Admiring the flowers of the four seasons through art at the Sannomaru Shozokan

With the approach of spring, The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan (East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo) is going to select a number of paintings, decorative art and calligraphy themed on the various flowers of the four seasons to showcase in “Flowers: Floral Masterpieces at Sannomaru Shozokan,” an exhibition set to open on March 11, 2025.

Flowers: Floral Masterpieces at Sannomaru Shozokan

March 11 (Tue) – May 6 (Tue; holiday), 2025

The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
(East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo)

*See the outline at the bottom of the page for details

Among the 45 items selected for the exhibition from the vast collection of artwork formerly passed down in the Imperial Household are a few paintings from the “Colorful Realm of Living Beings,” a scroll painting series by Edo-period artist Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) collectively designated as Japan’s national treasure, and the “Collection of Poems by Tsutsumi Chunagon,” an 11th-century work of calligraphy attributed to Ki no Tsurayuki, a court noble and poet of the Heian period (8th-12th century).

Artwork from Japan’s modern times are also a part of this exhibition. The “Vase with Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons” by cloisonné artist Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927), whose production was commissioned by Emperor Meiji for the 1900 Paris International Exposition, and “Poppies,”
a painting by nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist Tsuchida Bakusen (1887-1936), are among the must-sees.

The exhibition runs through May 6, 2025.

*All works included in the exhibition are housed at The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan

Gallery talks in multiple languages

As a new approach to helping international visitors become more familiar with Japanese art, the Sannomaru Shozokan will hold 20-minute gallery talks centering on some of the artworks on display in three languages — English, Chinese (Mandarin) and Korean — on separate dates (See box below). Registration and additional fee are not required to join in.

20-minute gallery talks in three languages
(No registration, additional fee required)

English:
Mar 19 (Wed): Starts at 3:35 p.m.
Apr 16 (Wed): Starts at 3:35 p.m.
Apr 18 (Fri): Starts at 6:35 p.m.

Chinese (Mandarin):
Mar 18 (Tue): Starts at 3:35 p.m.

Korean:
Apr 15 (Tue): Starts at 3:35 p.m.