Museum of the Imperial Collections exhibits artistic treasures to mark reopening

Marking the 30th anniversary of its opening this year, The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan* (East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo) — currently undergoing renovations to expand its capacity — is commemorating a partial opening of a new facility with a long-running exhibition — about eight months long — that highlights the artistic treasures it houses.

*Sannomaru Shozokan: In 1989, the first year of the Heisei era, the then Emperor (currently, Emperor Emeritus) and his mother Empress Kojun (1903-2000) donated the artistic treasures — more than 6,000 paintings, calligraphy, craft, etc. — that had been passed down in the Imperial Household up until Emperor Showa’s time (1926–89) to the Japanese government. Sannomaru Shozokan was opened in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in November 1993 to store, preserve and exhibit these items. The collection gradually grew as other members of the Imperial Household left or donated their precious belongings to the state, the number of items held by the museum now reaching about 20,000. The museum has been closed since 2019 for renovations to expand its storage and exhibition space, but will partially open a newly built facility for the upcoming exhibition. Renovations are due to be completed in 2026.

Commemorating the Opening of The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
The Aesthetics of the Imperial Court: Beauty Passed Down through the Ages

Nov 3 (Fri), 2023 – Jun 23 (Sun), 2024

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

*See outline below for details

Recently designated national treasures

“The Aesthetics of the Imperial Court: Beauty Passed Down through the Ages,” which opened on Nov. 3, 2023 (Culture Day holiday), will showcase a number of masterpieces from the museum’s collections in four parts (terms). Part 1 (Nov. 3-Dec. 24, 2023) of the exhibition featured four out of eight works of art which were designated by the Japanese government as national treasures in recent years: The “Illustrated Account of the Mongol Invasions” (13th century; top photo), the “Colorful Realm of Living Beings” (18th century) by Edo-period painter Ito Jakuchu (1716–1800), the “Illustrated Miracles of the Kasuga Deity” (14th century) by Kamakura-period court painter Takashina Takakane and “Draft for Screen Poems” (10th century) by Heian-period calligrapher Ono no Michikaze (894-966).

Part 1 (Nov 3–Dec 24, 2023): National Treasures of Sannomaru Shozokan

Part 2 (Jan 4–Mar 3, 2024): The Beauty and Techniques of Artworks of the Imperial Court in the Modern Era

Part 3 (Mar 12–May 12, 2024): Artworks that Adorned the Early Modern Imperial Palaces

Part 4 (May 21–Jun 23, 2024): Selected Masterworks of Sannomaru Shozokan

Modern art and craft cherished by Imperial Household

Part 2 (Jan 4–Mar 3, 2024), now running, will bring the viewers attention to the modern art and craft by renowned artists that adorned the interior of the Imperial Palace during and after the Meiji era (1868-1912). Among the 60 or so works on display are “Land of the Rising Sun, Japan” by nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958), who is said to have painted nearly 2,000 paintings of Mt. Fuji in his lifetime, and “Bugaku Dancer, Ranryo-o” — a designated important cultural property — by metal artist Unno Shomin (1844−1915). Objects made on celebratory occasions in the Imperial Household and items closely associated with the emperors and empresses of the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras are also showcased during this term.

Artworks passed down in Kyoto Imperial Palace and villas

The Kyoto Imperial Palace was the residence of the Imperial family until the Meiji Restoration. Part 3 (March 12–May 12, 2024) will feature artworks that adorned the former palace and Imperial villas in pre-modern times, such as the “Scenes from The Tale of Genji” attributed to Kano school master Kano Eitoku (1543–90) and the “Sarashina Diary” — a designated national treasure — handwritten by court noble and poet Fujiwara no Sadaie (1162-1241).

Masterworks presented to Imperial Household

Artworks presented to the Imperial Household are featured in Part 4 (May 21–Jun 23, 2024). The must-see during this term is undoubtedly the famous “Chinese Lions” (right screen) — a designated national treasure — by the aforementioned Kano Eitoku, which was donated to the Imperial Household in 1888 by the head of the Mori family of present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture.

*All works housed in the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, belong to the nation of Japan.

*Visitors to the museum to see Part 1 will also be able to view “Ushering in the Reiwa Era: 30 Years in Retrospect” — a special exhibition running concurrently in celebration of the fifth year of the Emperor’s reign as well as the 30th wedding anniversary of the Emperor and Empress — with their general admission tickets.