of the results of work produced at the Uenoshita Studio and an expression of gratitude to ABAB UENO.
The Chain Museum Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "The Chain Museum") will be holding the "ABAB Closing Thank You Art Festival" from Wednesday, June 5th at "ABAB UENO", which is operated by the art communication platform "ArtSticker".
Uenoshita Studio opened in September 2023 on the 6th floor of ABAB UENO, which is scheduled to close due to the aging of the building, as a studio where artists can create, store, and occasionally exhibit their works.
In conjunction with the closing of ABAB UENO on Sunday, June 30, 2024, we will be holding an art festival featuring artists involved in the Uenoshita Studio.
Participating artists (in alphabetical order, titles omitted)
Etsuko Ichihara, Embeli Lea, Risako Kokubun, Gunji, CON_, Aya Takahashi, Ari Tazaki, Ayane Nozaki, Kenji Hirazawa, Rintaro Fuse, Yoshimoto Masuda, Hibiki Yamada, Shu Yonezawa, Xihang Lu, Shiori Watanabe
・Comment from the organizer
Young artists face the triple whammy of "no place to create," "no place to show," and "no place to store." In September 2023, the Uenoshita Studio was opened on the sixth floor of ABAB UENO to solve these problems.
Two-thirds of the floor was used as a studio where artists could live and create, and the remaining third was set up as an exhibition space and a warehouse. The system works that the residents created in the studio can be exhibited in the exhibition space, and when the exhibition is over, they can store the works in the warehouse. As it is located a 15-minute walk from Tokyo University of the Arts, collaborations were also carried out with several laboratories at the university, and 35 artists have devoted themselves to creating and exhibiting their works over the past six months. Many of them are up-and-coming artists who are attracting a great deal of attention from the art world. It is worth noting that the works created here, using a variety of techniques, have gone on to be exhibited in large and small galleries, award winners' exhibitions, and museums.
The hustle and bustle of Ameyoko, its unique smells, and the all-encompassing character of the area provided each artist with tremendous inspiration and stimulation, giving them hints for their next productions.
This exhibition is a kind of final farewell to the residents, as an expression of gratitude to them at the closing ceremony.
Photo by Ryo Yoshiya
"ABAB Closing Great Thank You Arts Festival"
Dates
June 5th (Wed) – June 30th (Sun), 2024
time
12:00-18:00 (last entrance 17:30)
*The final day, Sunday, June 30th, is open from 12:00 to 16:00 (final entrance 15:30)
closing day
Monday – Wednesday
*Open on the first day, Wednesday June 5th
venue
Uenoshita Studio (ABAB UENO 6th floor)
address
6th floor, ABABUENO, 4-8-4 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8541
Admission fee
500 yen
Participating artists (in alphabetical order, titles omitted)
Etsuko Ichihara, Embeli Lea, Risako Kokubun, Gunji, CON_, Aya Takahashi, Ari Tazaki, Ayane Nozaki, Kenji Hirazawa, Rintaro Fuse, Yoshimoto Masuda, Hibiki Yamada, Shu Yonezawa, Xihang Lu, Shiori Watanabe
Additionally, the satellite venue, ABAB UENO, on the 5th floor, will host "Ddass Vol.1" by the artist project Man Monday.
ABAB UENO will be hosting the first project of Man Monday, "Ddass Vol.1", which aims to develop new forms of art by maintaining a pace and speed of presentations rooted in daily life and expression and by acquiring a new ecosystem, however small.
"Ddass" is an acronym for "Drawing duplication acquisition slow system," and is a project that focuses on the so-called "drawings" that artists draw during their creative process, thought experiments, or in random moments. Man Monday will turn these drawings into trading cards and sell them in vending machines at the venue during the event.
Currently, capsule toy vending machines are filling up vacant spaces in shopping complexes, and are also attracting attention as a business opportunity in the inbound tourist market.
Through "Ddass," Man Monday aims to provide clues and guidance to the increasingly complex world of contemporary art, and to attract new viewers through new distribution channels.
Drawing artists (in alphabetical order, titles omitted)
Kenta Ishige, Dan Isomura, Hayato Isozaki, Risa Komiya, Koichiro Tada, Datsuo, Namonaki Sanemasa, Marin Harada, Sae Fujita, We and everyone are alive, Taro Maruyama, Reina Sanpei, Eriko Mukae, Maho Motoyama, Yutaro Yamada, Yamada Yoshida
・Greetings from the organizer
Monday [Long-winded] (adv.) (from Chinese) (manmande) A word used to describe something that is slow. Slowly. Leisurely.
(Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary)
With the recent development of social media and the expansion of the art market, artists have been given more opportunities to exhibit their work than ever before. The way in which new connections that did not exist before are being created, overtaking the conservative hierarchy of the industry, has captivated and engaged people without boundaries, which has led to a chain reaction that further strengthens this structure. However, gradually, this chain has taken an accelerating step, fueled by various intentions, desires, and emotions. At the end of this self-consuming chain, a violent wilderness has arisen in which each of these transforms the artwork into image data circulated on the web, words into weapons for confrontation and agitation, viewers into buyers and followers, and artists into devices for attracting public attention.
Monday is a project that aims to develop new forms of art by allowing artists living today to maintain a pace and speed of presentation rooted in their lives and expressions, and to acquire a new ecosphere, even if small, in other words, to re-cultivate the aforementioned wilderness into a more decent form. For example, in 19th century France, where the air was filled with the scent of war, Cezanne, who kept a certain distance from the radical Impressionists who were gaining fame using new chemical art materials at the time and continued his own explorations in the suburbs, was finally recognized in his later years and later called the "father of modern painting." It may take time, but we too will continue to experiment and reach our goal.
"Ddass Vol.1"
Dates
June 1st (Sat) – June 30th (Sun) 2024
time
10:30〜20:00
closing day
none
venue
ABAB UENO 5th floor
address
5F ABABUENO, 4-8-4 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8541
Admission fee
free
Participating artists (in alphabetical order, titles omitted)
Kenta Ishige, Dan Isomura, Hayato Isozaki, Risa Komiya, Koichiro Tada, Datsuo, Namonaki Sanemasa, Marin Harada, Sae Fujita, We and everyone are alive, Taro Maruyama, Reina Sanpei, Eriko Mukae, Maho Motoyama, Yutaro Yamada, Yamada Yoshida
Organizer
FLOATING ALPS LLC.
Man Monday Writers: Kenta Ishige, Koichiro Tada, Yutaro Yamada
This ladies' fashion building in Ueno, Tokyo is operated by AbuAbu Akafudado Co., Ltd. It houses over 40 shops selling a wide variety of clothing, shoes, miscellaneous goods, lingerie, cosmetics, and more, many of which offer trendy items at low prices. Founded in 1945, this department store has been operating in the Ueno area for 78 years.
・About ArtSticker
Operated by The Chain Museum Co., Ltd., this platform provides opportunities to encounter art and places to enjoy dialogue, and "connects 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.
Company name: The Chain Museum Co., Ltd.
Location: 3rd floor, Daikanyama Art Village, 17-10 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Masamichi Toyama, Representative Director
▽The Chain Museum Co., Ltd. Official Website
≫ https://tcm.art/
You will become the main character and adventure through the city of Tokyo with original Tokyo Metro characters!
Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Tokyo Metro"), in collaboration with Holiday Hack Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Holiday Hack"), which develops the experiential service "Machi Hack!" centered on local content, will be holding a limited-time original experiential entertainment called "Metro Time Gate" from Friday, May 31st, 2024 to Saturday, August 31st, 2024, in which visitors will be able to become the protagonist of an original manga through a combination of "manga x puzzle solving x walking around the city."
This project is an entertainment project developed with Holiday Hack, which passed the final screening in our open innovation program "Tokyo Metro ACCELERATOR 2022". It will be held for a limited time as an experiential entertainment of "manga x puzzle solving x walking around town", where you can enjoy walking around the town along the Tokyo Metro line with original characters drawn by Tokyo Metro along the story of the manga .
Purchase a trial kit (manga + 24-hour Tokyo Metro ticket for Metro Time Gate) on the dedicated website, exchange (receive) the ticket and trial kit at a Tokyo Metro commuter pass counter, read the manga, and register a nickname on the site, and "you" will appear as the main character in the manga. Also, as you solve puzzles set in the real city based on the information obtained from the manga, a story will unfold in which "you" is the main character, linking the story with your experiences in the city.
"Metro Time Gate" also features original characters drawn by manga artist Kenichi Watanabe, such as Shimochi Maru, who pays homage to the Marunouchi Line. Please enjoy this new experiential entertainment in which "you" become the protagonist of the manga and solve various mysteries and problems while traveling around the city of Tokyo with the characters.
Tokyo Metro is promoting the "City Tourism" initiative, which aims to encourage people to walk around the city, experience the charms of the areas along the Tokyo Metro line, and fall in love with the city, leading to tourism within Tokyo. Please see the attached sheet for details.
・About the original experience-based entertainment "Metro Time Gate"
1. What is "Metro Time Gate"?
"Metro Time Gate" is a new experiential entertainment with the theme of "manga x solving puzzles x walking around town" developed by Tokyo Metro and Holiday Hack, where you can become the protagonist of an original manga. Purchase a ticket for the experience kit (manga + 24-hour Tokyo Metro ticket for "Metro Time Gate") on the dedicated online site, exchange (receive) the ticket and experience kit at a commuter pass sales counter, read the manga, and register a nickname on the site, and "you" will appear as the protagonist in the manga. Also, by solving puzzles set in the real city based on the information obtained from the manga, you will be able to complete your own manga that links the story and your experiences in the city.
The manga and original characters were drawn by Kenichi Watanabe, a manga artist known for his delicate yet powerful illustrations. The characters will call you by name, and you will be able to take commemorative photos with the characters at the places you visit, giving you the experience of becoming the protagonist of the manga.
・Story synopsis
One day, a boy suddenly discovered a mysterious hole – a mysterious "gate." Beyond the gate was a world that was identical to ours… a so-called parallel world. This was a world called "NEXT" where intelligent life forms similar to ours had built their culture.
And now, a voice calls out to "you." "Please… help me."
It was a call for help from Mal, a member of the elite NEXT Keepers who protect NEXT. This is the story of the NEXT Keepers and you fighting for the survival of the world.
＜Main characters＞ Shimochi Maru Nickname: Maru
A lively and bright character
Due to a major incident that occurred in NEXT in the past,
After losing his father, he vows to become the next keeper.
He is the grandson of Shimoji Ginzaburo, the commander-in-chief of Next Keeper.
Vice-President Miyako (nickname: Fuku)
The next goalkeeper is a young ace.
Although he is usually a joker, he is very smart.
He is in charge of the Next Keeper's staff.
Even the commander-in-chief, Ginsaburo, has a high opinion of Fuku.
2. How to participate
① Purchase a ticket for the experience kit (including a "Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket" for use at the "Metro Time Gate") on the dedicated website.
② Exchange your ticket and experience kit at some Tokyo Metro commuter pass sales points
3. Read the comic included in the trial kit and register your name on the website.
*Free membership registration is required.
4. Use the information you have gained to explore various stations and solve the puzzles presented.
5. Decode all the codes and clear the game
3. Event period
From Friday, May 31, 2024 to Saturday, August 31, 2024 *Sales for the day of redemption will end at 8:00 p.m. on the day of redemption .
4. Sales period
From Friday, May 24, 2024 at 14:00 to Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 20:00 *Sales for the day of redemption will end at 8:00 p.m. on the day of redemption .
5. How to purchase a trial kit
Metro Time Gate dedicated website sales (advance reservation required)
1. Access the dedicated website ( https://tokyometro.machihack.com/ ), select the exchange date, exchange location, and quantity, and pay with the specified payment method. Once payment is complete, a QR code that can be used for redemption will be issued.
② On the specified redemption date, present the QR code sent to you at the redemption location to receive your trial kit.
*A fee will be charged if you cancel after payment has been completed.
*The maximum number of items that can be purchased at one time is 10 sets.
*Please note that there is a limit to the number of tickets that can be sold per day.
*QR code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE Inc.
<Pick-up (exchange) locations and times for the experience kit>
Some Tokyo Metro commuter pass sales points (6 locations)
(Applicable commuter pass sales points) Ueno Station, Ginza Station, Shinjuku Station, Iidabashi Station, Toyosu Station, and Oji Station
(Business hours) 7:40-20:00 *A special booth will be set up for a limited time at the Shinjuku Station commuter pass sales counter.
6. Sales price
2,800 yen (tax included) (includes Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket for use at the Metro Time Gate)
*The 24-hour special ticket is valid for only 24 hours from the time of use (passing through the ticket gate) until Saturday, August 31, 2024.
*Valid on all Tokyo Metro lines.
*We will not sell just the 24-hour ticket or just the kit excluding the 24-hour ticket.
*This product is not available for children.
7. Refunds
(1) If you have an unused experience kit (including a Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket for the Metro Time Gate)
*Only valid and unused experience kits are eligible.
A. Refund locations: Tokyo Metro Passenger Information Centers
(Ueno Station, Ginza Station, Omotesando Station, Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, Ikebukuro Station)
B. Refund Time
a Tokyo Station 8:00-20:00
b Ueno Station, Ginza Station, Shinjuku Station 9:00am – 5:00pm
c Omotesando Station/Ikebukuro Station 9:00-16:00
(2) If you have a QR code
Please complete the procedure from your My Page on the purchasing site.
*In either case (1) or (2), a fee of 220 yen will be charged.
9. Important Notices
– While participating in the event, please be mindful of your surroundings when walking on the platform or within the station.
・Please refrain from solving puzzles in places where it may cause inconvenience to other customers.
・Station staff, train crew, and commuter pass sales staff do not have any clues or answers to the mystery.
・Please use mobile phones with good manners.
・The temperature is expected to be extremely high during the event. Please be sure to drink plenty of water and take care to avoid heatstroke.
・To read the manga and enter your answers, you will need a device that can connect to the Internet, such as a smartphone or tablet. Please be careful not to run out of battery.
・This program will have the same content throughout the duration of the program. For the sake of those who will be enjoying the program, it is strictly prohibited to publish the puzzles, answers, and handouts on the Internet, such as on blogs or SNS, or to transfer or resell them.
10. Organizer
Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd.
Holiday Hack Co., Ltd.
From Friday, May 10th to Sunday, May 26th, enjoy a cultural walking tour with a stamp rally around popular spots and gourmet spots in the Ueno area!
In the Ueno area, in commemoration of International Museum Day on May 18th, 12 facilities around Ueno Park, including museums, art galleries, and the zoo, will cooperate with Ueno Norenkai member stores to hold Ueno Museum Week. This year, a digital stamp rally will also be held for the first time. On International Museum Day on May 18th, multiple museums will be free to enter. Make the most of the event by using the annual “Town Fun” coupons.
The biggest attraction this year is the first-ever digital stamp rally! There will be 13 stamp points in the Ueno area, from cultural facilities in Ueno Park to various spots in the Ueno shopping district!
In addition to the cultural facilities in the park, there are also other spots in the city where you can feel art, such as the Matsuzakaya Ueno Store Main Building 7F Art Gallery, ABAB Ueno Store 6F “Uenoshita Studio”, and CREATIVE HUB UENO “es”, an art space in Ueno Station. Among them, BUZZCHIKA (located in the basement of Shinobaz Brewery Hitsuji Ice) is an art hotspot in the city where young artists’ exhibitions and plays are actively held. Enjoy the atmosphere of Ueno, the city of art, along with the stamp rally. The stamp rally rewards include coupons that can be used at Ueno stores at one stamp (you can get up to 13 per stamp!), creator collaboration digital art works at three stamps, and prizes from participating cultural facilities at seven stamps.
Another highlight is the “free admission” on May 18th, “International Museum Day.” On that day, you can visit three museums for free: the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, and the National Museum of Western Art. In addition, this year the Tokyo University of the Arts Museum will be giving away original museum goods to the first 50 visitors.
*The free admission day for the Taito Ward Former Tokyo Music School Concert Hall is Wednesday, May 15th. Please be careful not to make a mistake.
The annual coupon service can be used at 11 Ueno Noren-kai stores. During the period, please present the admission ticket stub of one of the 12 cultural facilities participating in Ueno Museum Week 2024. We will be offering generous free services such as complimentary soft drinks, draft beer, desserts, and 10% off purchases. Invite your friends and family to enjoy the whole of Ueno’s “forest” and “town.”
■Event Overview■
International Museum Day Commemorative Events 2024 Ueno Museum Week Period: Friday, May 10, 2023 to Sunday, May 26, 2023
Venues (participating facilities and organizations): Tokyo National Museum / National Museum of Nature and Science / National Museum of Western Art / Tokyo University of the Arts Art Museum / Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum / Ueno Zoological Gardens / The Ueno Royal Museum / Taito Ward Former Tokyo Music School Concert Hall / Former Iwasaki Garden / National Museum of Modern Architecture / National Diet Library International Children’s Library / Toeizan Kan’ei-ji Temple / Ueno Noren Association participating stores (in no particular order)
*There will be days when the museum is closed during the exhibition period.
Organized by: Ueno Museum Week Executive Organization Federation Co-organized by: Ueno Norenkai Supported by: National Museum of Nature and Science Foundation Cooperation: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Eastern Park and Green Space Office, Taito City, Taito City Arts and Culture Foundation Official website: http://www.ueno-mw.com/
■[Ueno Morimachi Wandering] Ueno Museum Week 2024 ~ International Museum Day ~ ■
A digital stamp rally will be held from Friday, May 10th to Sunday, May 26th. Stamp points will appear at the participating facilities listed below.
[Participating facilities]
・National Museum of Nature and Science・National Museum of Western Art・Tokyo National Museum・Ueno Royal Museum・Concert Hall of the Former Tokyo Music School・Former Iwasaki Residence Gardens・Tokyo University of the Arts Art Museum・International Library of Children’s Literature・Kaneiji Temple・Matsuzakaya Ueno Store Main Building 7F Art Gallery・ABAB Ueno Store 6F “Uenoshita Studio”
・BUZZCHIKA
・CREATIVE HUB UENO “es”
【How to Use】
Download the digital stamp rally Furari on your smartphone. Go to the designated location of the participating facilities and get a stamp. With one stamp, you can get a coupon that can be used at Ueno stores (you can get up to 13 for each stamp!), with three stamps you can get a creator collaboration digital art piece, and with seven stamps you can get prizes from participating cultural facilities. Prizes will be shipped to the winners one to two months after the Museum Week ends.
1 stamp….Coupons that can be used at Ueno stores (You can get up to 13 coupons for each stamp!)
3 stamps….. Creator collaboration digital art work 7 stamps….. Prizes from participating museums
[Coupons that can be used at Ueno stores]
Please refer to the coupon service for stores offering coupons.
[Creator Collaboration Digital Artwork]
We will be distributing digital artworks created by four young artists from the Ueno area-based art support group, Geio Nurture Town Club.
TOMIMO and Akina create works based on the theme of “Encounter with Memory.” They explore the gap between reality and reality by incorporating not only the human gaze but also the machine gaze. Their main exhibitions include “Mamono” (Ginza Nikon Salon, 2018), “HUMAN<3” (Kyoto International Film and Art Festival, 2019), and “Where is my bus?” (Tanegashima Space Art Festival, 2019) under the name of Tomimoto Travel. Their books include “mamono” (PlaceM Publishing, 2020). Graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School of Advanced Art and Media.
Web: https://ak-7.net
Jiyuu
Graduated from Tama Art University, Department of Crafts, majoring in metal. Using materials such as metal, antlers, and wood, he creates original sci-fi works using craft techniques. Recently, he has also been creating derivative works using 3D printers.
MAHANA
fair enoughCreative director
Depending on the concept and expression, various techniques are used, from flat to three-dimensional works. The concept of the work is to project the thoughts of the time, from personal to social satire.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahana_fe_d/?hl=ja
fair enough
fair enough is a designer brand launched in 2021. The brand explores expression with the concept of “sufficient fairness and dialogue” and will be exhibiting at New York Fashion Week 2024AW.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairenough_official_/?hl=ja
Kobori Sayaka<br />Plush toy artist. Representative of smallmoat(combined). Born September 18, 1991.
Born in Niigata Prefecture and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture. We create palm-sized original characters based on the concept of “not just”. We create everything from pattern making to dyeing and accessory production from scratch.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coborisayaka/?hl=ja
CHIKA TOYS
Chika <br />Originally from Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. She creates a retro-future worldview by fusing mecha with cuteness. It is a story about rusty robots who continue to live as humans in a decaying world. She has been an artist for 10 years. She has exhibited at various events and has also exhibited her works at the Art Education Association.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chikatoys/?hl=ja
[List of prizes for participating museums]
〇 20 pairs of 40 National Museum of Nature and Science common invitation tickets
〇 National Museum of Western Art “Naito Collection Manuscripts – A Microcosm of the Elegance of the Middle Ages” admission tickets (20 pairs, 40 tickets)
*Tokyo National Museum General Cultural Exhibition invitation ticket + original ticket folder set (20 pairs, 40 tickets) *Special guided tour invitation (held on a date designated by the museum) (10 pairs, 20 people)
– 16 original goods from the “Dinosaur Picture Book Exhibition” held at the Ueno Royal Museum last year (a set of a mug, ballpoint pen, and sticker)
* 10 sets of 2 invitation tickets for the former Tokyo Music School Concert Hall + 1 ticket folder (total of 20 invitation tickets and 10 ticket folders)
〇 Original Iwasaki Residence Garden eco bag 20 people (1 per person)
〇Tokyo University of the Arts University Art Museum Original postcard (20 winners)
* Kan’ei-ji Temple special stamp book not for sale 20 winners (1 per person)
■Coupon Service■
During the period from Saturday, May 6th to Sunday, May 28th, you can receive free services by presenting your ticket stub from each museum at the stores listed below. For details on the services, please see the Ueno Museum Week official website.
[Participating stores]
Yoshi Sushi Ueno Branch, Anmitsu Mihashi, Izuei (eel restaurant), Hatoya (ladies’ clothing), Tenju (tempura), Kaiseki Chinese cuisine Ueno Ikenohata Kogets, Western cuisine Kurofunetei, Kameya Issui-tei (grilled eel and seasonal vegetables), Yakiniku Taishoen, Selected Western cuisine Sakurai, Shabu-shabu Hachinoki
【How to Use】
Present your ticket stub for a cultural facility in Ueno Park. *Present one ticket per person. *Cannot be used in conjunction with coupon services.
■Presents■
[Ueno Royal Museum]
May 3rd (Friday, National Holiday) Museum original goods giveaway Time: 10:00~
●Contents: Limited to the first 50 visitors to the exhibition at the reception counter
[National Museum of Western Art]
Saturday, May 18th: Museum original postcard giveaway Time: 9:30am
●Location: Permanent exhibition ticket gate ●Target: First 200 visitors to the permanent exhibition
[Tokyo University of the Arts Museum]
Saturday, May 18th: Museum original goods giveaway Time: 10:00~
●Location: Entrance hall ●Target: First 50 visitors to the exhibition
[BUZZCHIKA Exhibition Information]
Exhibition title: FIND IT!!!
Small organisms that have popped out from Ueno Forest into the city gather in the space called Buzzchika. Enjoy the experience of encountering a wide variety of organisms that you would never encounter in your everyday life.
Dates: May 10th (Fri) – 12th (Sun), 2024, May 17th (Fri) – 19th (Sun), 24th (Fri) – 26th (Sun)
Time: 13:00-17:00
Location: 2-10-7 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
Exhibiting artists: Sayaka Kobori, Jiyu, Chika Toys, MAHANA fair enough
■What is International Museum Day? ■
“International Museum Day” is a museum commemoration day established by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977. Commemorative events are held at museums around the world on and around May 18th with the aim of familiarizing many people with museums and raising awareness of the role of museums. Ueno, which is rare even on an international level in terms of the large number of cultural facilities such as museums and art galleries gathered there, holds various commemorative events every year around “International Museum Day” as “Ueno Museum Week”, held by cultural facilities and the Ueno Noren Association.
■Ueno Norenkai■
Ueno, the cloud of flowers, is the representative entertainment district of this part of Edo. It is the source of art and culture in the Meiji period. The Ueno Noren Association is a federation of about 100 famous stores in Ueno. Since its founding in 1959 (Showa 34), it has been publishing the town magazine “Ueno” every month with the aim of rediscovering the cultural traditions of this area. This is the 776th issue (as of May 2024).
■ Flyer ■
◎Inquiries Ueno Museum Week Executive Committee Secretariat
TEL 03-3833-8016 FAX 03-3839-2765 (Ueno Norenkai, weekdays 10:00-17:00)
The first large-scale retrospective of the 20th century master Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978) in Japan in 10 years, "De Chirico Exhibition," is currently being held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno, Tokyo. The exhibition will run until August 29, 2024.
Giorgio de Chirico gained fame for his "metaphysical paintings," which had a major influence on many artists, including surrealists such as Salvador Dali and René Magritte. Although he is known as an avant-garde painter, he was also devoted to classical expression techniques such as the Renaissance and Baroque, and his style changed significantly with the times.
A retrospective exhibition usually presents works from an artist's early period to his later years in chronological order. However, this exhibition brings together over 100 works, mainly oil paintings, from all over the world, grouped by themes and motifs that De Chirico dealt with, such as "Self-portraits and portraits," "Metaphysical paintings," and "Return to traditional painting," and provides an easy-to-understand introduction to how he continued to paint them and make changes to them .
As an introduction, Chapter 1 focuses on self-portraits and portraits. De Chirico began his career as an artist early on, and produced hundreds of self-portraits throughout his life. The various stylistic changes seen in his self-portraits reflect the results of the research he pursued in each of his eras.
De Chirico was born in Greece in 1888 to Italian parents, and after the death of his father, he moved to Munich, Germany with his mother and younger brother. He enrolled in art school there but dropped out, and moved to Milan, Italy in 1909. At the time, De Chirico was greatly influenced by the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche and the paintings of Arnold Böcklin, the abstract painter famous for Isle of the Dead. This exhibition features a rare portrait he painted during this period, that is, in the early stages before he established his style of metaphysical painting in Paris, called Portrait of his Brother (1910).
Self-Portrait (c1922) was a response by De Chirico to a time when a movement called "Return to Order" was sweeping through Western art, rediscovering the order of classical painting as a reaction to the destruction of expressive forms caused by the avant-garde movement. It is based on the rigid vision of Renaissance paintings such as Piero della Francesca and Raffaello Sanzio.
In addition, some of his self-portraits are in 17th-century costumes or dressed as bullfighters. Such theatrical attempts and theatrical tastes are one of the characteristics of De Chirico's work, and are closely related to the stage design of operas and other theater productions that he was involved in intermittently throughout his career. In the second half of the exhibition, costumes and design sketches created by De Chirico are also on display, so it will be interesting to view the exhibition while imagining the mutual influence they had on each other.
The second chapter is de Chirico's signature metaphysical paintings, divided into three themes: "Italian Piazza," "Metaphysical Interior," and "Mannequin." This is the highlight of the exhibition, bringing together many of De Chirico's masterpieces from his golden age of the 1910s, which are usually scattered around the world.
One day in 1910, De Chirico was struck by the sensation of seeing a familiar landscape for the first time in Piazza Santa Croce in Florence. This "revelation" prompted him to begin producing paintings that, while depicting concrete scenes such as squares and interiors, hint at the extraordinary, the mystical and mysterious, resembling dream images, through distorted perspective and the arrangement of motifs that would not normally exist.
After moving to Paris in 1911, his fantastical paintings immediately captivated critics and became part of the forefront of the Parisian art movement. Influenced by the philosophy of his beloved Nietzsche, De Chirico later named these works "metaphysical painting." His Silent Figure (Ariadne) (1913), exhibited in the "Piazza Italiana" corner, is truly a masterpiece of metaphysical painting.
"Piazza Italiana with a Pink Tower" (c1934), which depicts a square with no people in it, but with long shadows extending from outside the picture plane creating an ominous atmosphere, is a reproduction of "Piazza Italiana with a Red Tower" created in 1913. De Chirico was also active in reproducing metaphysical paintings he had painted in the past, and although this practice was sometimes criticized as "forgery," he himself seemed to take a positive view of it, saying, "There is no flaw in these reproductions, except that they are painted with more beautiful materials and more refined techniques" (from a letter to the wife of his teacher André Breton, who commissioned the reproduction).
With the outbreak of World War I, De Chirico moved from Paris to Ferrara as a soldier, and his paintings switched from the open views overlooking the square to the enclosed spaces of interiors. The motifs he painted were also inspired by the interiors of houses and shop windows in Ferrara, and objects that would have been around De Chirico in his daily life, such as biscuits, nautical charts, and rulers, began to appear without any context.
These are called "metaphysical interiors," and when we look at works from the 1910s, we see that the motifs depicted are unnaturally close to the viewer's eyes, with a myopic composition that excludes the presence of the outside world. In the 1960s, however, windows were installed, and the composition changed to create a sense of spaciousness. The windows also show the buildings of Piazza Italiana, a characteristic of the "New Metaphysical Paintings" that De Chirico began working on around 1968, which integrate motifs from his past works.
The "Mannequin" section features a series of works that replace the human figure, a motif that had been given a privileged status in classical Western painting, with the faceless mannequin, treating it as a kind of object on the same level as other motifs. As the appearance of the mannequin coincides with the outbreak of World War I, it is said that the mannequin represents the lack of rationality of human beings that causes war, or human powerlessness against violence.
Mannequin plays a variety of roles, including muse, prophet, philosopher, and bride. Although she is depicted in an inorganic manner in her early masterpieces , The Prophet (1914-15) and The Metaphysical Muses (1918), it is noteworthy that as time went on she underwent an interesting transformation, becoming more fleshy and humanized under the influence of classicism.
After returning from metaphysical painting to classical painting, De Chirico returned to Paris in 1925 and interacted with Surrealist painters, turning his attention back to metaphysical painting and to new themes such as "Gladiators" and "Furniture of the Valley." Chapter 3 focuses on these developments in the late 1920s.
The following fourth chapter is titled "Return to Traditional Painting – From 'Return to Order' to 'Neo-Baroque'" and introduces works that demonstrate the results of his devotion to classical painting, which has been mentioned many times in this article. From around 1920, he studied Renaissance works by Titian and Raphael, and then in the 1940s, Baroque works by Rubens and Velázquez, and although he was criticized by the Surrealists, he incorporated their expressions, themes, and techniques into his own work.
This chapter features two bathing paintings. One is Reclining Bather (Alcmene Rest) (1932), which is based on a bathing painting painted in the latter years of the Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who was known at the time as the leading researcher of Renaissance classicism.
The other, painted more than ten years later, is Bathers in a Landscape with a Red Cloth (1945), inspired by Baroque painting and its interpretations by Eugène Delacroix and Gustave Courbet. Although it has the same subject, the latter is more sensual overall and features dark, dense colors, showing a significant change in brushstrokes and style.
The final section, "New Metaphysical Painting," follows the development of De Chirico's work from the time he began working on metaphysical painting again in the ten years leading up to his death in 1978.
In his final years, De Chirico freely combined elements of his past works, such as squares, interiors, mannequins, mythological stories found in classical paintings, and even the sun and moon he had drawn in his illustrations, breaking new ground beyond mere rehash. These styles are called "neo-metaphysical paintings," and they are free of the melancholy and oppressive atmosphere found in the metaphysical paintings of the 1910s. All of them are light, cheerful, and somewhat playful, as if they have been deprived of the poison.
Unswayed by criticism from those around him, De Chirico viewed the avant-garde and the classics as not contradictory but capable of coexisting, and he repeatedly quoted and paid homage to his own work, presenting an original work worthy of being called the culmination of his artistic career.
Overview of the "De Chirico Exhibition"
venue
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Dates
Saturday, April 27th, 2024 – Thursday, August 29th, 2024
Opening hours
9:30-17:30 (until 20:00 on Fridays) (entry until 30 minutes before closing)
Closed Days
Mondays, July 9th (Tue) – July 16th (Tue)
*However, the office will be open on Monday, July 8th and Monday, August 12th (holiday).
Admission fee (tax included)
Adults: 2,200 yen, university and vocational school students: 1,300 yen, ages 65 and over: 1,500 yen
*Reservations are required for specified dates and times on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and from August 20th (Tuesday).
*Free for high school students and younger.
* Free for those who have a Physical Disability Certificate, Love Certificate, Rehabilitation Certificate, Mental Disability Health and Welfare Certificate, or Atomic Bomb Survivor Health Certificate, and their accompanying person (up to one person).
*For further details, please check the official ticket page .
Organizer
Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, The Asahi Shimbun Company
Scenes from the “Honen and the Pure Land” exhibition venue
To mark the 850th anniversary of the founding of the Jodo sect, a special exhibition titled “Honen and the Pure Land” has begun at the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, Tokyo, where many treasures related to the founder of the sect, Honen, have been gathered from temples across the country. The exhibition will run until June 9, 2024.
*Some of the artworks on display will be changed during the exhibition. Please check the official exhibition website for details.
Entrance to “Honen and the Pure Land”
Originally developed in India and China, the belief in going to the Pure Land, a world free from suffering established in the west by Amida Buddha, is called “Jodo Buddhism” or “Jodo faith” in Japan and was adopted mainly by the Tendai sect’s Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei.
Honen (1133-1212), born at the end of the Heian period, a time when the age of the Latter Day of the Law was plagued by successive wars, natural disasters, and epidemics, studied Pure Land Buddhism on Mount Hiei, and in 1175 (Joan 5) founded the Jodo sect, which taught that by chanting “Namu Amida Butsu,” everyone can be equally saved by Amida Buddha and be reborn in the Pure Land.
“Namu Amida Butsu” means “I take refuge in Amida Tathagata.” The simple teaching of “Senshu Nembutsu,” which says that if you recite this six-character phrase (Nenbutsu) out loud, you will be able to attain paradise regardless of whether you have undergone rigorous training or good deeds, is so simple that it has gained the support of a wide range of people from aristocrats to uneducated commoners who are suffering from hardship, and it has grown into one of the major sects of Kamakura Buddhism. It has been passed down continuously to the present day.
This large-scale exhibition, held to commemorate the 850th anniversary of the founding of the Jodo sect in 2024, will survey the art and history of the Jodo sect, from its founding by Honen to its great development in the Edo period with the support of the Tokugawa Shogunate, through precious treasures, including national treasures and important cultural properties, held by Jodo sect temples and other institutions across the country .
The exhibition is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1, “Honen and His Times,” introduces the kind of person Honen was, his appearance, achievements, and ideas.
National Treasure “Illustrated Biography of Saint Honen” (part of volume 14) Kamakura period, 14th century Chion-in Temple, Kyoto Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12 *Scenes will be changed during the exhibition period
This exhibit features the Important Cultural Property “Senke Hongan Nembutsu Shu (Rosanji version),” which is the fundamental scripture of the Jodo sect that systematizes Honen’s philosophy and whose opening section even features calligraphy written by Honen himself; and the National Treasure “Honen Shonin Illustrated Biography,” a lengthy picture scroll spanning 48 volumes that can be said to be a culmination of the many biographies of Honen, containing not only the life of Honen from his birth to his death, but also the achievements of the nobles, samurai, and disciples who converted to the Jodo sect .
Important Cultural Property “Seated Statue of Saint Honen” Kamakura period, 14th century Nara, Taima-dera Temple Okuin Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12
The statue of Saint Honen Seated, the principal image of the Okuin sanctuary of Taimadera Temple in Nara, is a rare example of a sculpture of Honen made in the Middle Ages, and is said to show the figure of a relatively young man. The statue is well-built, with a gentle expression that seems to be slightly smiling. This laid-back friendliness is in keeping with the popularity of the Jodo sect, and it is truly symbolic that it is displayed right at the entrance to this exhibition.
Important Cultural Property “Seven Articles of Commandments” (part) Kamakura period, 1204 (first year of Genkyu) Nison-in Temple, Kyoto Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12
As the influence of the religious organization grew, some of them began to misinterpret the teachings and disrupt public morals, and the followers of Enryaku- ji Temple even filed a lawsuit to demand an end to Senshu Nembutsu. At that time, Honen had his disciples sign the Seven Prohibitions to encourage self-discipline. If you look closely, you will see that it also contains the signature of Shinran, the founder of Jodo Shinshu, when he was young.
“Sanguo Shaku” signs Shinran / Important Cultural Property “Seven Articles of Admonition” (part) Kamakura period, 1204 (first year of Genkyu) Nison-in Temple, Kyoto Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12Chapter 2 exhibit: Bodhisattva masks, the three on the left are from the Kamakura period, 13th century, and the one on the right is from the Muromachi period, 16th century. Owned by Taima-dera Temple in Nara. On display throughout the year.
The highlight of Chapter 2, “The World of Amida Buddha,” which conveys the growing faith that spread to the common people through the many sculptures of Amida Nyorai that were imbued with the wishes of many people, is the National Treasure “Amida and the Twenty-five Bodhisattvas Raising Welcome,” which is housed in Chion-in Temple in Kyoto, the head temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, just like the previously introduced “Illustrated Biography of Honen Shonin.”
National Treasure “Amida and the Twenty-Five Bodhisattvas Arising (Early Arising)” Kamakura period, 14th century Chion-in Temple, Kyoto Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12
This work is known by the nickname “Hayaraigo” (Early Arrival) , and is featured in textbooks as a masterpiece of Kamakura-period Buddhist painting, so many people should be familiar with it. A Raigo-zu painting is one that depicts Amida Buddha, accompanied by bodhisattvas, descending on a cloud to take a dying person who is reciting the Nembutsu to the Pure Land, and the name “Hayaraigo” comes from the magnificent depiction of flying clouds in a diagonal composition that emphasizes the sense of speed as the water falls in a straight line from the waterfall. This type of design likely reflects the wishes of those who prayed for a swift arrival.
National Treasure “Amida and the Twenty-Five Bodhisattvas Arising (Early Arising)” (detail) Kamakura period, 14th century Chion-in Temple, Kyoto Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12
A three-year period beginning in 2019 saw the painting undergo extensive dismantling and repair, which included replacing the backing paper (reinforcing paper that is affixed directly to the back of the original painting), making the painting brighter and enhancing the landscape that gave rise to the three-dimensional expression of scenery that is characteristic of this painting, such as the blue color of the water’s surface and the deeply carved mountain slopes.
The National Treasure “Tsuzureori Taima Mandala,” a treasured principal image of Taima-dera Temple in Nara, a sacred place of Pure Land Buddhism, is also a must-see. This work was originally composed of the third chapter, but due to space constraints, it was displayed in the second chapter area.
National Treasure “Taisetsu Taima Mandala” China, Tang or Nara period, 8th century Taima-dera Temple, Nara Exhibition period: 4/16-5/6
This stunning four-meter-wide painting of the Pure Land depicts the contents of the Sutra of Contemplation of Infinite Life, one of the three great scriptures of Pure Land Buddhism. It is thought that the painting was created in China during the Tang Dynasty or in Japan in the 8th century during the Nara period, but there are no other examples from the 8th century created with such advanced techniques. This will be the first time it will be exhibited outside of Nara Prefecture.
“Taima Mandala” Kamakura period, 14th century Tokyo National Museum Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12
Unfortunately, most of the original colors have been lost, but this work attracted great faith during the Kamakura period by Honen’s disciple Shoku, and many copies were made. The same section also exhibits a copy of the Taima Mandala with clearly defined ink lines. Legend has it that the Tapestry Taima Mandala was woven in one night by an aristocratic girl named Chujohime with the help of Amida Buddha using lotus threads, and by viewing it together with the Taima Mandala, you may be able to experience a part of the mysticism that heightened the reverence of the people at the time.
Chapter 3 exhibit, in the center is the Important Cultural Property “Seated Statue of Shoko Shonin” Kamakura period, 13th century, owned by Zendo-ji Temple (Kurume City), Fukuoka. Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12
Chapter 3, “Honen’s Disciples and the Lineage of Buddhism,” traces the activities of his disciples who, after his death, worked tirelessly throughout the country, including in Chinzei (Kyushu), Kamakura, and Kyoto, to spread his teachings.
“The Final Nembutsu Hand-in-hand Mudra (Seigokurakuhon)” Kamakura period, 1228 (Antei 2), owned by Zendo-ji Temple (Kurume City), Fukuoka. Exhibition period: 4/16-5/12
There were many differences in approach among the disciples, such as the ideological construction of Senshu Nembutsu, the positioning of various practices within it, and ensuring the legitimacy of the religious organization. The exhibited work, “Matsudai Nembutsu Jushuin (Seigokurakuhon),” is said to be handwritten by Shoko, the founder of the Chinzei school, and was written to lament the situation in which dissent and different schools of thought were arising among his disciples, and to convey Honen’s true intentions to future generations. It makes you think about how difficult it is to protect and pass on a single teaching, even if it is as simple as Senshu Nembutsu.
Chapter 4 exhibit: “Eight Deities” by Yasunari and Matabei: Taishakuten, Jikokuten, Kongorikishi, and Mikkokurikishi, Edo period, 1621 (Genwa 7), Chion-in Temple, Kyoto, on display throughout the year
Shogei, the founder of the Jodo sect, established the foundations of the Kanto Jodo sect in Hitachi Province, and his disciple Shoso founded Zojoji Temple in Edo. The sect’s status was firmly established when Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had been a devout believer in Jodo Buddhism since the Matsudaira clan, designated Zojoji Temple as the family temple in Edo and Chion-in Temple as the family temple in Kyoto. Chapter 4, “Jodo Buddhism in the Edo Period,” traces the Jodo sect’s dramatic rise in popularity during the Edo period under the patronage of the shogun family and various feudal lords, through the large-scale treasures that were brought to Jodo sect temples.
Important Cultural Property “Tripitaka (Song edition)” China, Northern Song to Southern Song period, 12th century Collection of Zojoji Temple, Tokyo On display throughout the exhibition period *Screen changes will occur during the exhibition period
The three copies of the Tripitaka that can be viewed here – Song, Yuan, and Goryeo – are known as the “Three Great Treasures” and were confiscated by Ieyasu from temples in Yamato, Suo, and Omi provinces in exchange for their territories, and donated to Zojoji Temple.
The Tripitaka is a collection of over 5,000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures translated into Chinese, and in China, from the Northern Song Dynasty onwards, the Tripitaka was printed by woodblock printing as printing culture developed. Each published Tripitaka is a rare cultural asset, but it is said that there is no other example in the world of three copies held by a single temple in perfect condition. It is an extremely important book in cultural history that created the foundation for modern Buddhist studies.
Attributed to Tokugawa Ieyasu, “Daily Nembutsu” Edo period, 17th century, Tokyo National Museum, on full display
Though not flashy, what caught my eye was the “Daily Nembutsu” (Nenbutsu) that is said to have been written by Ieyasu himself. It is believed that in his later years, Ieyasu diligently copied out the sutra “Namu Amida Butsu” every day, praying for the atonement of his sins. From a distance, the name of Amida Buddha is densely written in six rows and 41 columns, so densely that it could be mistaken for some kind of pattern, and it is a little chilling as it shows just how obsessive he was. However, upon closer inspection, like a game of spot the difference, there are only two places where the characters “Namu Amida Ieyasu” are written instead of “Namu Amida Butsu”. It is unclear why it was written in this way, but perhaps it was just playfulness, or perhaps there was some other deeper intention behind it.
Kano Kazunobu’s “The 500 Arhats” Edo period, 19th century Zojoji Temple, Tokyo On display throughout the exhibition period *Screen changes will occur during the exhibition period
The highlight of this exhibition can be said to be the 500 Arhats from Zojoji Temple , which Kano Kazunobu (1816-63), a painter from the late Edo period who is said to have been largely self-taught before entering the Kano school. The 500 Arhats are a masterpiece that he worked on over a period of about 10 years as the culmination of his career.
Rakan is an honorific title given to enlightened saints among the disciples of Shakyamuni, and they have been worshipped as beings with the role of saving people. The 500 Rakan are the 500 Rakan who participated in the First Assembly to compile Buddhist scriptures after Shakyamuni’s death, and from the mid-Edo period onwards, wood carvings and stone statues of the 500 Rakan began to be actively made all over Japan.
Kano Kazunobu’s “Five Hundred Arhats” (23rd and 24th scrolls) Edo period, 19th century Zojoji Temple, Tokyo Exhibition period: 23rd and 24th scrolls are on display from April 16th to May 12thKano Kazunobu’s “500 Arhats” (part of scroll 64) Edo period, 19th century Zojoji Temple, Tokyo Exhibition period: scroll 64 is from April 16th to May 12th
This work is an exceptional piece in terms of size, number, and impact, with 500 arhats literally painted in groups of five across a total of 100 scrolls. The highly distinctive scenes of the arhats’ training and life, the six realms of existence, disasters that befall people, and their salvation through arhat are depicted dramatically in brilliant colors, without being limited by the framework of Japanese painting, and using Western shading and perspective techniques. There is not a single part that is relaxed, even in the four corners, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and the passion that comes from it.
Of the total 100 paintings, 24 (12 in the first and second half of the exhibition) will be exhibited at the venue.
“Group of Buddha in Nirvana” Edo period, 17th century, Honenji Temple, Kagawa Prefecture, on display throughout the year
The last thing we encounter at the venue is the “Group Statues of Buddha in Nirvana” from Honenji Temple in Kagawa. This work depicts the scene of Shakyamuni’s nirvana in three dimensions using a group of statues, and is made up of a life-size statue of Shakyamuni in Nirvana, surrounded by a total of 82 figures, including lamenting arhats, the Eight Deities of Heavenly Dragons, and animals. Matsudaira Yorishige, the first lord of Takamatsu Domain, invited a Buddhist sculptor from Kyoto to build this work, and there is no other example of such a large group statue of Nirvana.
“Group of Buddha in Nirvana” Edo period, 17th century, Honenji Temple, Kagawa Prefecture, on display throughout the year
They are usually placed in the Sanbutsudo (Nirvana Hall) of Honenji Temple, but 26 of them are on display at this exhibition and are open to the public as photo spots.
After Tokyo, the exhibition will travel to the Kyoto National Museum and the Kyushu National Museum.
Overview of “Honen and the Pure Land”
Dates
Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 – Sunday, June 9th, 2024
venue
Tokyo National Museum Heiseikan
Opening hours
9:30-17:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
closing day
Monday, May 7th (Tuesday)
*However, the museum will be open on April 29th (Monday, national holiday) and May 6th (Monday, holiday).
Admission fee
Adults: 2,100 yen, University students: 1,300 yen, High school students: 900 yen
*No prior reservations are required for this exhibition.
* Free for junior high school students and younger, people with disabilities and one caregiver. Please present your student ID or disability certificate when entering the building.
For further details, please see the official exhibition ticket page .
Organizer
Tokyo National Museum, NHK, NHK Promotion, Yomiuri Shimbun
