Art Creation Theory 11 "Japanese Art Museums"
Japan is chock-full of museums and art galleries. There are said to be more than 5,800 in total , with art galleries making up more than one-fifth of them. (The rest can be broadly categorized as history and culture museums, science museums, natural history museums, zoos and botanical gardens, industrial and technological museums, etc.) Japan's art galleries developed in the second half of the 19th century, when exchanges with Western Europe became more active. In Japan, the country rapidly adopted Western cultural artifacts in an attempt to match the great powers of the world, and this brought about various changes in politics, science, technology, and culture. One of these was the importation of the concept of an art museum. Japan's first art museum was founded in 1872. This would later become the Tokyo National Museum.
Although the history of art museums in Japan is relatively short, a surprising number of museums have been established. There are nine national art museums, plus private art museums of various sizes scattered throughout the country. Established by individual collectors and companies, they are highly regarded for their strong individuality.
(The tokonoma is probably the place where the arrangement most closely respects the four seasons.)
When displaying artworks in traditional Japanese homes and some art museums, there are two important elements to keep in mind. The first is to create a sense of the seasons . The sense of the seasons has been important in Japan since ancient times. Due to the custom of valuing the four seasons, collectors display artworks according to tradition, considering what time of year it is, and art museums change their exhibits according to the seasons. Limited-time exhibits have been the norm for centuries. Hanging scrolls in private homes are not left hanging on the wall all year, but are selected to suit an event or guest and hung in a secluded corner called a tokonoma.
Next, limiting the period of exhibition. The reason for limiting the period is to preserve and protect the artworks, as paintings, ancient documents, and delicate crafts are particularly sensitive to changes in light, humidity, and temperature. Long-term exhibition can cause deterioration due to these factors. Works made of paper or cloth can fade and become brittle if exposed to light for a long time. Therefore, in order to protect and preserve the artworks for the long term, the exhibition period is limited and the artworks are left to rest in an appropriate storage environment between exhibitions.
The number of museums has grown exponentially in the last 40 years , often with the sponsorship of businessmen. These new museums all offer dynamic exhibitions and events, and sometimes attract criticism for their unconventional approaches. Nevertheless, museums have become cultural hubs and tourist attractions.
There is an art exhibition that you can view with your dog.
There are also underwater art exhibits.
In Japan, not only art but also culture itself has been greatly influenced by China. For example, many of the techniques, themes, and forms of paintings were modeled after China. These were then adapted and changed to suit Japanese tastes, and developed into a uniquely Japanese style. Shintoism, the ancient Japanese religion, is based on animism, and various rituals, customs, and faith have developed into a multifaceted religion. Ancient people saw spirits in all things. Therefore, beautiful nature was delicately expressed in items created for religious ceremonies and shrines. In the 6th century, Buddhism was introduced to Japan. (It is said to have been in 538 or 552. There are various theories about the exact year, but the introduction of Buddhism was triggered by King Seongmyeong of Baekje, which was on the Korean peninsula, presenting Buddhist statues and scriptures to the Yamato court in Japan.) Over time, Buddhism merged with Shintoism, leading to the creation of even more elaborate expressions. As various Buddhist sects were born over the centuries, its influence can be seen widely in the creation of art. The variety of Buddhist statues increased, and the number of complex symbols proliferated. It is difficult to understand their true meaning, but many of the designs are eye-catching. Esoteric Buddhism, characterized by elaborate rituals, developed in the 9th century.
Zen Buddhism, now synonymous with minimalism and tranquility, was introduced to Japan in the late 12th century. Based on the idea of reaching truth through meditation, the sect eventually influenced other aspects of culture, including painting, calligraphy, architecture, and gardens. The stylized tea ceremony is, so to speak, a dynamic and multifaceted art that combines many arts and all five human senses. In the 16th century, the aesthetic sense of tea ceremony as we know it today was developed based on Zen ideas. The world of tea ceremony has always been influenced by the culture of making tea utensils, as various tools are needed to prepare tea. The tea bowl is at the center of the tea ceremony, and is made to be enjoyed with all five senses. The texture and weight are important elements, and the bright green of the bubbly tea contrasts beautifully with the glaze of the tea bowl. Tea utensils, including tea scoops, vases, tea caddies, kettles, and lacquered trays, have been collected for centuries. However, even when you see tools that have been used by famous tea masters, you may often find it difficult to understand their value. 
At the root of tea ceremony culture is an aesthetic sense that finds value in simple and imperfect things. As a cultured pastime, tea ceremony is once again becoming popular in modern Japan. This culture, which many people learn and practice, also plays an important role in making Japan known to the world. It is no wonder that Japan is recognized as one of the countries that produce excellent ceramics. The world's oldest kiln site has been discovered in Aomori Prefecture. As you know, Sen no Rikyu's rich aesthetic sense was born in Osaka, eventually spreading throughout the country and developing into refined forms that continue to this day. (Earthenware was made about 14,000 years ago, and paperware began to be made in the 4th century BC. However, it was not until the 17th century that porcelain was first made.)
Yoshitomo Nara's work is one of the most famous contemporary Japanese artworks.
Many of Japan's contemporary art museums are ambitious in the world of art and culture, showcasing high-quality works and housing innovative buildings with cutting-edge facilities. The best-rated museums also boast excellent interior design and meticulous lighting to enhance the beauty of the exhibits. As such, the overall art collections on display in Japan are incredibly high quality and diverse, attracting art lovers at heart.
Tokyo National Museum opened in 1872 (Meiji 5) and has the longest history of any museum in Japan. It houses approximately 116,000 cultural properties, including 88 national treasures and 634 important cultural properties. At the general cultural exhibition, 3,000 exhibits are always on display. You can check the congestion status of the museum on the website.
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Located near the Imperial Palace, this is Japan's first national art museum. It houses approximately 13,000 modern and contemporary art pieces, including important cultural properties by artists such as Yokoyama Taikan and Kishida Ryusei, and exhibits around 200 pieces each session based on timely themes and perspectives. You can trace the history of Japanese art from the late 19th century to the present day in one go.
Kyoto National Museum is a national museum that exhibits, preserves, and researches cultural assets related to Kyoto, mainly from the Heian to Edo periods. It houses approximately 14,600 pieces of art and cultural assets from Japan and East Asia, and exhibits them under themes in the fields of archaeology, ceramics, sculpture, painting, calligraphy, dyeing and weaving, lacquer work, and metalwork.
Nara National Museum is famous for the "Shosoin Exhibition" held in the fall, but the highlight of the permanent exhibition is the excellent group of Buddhist statues from the Asuka period to the Kamakura period. Other highlights include the "Nara Buddhist Statue Hall," which boasts the most comprehensive display of Buddhist statues among museums in Japan, the Bronzeware Hall, which houses a collection of ancient Chinese bronzeware, and the West Wing, which introduces masterpieces of paintings, calligraphy, crafts, and archaeological artifacts with exhibits that change every month.
Kyushu National Museum - Top Page
The Kyushu National Museum is characterized by its gently curving exterior that blends in with the surrounding mountains. Each floor is made up of a variety of facilities, including exhibition rooms, halls, cafes, shops, laboratories, and storage facilities. In addition, much of the natural surroundings from before the building was constructed have been preserved, allowing visitors to enjoy the changing faces of the seasons.
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
This museum facility is under the jurisdiction of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. It was built in September 1992 (Heisei 4) within the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace as the "Sannomaru Shozokan" museum under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Agency as a facility for the preservation, research, and public display of art works that were donated by Emperor Showa's surviving family, Akihito and Empress Kojun, in June 1989 (Heisei 1), and returned to the national treasury, and opened on November 3, 1993 (Heisei 5). Since its opening, the museum has continued to add to its collection through donations from the imperial family, and the current collection consists of 9,800 items.
This museum specializes in modern and contemporary crafts and design and was relocated to the center of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. It has a total of about 4,000 pieces in a wide range of fields, including ceramics, glass, lacquerware, woodwork, bamboo work, dyeing and weaving, dolls, metalwork, industrial design, and graphic design. The Western-style architecture from the late Meiji period was relocated and restored from a former army facility that is a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and conveys modern history.
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
While giving due consideration to the entire history of modern Japanese art, the museum places emphasis on art from the Kansai and western Japan regions, with a focus on Kyoto, and actively collects and exhibits Japanese and Western paintings from the Kyoto art world, as well as a rich collection of craft works such as Kawai Kanjiro's ceramics and dyed textiles. The current building (new wing) was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Maki Fumihiko and completed in 1986 (Showa 61). It was designed to be lower than the large torii gate of the adjacent Heian Shrine.
National Museum of Western Art
Located in Ueno Park in Taito Ward, Tokyo, this art museum specializes in Western art. It is operated by the National Museum of Art, an independent administrative institution. The main building is registered as a World Heritage Site as a component part of "Le Corbusier's Architectural Works - Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Architectural Movement." Founded and opened in 1959 (Showa 34), it is the only national art museum in Japan that focuses on Western art in general. The foundation of the collection is the Matsukata Collection, which is centered on paintings and sculptures from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, including Impressionist works, collected in Europe by businessman Matsukata Kojiro in the early 20th century.
The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Located in Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, this art museum is under the jurisdiction of the National Museum of Art, an independent administrative institution. The collection is mainly domestic and international contemporary art from after World War II, but it also holds special exhibitions of other art. It was established in 1977 (Showa 52). It was originally located in Expo Commemoration Park in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, but moved to its current location in 2004 (Heisei 16). It has the largest collection of any museum in Japan, with approximately 8,000 pieces of contemporary art, mainly from Japan and abroad, dating back to after 1945. The exhibition of works from the collection, which changes the exhibits several times a year with appealing themes, introduces artists and works that are important in the discussion of contemporary art.
THE NATIONAL ART CENTER, TOKYO
The National Art Center, Tokyo, which is one of the largest in Japan with an exhibition space of 14,000 square meters, is different from other art museums in that it does not have a collection of artworks and therefore does not have a permanent exhibition. Instead, the museum holds its own special exhibitions and exhibitions organized by various organizations on a regular basis, making it a place where all kinds of art works are introduced on a rotating basis.