30th Anniversary a History

The Edo-Tokyo Museum and
The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Fiscal Years 2014－2022

Notes:• This book provides a comprehensive history of the 30 years of the Edo-Tokyo
Museum and the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, which opened in
1993. It introduces their achievements and activities. As “Edo-Tokyo Museum
and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum: 20 Years of History” (hereinafterreferred to as “20 Years of History”) was published on September 30 th 2014, thisbook will mainly focus on the subsequent period, between April 1st 2014 andMarch 31st 2023.
• Throughout the book, the term “Edo-Tokyo Museum” is used instead of the fullname “Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundationfor History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum”, and “EdoTokyo Open Air Architectural Museum” is used instead of the full name “Public
Interest Incorporated Foundation, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History
and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum Annex Edo-Tokyo OpenAir Architectural Museum”.
• Each fiscal year covers the period from April 1st to the following March 31st,
according to the museum’s definition of the year. For example, “fiscal year 2022”• In this book, the days and months indicated before 1872 follow the lunar
calendar, and those afterwards follow the solar calendar.
• Information about each museum’s project was taken from “Project Achievement”
documents and individual brochures.
• In the case of groups and individuals whose names change over time, they are
given according to the nomenclature of the period under discussion. Individual
titles follow the same convention.

IndexForeword Marking the 30 th Anniversary

4

Fujimori Terunobu [Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum]

30 Years of History in Timeline

5

Edo-Tokyo Museum 		

9Main Projects

Permanent Exhibition10		Special Exhibitions

18

		

Feature Exhibitions

24

		

Featured Exhibitions

31

		

Various Reference Collection32		

Education Programs

38

		

Research and Studies

40		International Exchange Program41

		

Library43

		Traditional Performing Arts Demonstrations

44

		

Utilizing Digital Technology

45

About the facility 		

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Main Projects

47

49

Exhibiting Reconstructed Buildings50		Management and Maintenance of Reconstructed Buildings

57		Special Exhibitions

60

		

Scenery Reconstruction Project65		

Educational Promotion Projects

68		

Utilizing Digital Technology

69

About the facility 		

Results of Operations (1993 – 2022 )7072

Foreword

Marking the 30 th Anniversary
The Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum are celebrating the 30 th year
since its establishment. The span of 30 years is a length that can be a milestone, as you may feel when you
look back on your own life.
Looking back over these three decades, my first reflection is a deep sense of gratitude for our timely
opening. At that time, artifacts related to Edo-Tokyo did not attract much attention. So, we were able touncover reference materials and examples of arts and crafts that are no longer accessible, and the 30
architectural specimens collected in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum are unique treasuresthat cannot be found anywhere else.
Operating a museum is akin to running a shop, goods flow in, and customers enter. As a result of being
open for the past 30 years, our museum has gained the status it enjoys today as the Edo-Tokyo Museum.
Looking at recent events, three notable aspects stand out. The first is international interactions. Fourhistory museums in Japan, China, and Korea (Our museum; the Capital Museum, Beijing, China; the Seoul
Museum of History, Korea; and the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum, China) cooperated in holding
symposiums and promoting mutual exchanges. One of the outcomes of these interactions was the exhibition“1784, Ordinary Days in Seoul,” planned by the Seoul Museum of History to be held here in 2019. The
presentation of the lifestyle and culture of Yu Man-ju, a seonbi (“scholar”) who lived in Hanyang (present-day
Seoul) 200 years ago, was fascinating. In 2022, using ukiyo-e and folding screens from our collection, we
held (or presented) “Scenes Around Sumida River in Edo-Tokyo” at the Seoul Museum of History, depicting
the mother river of Edo and seasonal views along its banks. Since there had never been an exhibition of
ukiyo-e in Korea before, this exhibition was well received.
In addition, we curated “Ikimono: Life With Animals in Edo-Tokyo at the Maison de la Culture du Japon
à Paris in 2022. This exhibition was very popular, and the catalogue was published as a book by a French
publisher. The rich content of our exhibitions featuring materials from our collection is a testament to ourmuseum’s 30 years of activity.
Our focus on digitization is another highlight, as we work to create a digital archive of over 300,000 items
from our collection, so that users can access their images and information from anywhere in the world. Social
networking is also important to us, and our experts post various articles to spread the charm of our museum.
The most significant news for the museum’s 30 th anniversary of our museum is the major renovation of
the building, which will force the Museum to closure for four years. After 30 years, even the architecture hasreached a milestone in its life. Deteriorating facilities will be replaced and some parts of the exhibition space
will change dramatically. Construction is already underway, and our staff is moving around like busy bees,
perhaps even more so than when the museum is open.
Written with a view of the scaffolding outside the temporary office, amidst loud noise and the sound of
construction.
March 2024

4

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Fujimori Terunobu

		Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum

For e wor d|

30 Years of History in Timeline
1993

2023

* Items that are common to both the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
are listed in bold in the Edo-Tokyo Museum section, as it is the main body of the museums.

Edo-Tokyo Museum

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

1993■ March 28th: Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum opens.
Operated by Edo-Tokyo History Foundation, with Kodama
Kota as the first director■

March 28th: Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum Annex EdoTokyo Open Air Architectural Museum opens, taking over materials
from the former Musashino Folk Museum, including the National■ July 10 th: Edo-Tokyo Museum reaches 1 million visitors

Important Cultural Property “Clay Earring”. 12 buildings arereconstructed■

June 20th: “Takei Sanshodo (Stationery Store)” opens to the public(the 13th building)

1994■ March 23 rd – 27th: First Anniversary Event is held■

June 1st: “Hanaichi (Flower Shop)” opens to the public (the 14th■

June 1st: “The garden of Korekiyo Takahashi’s house/ Musashinobuilding)
Spring-fed Pond” exhibition starts■

November 1st: “Tailor’s Workshop” opens to the public (the 15th
building)

1995■ August 9 th: Edo-Tokyo Museum reaches 5 million visitors■■ October 1: The Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History
and Culture is established by merging the Edo-Tokyo
History Foundation and the Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural
Promotion FoundationstJune 13th: “House of Okawa in Den’enchofu” opens to the public (the16th building)■

October 18th: “Jisho-in Mausoleum (Otama-ya)” (Tangible Cultural
Property designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) opens
to the public (the 17th building)1996■ April 1st: Ogi Shinzo becomes the second director, withKodama Kota as honorary director■

January 5th: “Kodera (Soy Sauce Shop)” warehouse “Soy Sauce
Exhibition Room” opens to the public■ June: The Edo-Tokyo Museum website is opened■

September 25th: “Residence of Hachirouemon Mitsui” opens to the
public (the 18th building)■

December 4th: Volunteer trial activity begin (Wednesdays, Thursdays,
and Fridays)

1997■ March 14th: 62 tools for manufacturing roof tiles and six roof tiles are

named as Tokyo Metropolitan Area-designated tangible folk culturalproperties.
■ October 1st: Volunteer trial activity (pre-visit group orientation andforeign-language tour guides for permanent exhibition) begin■

January 28th: “House of Kunio Mayekawa” opens to the public (the19th building)■March 18th: “Residence of Hachirouemon Mitsui” warehouse andgarden open to the public■

March 25th: “Tokiwadai Photo Studio” opens to the public (the 20th■

October 10th: “Farmhouse of the Tsunashima Family” opens to thebuilding)
public (the 21st building)

1998■ March 19 th: Edo-Tokyo Museum reaches 8 million visitors■

February 28th: “House of Koide” opens to the public (the 22nd

events)■March 4th – May 5th Fifth Anniversary Event■ April 1■

April 1st: Store warehouse-style resting place opens■

May 17th: Reaches 1 million visitors■

June 2nd: “House of Uemura” opens to the public (the 23rd building)■ March 28th: Fifth Anniversary Event (special lectures and otherst: Takeuchi Makoto becomes the third director, with
Ogi Shinzo as advisor

building)|

3 0 Ye a r s o f H i s t o r y i n T i m e l i n e

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■

July 5th: Tea Arbor “Kaisuian” opens to the public (the 24th building)■August 1st: Volunteer activities introduced■

November 14th: “Maruni Shoten (Kitchenware Store)” opens to the
public (the 25th building)

1999■ January 8th: Regular column “Edo-Tokyo Museum Kura-meguri” in■the Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Metropolitan Edition begins■ April: Volunteer exhibition guides in Japanese begin■ October 1st: Trial of making reference documents from the museum’s
collection available for viewing begins■ October 1st: The museum library begins to release microfilmarchives of historical documents such as “Katsu Kaishū Related
Documents” and “Yotsuya Shiochō 1-chome Documents”■

June 20th: The museum character’s name “Edomaru” is announced
October 16th: City train model 7500 (Toei 7500 Series) opens to the
public■November 27th: “Murakami Seikado (Cosmetic Manufacturer)” opens
to the public (the 26th building)2000■ June 27th:The “Moegiaoi-ji-montsuki komon-zome Dofuku” (Haori■<half length coat> given from Tokugawa Ieyasu to Imamura
Masanaga, one of his commanders, as a reward for his valor in
the siege of Osaka Castle) is designated as a National Important
Cultural Property.
■ October 15th: Edo-Tokyo Museum permanent gallery reaches 10
million visitors■ December 4th: The Oranda Fusetsugaki (world information from theDutch chief) is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
■ December 12 th: Toei Subway Oedo Line, Ryogoku Station (EdoTokyo Hakubutsukan-mae) opens

January 28th: “Kawano Shoten (Oil-paper Umbrella Wholesale Store)”
opens to the public (the 27th building)

2001■ June 22nd: “Original Glass Plates of the Photographs of the Former

Edo Castle (29 Sheets)” are designated as National Important
Cultural Properties■ December 21st: Distribution of the e-mail magazine “Edo-Tokyo
Museum News Letter” begins (published on the third Friday of eachmonth)■

January 17th – 19th: Cooperation project with schools “Experience■

March 1st: Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum website

Life in Olden Times” begins
launched■

April 1st: Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Tomo no Kai(Friends of the Museum) is established2002■ March 29th: Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum rules andregulations are amended (opening hours and admission fee
for the permanent exhibition are amended from April 1st 2002)

2003 [10 anniversary]th■ January: The 400 th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Edo Period■

April 18th: Reaches 2 million visitors

Event begins■ March: The 10 th Anniversary Event begins. The official character ofthe Edo-Tokyo Museum, “Gibo-chan”, is announced■

November 22nd: East Zone Lawn opens

2004■ June 8th: The 257 stereo glass plate negative photographs

pertaining to the Jinshin Survey are designated as National
Important Cultural Properties

2005■ April 1st: Library collection search (OPAC) opens to the public on theInternet

2006■ April 1: Edo-Tokyo History Foundation continues
management of Edo-Tokyo Museum and others as thedesignated operator
st

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3 0 Ye a r s o f H i s t o r y i n T i m e l i n e|■

October 21st: Reaches 3 million visitors

2007■ March 15th: The museum library, the Tokyo Metropolitan Library, theTokyo Metropolitan University Library Information Center, the Tokyo
Metropolitan Assembly Library, and the Special Tokyo 23 Wards
Self-Government Information Exchange Center install the Internetbased “Tokyo Reference Research” system in their facilities

2008 [15 anniversary]th■ March: The 15th Anniversary of the Edo-Tokyo Museum Event is held■

March: The 15th Anniversary of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural
Museum Event is held2009
■ April 1st: A foundation group consisting of the Tokyo Metropolitan

Foundation for History and Culture, Kajima Tatemono Sogo Kanri
Co.,Ltd., and Asahi Breweries, LTD. take over management of themuseum (until March 2017)2010■ April 1

st: In accordance with the amendment of the public
service corporation system, the museum is incorporated
under the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History andCulture■December 11th: Reaches 4 million visitors

2011■ March 11th – Temporarily closed due to the Great East Japan■

Earthquake■ April 29 th: Special exhibition, restaurant, and shop reopen■ May 1st: Whole facility reopens■

March 12th, 13th and 15th: Closed as a result of the Great East Japan
Earthquake (March 14th is a regular closed day)March 19th – April 28th: Opening hours shortened by 30 minutes tosave electricity due to the Great East Japan Earthquake (closing
time: 17:00)■

September 3rd – 4th: “Mantoku Inn” and “Yamatoya Store (Grocery
Store)” open to the public (the 28th and 29th buildings)

2012■ June 14th: Japanese Liaison Council of History and Folk Museums

kick-off meeting is held
■ The lighting in the permanent exhibition room is changed to LED

2013 [ 20 anniversary]th■ March 23 rd – 29 th: The 20 th Anniversary of the Edo-Tokyo Museum■

March 28th: The 20th Anniversary of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air■

April 20th: “House of Georg de Lalande” opens to the public (the 30th

Event is held

Architectural Museum Event is held
building)

2014■■ December 1st – March 27th 2015: Permanent exhibition room are

November 23rd: Reaches 5 million visitors, and a commemorative
event is heldclosed for renovation■ March 9 th – March 27th 2015: Whole facility is closed for renovation

2015■■ March 28th: Renovated permanent exhibition room opens

March 16th: “House of Kunio Mayekawa” is designated as a Tokyo
Metropolitan Tangible Cultural Property (Architecture)■

April 8th: “Farmhouse of the Yoshino Family”, “Farmhouse of theTenmyo Family”, and “Elevated Granary from Amami-Oshima Island”
are designated as Koganei City Tangible Cultural Properties

2016■ July 1st: Fujimori Terunobu is appointed as the fourth
director, and Takeuchi Makoto becomes honorary director|

3 0 Ye a r s o f H i s t o r y i n T i m e l i n e

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2017

2017
■ April 1st: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History andCulture continues management of the Edo-Tokyo Museum
and five other institutions (until March 2021)■

March: 360-degree Panoramic View opens■

March 27th: Visitor Center introductory exhibition renewal■ October 1st: Entire facility is closed for renovation of the hall andother areas (until March 31st 2018)2018■ April 1st: Reopens (permanent exhibition room and library)■ April 12 th: Permanent exhibition room 360-degree panoramic view

opens
■ October 31st: “Scroll Tray with Motif of Japanese Bittersweet andWhite-eyes in Maki-e lacquer (Hara Youyusai, Sakai Hōitsu)” isdesignated as a National Important Cultural Property

2019■■ March 26 th: Digital archive renewal■ April 27thMarch 7th: “House of Koide” and “Residence of Hachirouemon
Mitsui” are designated as Tokyo Metropolitan Tangible Cultural: Special exhibition room reopens

Properties (Architecture)■ August 1st: Renovated first floor hall reopens

2020■■ February 29 th – May 31st: Temporarily closed due to measures to

February 29th – May 31st: Temporarily closed due to measures to curb
the COVID-19 pandemic containment measures (until June 1st)

curb the COVID-19 pandemic containment measures■ Due to the temporary closure, special exhibition opening periods
are changed■ June 2nd: Reopens■

Due to the temporary closure, special exhibitions, sceneryreconstruction, and events are cancelled■

June 2nd: Reopens■

July: Educational content “eraberu manaberu edomaru hiroba” open

2021
■ April 1st: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History andCulture continues management of the Edo-Tokyo Museum(until March 2027)■

January 2nd – : Temporarily closed due to measures to curb
the COVID-19 pandemic containment measures (until May 1st)■

Due to the temporary closure, special exhibitions, sceneryreconstruction, and events are cancelled■ April 25th – May 31st: Temporarily closed due to measures to curb t■

he COVID-19 pandemic containment measures (until May 31st)■ Due to the temporary closure, special exhibition opening periods
are changed (see p.9 for details)■ June 1st: Reopens (with introduction of date-specific advancereservation system)

June 1st: Reopens (with introduction of date-specific advancereservation system)2022■ April 1st – : Closed for major renovation■

January 11th – : Temporarily closed due to measures to curb
the COVID-19 pandemic (until March 21st)■ April: smartphone app Hyper Edohaku Edo Ryogoku Edition

released■

March 22nd: Reopens■

August 6th – 7th Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum’s [Special
Evening Opening ] Downtown Summer Evening is held after a threeyear postponement

2023 [30 anniversary]th■ March 28th – : The 30 th Anniversary of the Edo-Tokyo Museum■

March 28th: The 30th Anniversary of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air
Architectural Museum

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3 0 Ye a r s o f H i s t o r y i n T i m e l i n e|

Edo-Tokyo Museum

Main Projects

Permanent
Exhibition

With the advantage of its huge 9,000m2 space, the museum features many life-sized models
reconstructed based on comprehensive research and study, as well as small-scale models thatvisualize how life was at the time, real materials, and hands-on exhibitions.
It exhibits around 2,000 items at all times, while rotating the displays twice a month in renewal
exhibitions in order to protect the cultural properties.
It was renovated in 2015 to create a new section, “From Edo to Tokyo”, and several new models
including “Honmaru“Honmaru and Ninomaru Palaces in Edo Castle in the Last Year of the Tokugawa
Shogunate”, contributing to the unique quality of the museum, where you can enjoy learning about
the city and culture of Edo and Tokyo, and the lives of the people who lived there.

10|

Main Projects||

Edo Zone
E1

Edo Castle and the District Zones

Tokugawa Ieyasu was forced to relocate his domain to the Kanto
region in 1590, establishing his base in Edo. Inheriting the prosperityof the area, which had been accumulating since the building of Edo
Castle by Ōta D ōukan, he began to cultivate it as a castle town. Later,when he was appointed Seii Taishogun (Great General), Edo Castle
was further developed and the town saw more immigration of daimyolords, hatamoto retainers of the government, and gokenin vassals,
along with their families and servants. The town was planned to haveareas for shrines and temples, and others for residents to form acapital city suitable for the bakufu (shogunate government).
“Edo Castle and the District Zone” section tells the story of thecity’s origins, focusing on the building of Edo as the starting point forTokyo, with details about the shogunate system and its diplomatic
relations. In addition, furniture belonging to Tensh ōin, the principal
wife of Tokugawa Iesada, and Kazunomiya, the principal wife of
Tokugawa Iemochi, are displayed, along with a variety of magnificent
furniture belonging to the Tokugawa family and other lords.

Nihonbashi Bridge (Model)

Honmaru and Ninonmaru Palaces in Edo Castle in theLast Years of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Model)

Restoration time period: Early 19 th century Scale: 1/1

Restoration time period: Late Edo period Scale: 1/200

Nihonbashi Bridge was built in 1603, after the shogunate government
had relocated to Edo. Located in the castle town, it became the locus
of many roadways, and informs us about the prosperity of the city.
In the museum space, the 26 meter northern half of the bridge has
been reconstructed, to the height and width of the original, becoming
a symbol of the museum.

Of the honmaru (main building), ninomaru (outer citadel), and sannomaru(outermost area) that make up the central castle, the honmaru andninomaru were created as models. Restoration time period for thesemodels is the late edo period. At that time, the castle keep had been
destroyed by fire, but the museum included a model of it without coloring
to give visitors an idea of the height of the castle.

Hands-on Exhibit
Edo Castle pictures on the partitions in the Matsunorōka

Warrior Culture

Gaining recognition from the Ako incident (the forty-seven r ōnin) wasa corridor leading from the large hall where the daimyo were granted
an audience with the Shogun to Hakushoin Library. Pine trees werepainted on the partitions in the corridor by Kano school artists.
To enable visitors to experience the corridor, a section of the partition
painting “Preliminary Sliding-door Paintings for the Edo Castle Honmaru”(Tokyo National Museum) is enlarged and exhibited.

When discussing the samurai class in the Edo period, armor such as
suits and swords, gorgeous palanquins, and wedding furnishings are
essential.
In this “Warrior Culture” section, the furniture of the Shogun’sfamily, and that of other lords’ families acquired by the museum aredisplayed on a regular rotation.

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Main Projects

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E2

Life of the Townspeople

E4

In the Edo period, many commoners lived in apartments called
nagaya (lit., “long house”), where people of different occupations
helped each other in everyday life.
On display are life-sized models of Munewari nagaya (A split row
house), and also references of how communities functioned, theirfacilities, food, clothing, and shelter, and some of the disasters anddiseases that afflicted Edo at the time, illustrating how common
people lived in the city.

Munewari nagaya (A split row house) (Model)
Restoration time period: Late Edo period Scale: 1/1

A nagaya apartment is a building of one story that was partitioned into
several houses. Among these, munewari nagaya were buildings where
spaces were partitioned into separate rooms at the front and back. In
the cramped spaces that made up about twenty percent of Edo town,
many residents lived in rented accommodation like this.

E3

Publication and Information

Based on the shop “Kansen-d ō” run by Izumiya Ichibei, as describedin “T ō kaid ō Meisho Zue” (Pictures of T ō kaid ō Famous Sites),
published in 1797. The shop produced illustrated storybooks known
for having yellow covers, and nishiki-e along with maps and school
textbooks. The model includes ukiyo-e of sumo wrestlers and actors,
who were popular stars of the time.

Main Projects|

Permanent Exhibition

Restoration time period: Early 19 th century Scale: 1/1

The store front of Mitsui Echigo-ya, a representative clothing shopof the Edo period, is reconstructed here. Before them, businessmen
visited clients to provide items, and received fees from them withadded interest later. However, Mitsui Echigo-ya invited the method ofselling products at their store front for cash, without interest: “cashonly, price as advertised”.

Villages and Islands Linked with Edo

Growing into a major consumer capital, the population of Edo increased
dramatically through immigration from other regions of Japan for work,and the area of the city expanded. Not only goods from Kamigata (inwest Japan), but also produce from the neighboring farming areas andthe seven islands of Izu were commonly brought in.
In this section, through Shishuku, the first accommodation town of“the five highways” that were the gateways for distribution and rivertransit in the Kanto region, connections between Edo and Kanto are
introduced with reference to maps and pictures.

Excavated from the Shiodome Ruins

Restoration time period: late Edo period Scale: 1/1|

Mitsui Echigo-ya dry-goods store (Model)

Jōsuimasu (Supply Water Measure) / Kidoi (Wooden
Flume) / Tsugite (Joint) / Jōsui Ido (Supply Water Well)

Bookshop of light fiction (Model)

12

In the Edo period, changes to lifestyle were mirrored by economictransitions. A huge center of commerce, Edo was supplied with goods
transported by boat from Kamigata, an area in the west with Osaka at
its center. In addition, Mitsui-Echigoya introduced new sales methods,
such as “shop front purchase” and “cash only, price as advertised”.
This area shows how goods were transported into Edo and how they
were bought and sold, along with the money and business practicesof the time.

E5

In the Edo period, the publication of printed matter was common,and it was the means by which people obtained news about incidents
and disasters. This led to the publication of various printed mattersuch as kusazōshi picture books and nishiki-e painting: blossoms of
the unique publication culture of Edo.
In this section, the process of book and painting production
through to sale is introduced with an exhibition of various publisheditems.

Commerce of Edo|

Tamagawa Aqueduct, taking water from Hanemura midway down
the Tama river, cutting 43 kilometers across Musashino, and finallyspreading like a grid through underground water paths from YotsuyaŌkido, supplied water to people throughout the city of Edo. From
Tamagawa Aqueduct, the water was channeled for drinking water andfor irrigation water to be used in the villages of the Tama area, and forhelping the establishment of new rice paddies.

E6

Edo’s Four Seasons and Its Entertainment Districts

The people of Edo loved spending time visiting the sites of eachseason, and enjoying seasonal events such as festivals and fairs. In
particular, entertainment districts were busy with people enjoying
attractions like theater plays and shows, and eating out. It was a spaceof freedom, liberating them temporarily from the drudgery of mundane
life. After roadways and post towns were established, travel of common
people heading on pilgrimages and pleasure trips became popular.
This section introduces the cultural activities of the people of Edo.

E7

Area to the west of Ryōgokubashi Bridge (Model)
Restoration time period: Late Edo period Scale: 1/30

A scene at Area to the west of Ryōgokubashi Bridge, a prominent
entertainment district, is presented with approximately 1,500 dolls.
It shows the lively atmosphere of the time, featuring places like a
show-house, a resting tea house, street vendors, and houseboats,
based on remaining nishiki-e paintings.

Cultural City Edo

Samurai, townspeople and cultured people from other regions
gathered in the city of Edo, and various cultural activities emerged
from their communication. Fur thermore, despite the policy ofnational isolation, people were connected to the wider world throughHolland, China and Korea, and cultural exchanges continued. Thissection introduces the growing cultural activities of Edo and theacceptance of foreign culture.

Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries

Imported items, study, and technology intrigued people and wereappreciated in the country. Ceramics and lacquerware that werein high demand in Europe are on display to highlight international
communication.

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E8

Aesthetics of Edo

E 10 		 From Edo to Tokyo

As Edo matured as a city, a uniquely refined aesthetic – sometimes
referred to as “Edo-gonomi” – was formed, and people showed greatinterest in design of clothes and other fashion items, as well as
furniture. Here, with the theme of “Adornment and Decoration”, craft
artifacts are on display. Also, through “The World of Ukiyo-e”, you will
be guided from the birth of the art form through its development, its
famous artists, and paintings that travelled overseas.

Model of Hokusai’s studio (Model)

Illustrated chronology of the late Edo peiod

Restoration time period: around 1842 Scale: 1/5

This reconstruction shows the painting room at Hannoki Baba, Honjo
Kamezawa Ch ō, where Katsushika Hokusai lived with his daughter
Oei around 1842. It was created based on the painting “Image of
Hokusai’s Temporary Residence”, by Hokusai’s student Tsuyuki Iitsu(collection of the National Diet Library).

E9

In 1868, 15 years after Commodore Perry’s ships arrived in Uraga
and requested the opening of the nation, the 260-year Edo period
ended, and a war broke out between the new government and theformer shogunate. Katsu Kaishū, a shogunate vassal, insisted on thesurrender of Edo castle without bloodshed and achieved his goal.
With a focus on Katsu, who worked hard for the safe evacuation of
Edo castle, we introduce the end of the Edo period and the restoration
when Edo became Tokyo.

Theatres and Pleasure Quarters

Theaters such as kabuki was the most popular form of entertainment
for all people of Edo, regardless of their class. In this section, thecharacteristics of Edo kabuki are explained, with displays of theater
playhouses and the actors who were admired by the people. It
also touches upon the development of Yoshiwara, the governmentauthorized red light district, which served as a social club and as abase for courtesans.

Visitors can follow the political incidents that occurred at the endof the shogunate rule and in the Meiji restoration on the touch
panel, along with various news and events that shed a light on thesocial situation of the time. They are explained with rich sources ofreferential images from the museum’s collection, such as nishiki-eand kawaraban magazines.

Edo-haku Yose
(Edo performers’ Theater)

The Skeroku Stage (Model)
Restoration time period: Late 18 th century Scale: 1/1

The well-known Edo Kabuki play “Sukeroku” is displayed on a stage
common in the late Edo period, in a fictional setting. Much of the
tradition of kabuki continues to this day in the form of clothing andlarge and small props. The same props that are used today weremade and exhibited on this stage.

kapporeSince September 2005, an Edo-haku Yose show has been
held in front of the Nakamura-za Kabuki Theater on the 5th
floor in the permanent exhibition room. Various traditional
performances take place each season, including rakugo,
daikagura circus shows, kappore (comical dance), andmusical instrument demonstrations, as well as displaysof automaton, and kiyari (workman’s chants) and ladderclimbing by the Edo Firefighter Club.

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Tokyo Zone
T1

Tokyo in the Age of “Civilization and 		Enlightenment”

In Tokyo in the Meiji period, the new government committed to building
a capital suitable for the new era. Ginza Brick Street was designed as afire-resistant western-style city, and Rokumeikan became a symbol ofwesternization. We show how the city changed from its origin as Edo, thebirth of the capital Tokyo, and its development leading to today.

T2

Behind the Scenes of “Enlightenment”

While civilization and enlightenment progressed, the daily lives ofcommon people retained many customs of Edo. In schools, modern
education was not adopted immediately, but many private schools
developed from terakoya. Displayed here are block prints describing
the life of common people, alongside references regarding theestablishment of modern education, and school textbooks of the time.

Newspaper office, Chōya Shimbun-sha (Model)
Restoration time period: 1877–86 Scale: 1/1

In the Meiji period, Ginza Brick Street was home to many newspaper
publishers, making Ginza a center of journalism. Ch ōya Shimbun
occupied an office at the junction of Ginza 4-chome and was madepopular by president Narushima Ry ūhoku and editor-in-chief Suehiro
Tetch ō, and their sharp criticism of the new government.

Hands-on Exhibits
Wooden Dumbbells (replica)
Meiji Era

With the implementation of
the Educational System in
1872, physical education was
designated as a school subject
for the first time in Japan.
Wooden dumbbells became
popular in school gymnastics.
In this experiential attraction,
you can do exercises with awooden dumbbell, based on
the exercise dice game of the
new style elementary schools
from 1886.

Ginza “Bricktown” (Model)
Restoration time period: 1882 –86 Scale: 1/25

Ginza “Bricktown” was established and constructed by the new
government after a huge fire consumed the entire Ginza area inFebruary 1872. It was designed by Thomas James Waters. The model
depicts a horse carriage passing by on the road and people living in
the back streets.

T3

Tokyo and the Industrial Revolution

In the capital city Tokyo, the Meiji government’s policies of fukoku
ky ō hei (lit.,“for tifying the countr y; strengthening the militar y”)
and shokusan kōgy ō (lit.,“encouragement of new industry”) led togreat industrial growth. The National Industrial Exhibition held in
Ueno contributed to the development of private companies. While
heavy industries developed rapidly from the mid to late Meiji period,
society suffered various consequences, such as noise pollution andpoor labor conditions. Scenes of the growing industry of Tokyo are
introduced here.

City of Commerce and Industry

Under the new Meiji government’s slogan of shokusan k ō gy ō(lit.,“encouragement of new industry”), Tokyo was transitioning into
a city of commerce and industry. In this section, documents detailingthe process of paper manufacturing at Oji Paper, and nishiki-e
depicting the National Industrial Exhibition venue, among others,
show Tokyo’s industrial development.

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T4

Urban Culture and Recreation

T6

After the enlightenment, Tokyo became a place full of colorful culture
and entertainment. Following World War I, the economy grew, leading
to a new lifestyle featuring mass production and mass consumption.
The gaze of the population looked out to the world, and together
with developments in the information and entertainment industries,
media like newspapers and magazines expanded. Popular culture
is explored here through models with demonstrations and various
historical references.

“Ryōunkaku” tower (also known as the “Asakusa
Twelve stories”) (Model)
Restoration time period: 1890 Scale: 1/10

Ryōunkaku was a Twelve stories observation tower, which opened in1890 in Asakusa. It was a very popular symbol of the area until it wasdestroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. This model was createdbased on photographs and nishiki-e from the time. The lights inside areturned on every few minutes and a recording of jinta (citizen orchestra)
music, which was popular in the Taisho period, is played.

T5

The Great Kanto Earthquake

From the Taisho to early Showa periods, the lifestyle of the people
living in Tokyo changed dramatically. The so-called salaryman classexpanded, leading to the separation of housing and working places.
Railway lines towards suburban communities opened one after
another, with more people settling in homes away from the centerof Tokyo in the suburbs. Shibuya and Shinjuku, as terminal stations,developed into new downtown areas. To examine the transitionsof the city and lifestyles, this section offers insights from various
angles, including infrastructure, housing, work, and leisure time.

Re-Creation of “Entaku” (one-yen Taxi)		
[Ford A, Four-door Sedan]
Period: 1931 (Made by Ford Motor Company)

Entaku (One-yen taxis) operated in the city of Tokyo with a set fee of one
yen. In 1927, when Entaku were popular, Tokyo had 15-wards structure
within the area enclosed by the Yamanote Line. However, in 1932 it
increased to 35 wards, encompassing the area of today’s 23 wards.
Due to the enlargement of the city area, the Entaku price was revised.

T7

Air Raids and the Citizens of Tokyo

Striking on September 1st 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake caused
widespread destruction, with fire spreading after the quake leaving
70,000 casualties in Tokyo. After the disaster, a comprehensive
recovery project for the whole Tokyo area took place, completelychanging the look of the streets.
A 24-kilometer discharge channel was also created for areas
along the Sumida river, which often flooded, completed in 1930. The
disasters that were crucial in shaping Tokyo as it is today are explored
here.

In December 1941, Japan entered the war opposing the UK, the US, andtheir allies. As the conflict dragged on, Japan was on the losing side,
resulting in a shortage of goods, poverty-stricken citizens, and the fearof air raids. Many schoolchildren left their parents and evacuated tocountryside. Countless people suffered from the damage caused by air
raids, and the majority of Tokyo was reduced to ash.
In this section, life during the war and references related to thebombing of Tokyo describe the devastation.

The Great Kanto Earthquake: Conditions of firewithin the city of Tokyo (Animation)

Restoration time period: 1944 Scale: 1/1

This animated movie shows how the fire spread after the earthquake.
It traces the progress of the fire chronologically from the earthquakeat 11:58am on September 1st 1923 to about 10:00am on September
3 rd. A severe fire tornado occurred at the Honjo Clothing Factory Site(now Yokoami Park in Sumida).

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A wartime house (Model)This is a model of a room in the kind of wooden house that was common
in downtown Tokyo: a window into the lifestyle of Tokyo residents
before the most severe air raids began. Paper was attached to windows
in order to prevent nearby explosions creating glass shrapnel. The
electric lights are covered with blinkers to prevent light from shining
outside.

T8

Tokyo Revived

After the war ended, Japan was occupied by the allies, with the GHQof the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Tokyo. Foreignsoldiers in the city lived in specially built residences, and many
existing buildings were also confiscated and used for allied facilities.
At the same time, Tokyo, which had been destroyed by fire, wassuffering severe shortages of housing and goods, resulting in black
market supply chains that supported life. How people survived andstayed strong in these chaotic circumstances is detailed here.

T 10 		 Tokyo Today

Tokyo is one of the most densely populated urban centers in theworld, but it is also a city full of variety, with towns of different
characters connected to one another. In this section, the new life andculture familiar to current residents are introduced in order to follow
the path of how today’s Tokyo changed and formed itself. “Facing
the Issues of an Urban City”, focusing on the negative side of higheconomic growth, and “Tokyo, Continuing to Change (1960-2010)”
capture the transitions of the city and examine Tokyo after the periodof rapid economic growth.

Shinjuku: Night View of the Black Market (Model)
Restoration time period: 1947, fall Scale: 1/10

Black markets were illegal markets that sprang up near train stations
where everything was burned out, offering various items that were in
short supply at the time, such as food and daily goods. This model
is a black market in Shinjuku, based on photographs and interview
research.

T9

Tokyo in Continuous Transition (1960-2010)

A comparison of each decade of Tokyo, from the 1960s to the 2010s.
The urban scenes, familiar things, and phenomena that were bornand disappeared in each period will give you a view of the transitions
between different moments.

Toyo during the Times of Rapid Economic 		
Development

Tokyo during the Times of Rapid Economic Development immediately
after the war, people experienced shortages of supplies and food, but
the domestic manufacturing industry recovered, and the nation entereda period of rapid economic development from around 1955. This wasa time of economic improvement when laborers’ wages increased andhome appliances, including the “three sacred treasures“ of monochrome
television, washing machines, and fridges, spread quickly. The lifestyleof the period is introduced in this section, along with the 1964 Tokyo
Olympics, a major event of the time.

Museum Laboratory

Hibarigaoka Housing Complex (Model)
Restoration time period: ca. 1962 Scale: 1/1 Resources supplied by
Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) East Japan Rental, Housing OfficeThis is a series of housing complexes constructed in 1959, in thearea spreading across the three towns of Tanashi-machi and Hoyacho of Kita-tama gun (both part of today’s Nishi Tokyo) and Kurumecho (today’s Higashi-Kurume). The doors with cylinder locks andthe individual bathrooms, which indicate the assurance of privacy,
became the definition of one’s “own home”.

This experience and feel section is situated at the end of
the viewing route. The laboratory space is divided into a
housing model that reconstructs the way of life around
1954, and another space that holds various events. In the
housing model, visitors can get a flavor of the way people
lived before electronic appliances were available.

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Special
Exhibitions

The museum holds various exhibitions that expand on the history and culture of
Edo--Tokyo with many different themes and urban comparisons in and out of the nation,
Edotrue to the purpose of a museum with urban history at its core.

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2014

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1

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2

3

×

Taneda Yohei Exhibition

Tokyo Olympics andthe “bullet train” Shinkansen

May 27 th – July 13 th 2014

July 27 th – September 15 th 2014

September 30 th – November 16 th 2014

Curation: Yukiyoshi Shoichi, Saito Shin-ichi

Curation: Wagatsuma Naomi, Okatsuka Akiko

Curation: Yukiyoshi Shoichi

Attendance: 75 ,272

Attendance: 74 ,388

Attendance: 47,480

Genius military strategist from the end of the Sengoku
period, Kuroda Kanbei, who served Oda Nobunaga,
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, wasintroduced with related historical references. This
special exhibition was held in conjunction with an
NHK historical drama.

Taneda Yohei, the ar t director of Yonebayashi
Hiromasa’s film “When Marnie was There”, explained
how he created “the world of Marnie”, in which theanimation pieces were expressed as though a realfilm set.

Together with references from the locomotive
industry that illustrate the history of the Shinkansen,
the exhibition looked back on the Olympics andParalympics held half a century before. It also traced
the changes of society, culture, and way of life in Tokyo
from the high economic growth period to the present.

2014 NHK Historical Drama Special
Exhibition

Gunshi Kanbei

When Marnie was There

2015

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4

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5

6

Explore! Experience!
Edo-Tokyo

Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of
Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa’s Death2015 NHK Historical Drama Special
Exhibition“THE GREAT BATTLE OF
SEKIGAHARA”“Hana moyu”

December 2 nd 2014 – March 8 th 2015

March 28 th – May 17 th 2015

June 4 th – July 20 th 2015

Curation: Wagatsuma Naomi, Collection
Management Section.

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi

Curation: Yukiyoshi Shoichi, Tahara Noboru

Attendance: 133 ,715
With the closure of the permanent exhibition room,models and other references were relocated to theexhibition space on the first floor to rearticulate thehistory and culture of Edo Tokyo with the museum’s
own collection.

Attendance: 222 ,953

Attendance: 49 ,961

This exhibition looked back comprehensively on thebattle of Sekigahara through arms and painting, withhistorical documents that detail the exact exchanges
voiced at the battle.

Artifacts related to Sugi Fumi (later known as Katori
Miwako) and Yoshida Sh ō in were shown together
with historical references from the period, exploring
the time of the Choshu Domain, and the people who
lived from the end of the Edo period through the
Meiji Restoration. This special exhibition was held inconjunction with an NHK historucal drama.

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7

8

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9

The Exhibition of

From Ukiyo-e to Photography:

LEONARDO DA VINCITOKUGAWA’S CASTLES

Cultural Awakening in Japan’s Visual Field— BEYOND THE VISIBLE

August 4 th – September 27 th 2015

October 10 th – December 6 th 2015

January 16 th – April 10 th 2016

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi

Curation: Okatsuka Akiko, Wagatsuma Naomi

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi

Attendance: 114 ,388

Attendance: 40 ,585

Attendance: 270 ,012

This exhibition displayed precious items such as
folding screens, picture maps, and craft pieces. In
addition, the charms of the castles of Tokugawa,built by Ieyasu and other shoguns, were introduced
utilizing movie footage and models created with thelatest modern technology.

Introducing the colorful expressions created from theend of the Edo period into the Meiji, through paintings
like ukiyo-e and the photography that arrived at theend of the Edo period, this exhibition revealed one
side of the modernization of Japanese culture.

Leonardo Da Vinci’s attempts to approach the truthof the world through the observation of nature were
explored through the painting “Madonna of the
Yarnwinder”, exhibited in Japan for the first time,
his handwritten “Codex on the Flight of Birds”, andother works.

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2016

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10

11

12

Yokai in the Arts of Japan

Come Back!
Siebold’s Japan Museum

April 29 th – June 19 th 2016

July 5 th – August 28 th 2016

September 13 th – November 6 th 2016

Curation: Tahara Noboru

Curation: Wagatsuma Naomi

Attendance: 111,775

Attendance: 217,674

Curation: Kobayashi Junichi, Tahara Noboru,
Kubota Naoko, Okatsuka Akiko

At the battle of Osaka, the brave general Sanada
Nobushige (Yukimura) built a small fortification
attached to the south east side of Osaka Castle, known
as “Sanada Maru”, and held it well. Through items
and historical references related to Nobushige, hishumanity and the time in which he lived were detailed.
This special exhibition was held in conjunction with an
NHK historical drama.

This exhibition about yokai (Japan’s strange
apparitions), which have been familiar in Japan since
the far past, investigated them through first-classartwork, from Jomon period clay dolls, jigoku-epaintings from the Heian and Kamakura periods,
picture scrolls from the middle ages, and ukiyo-eof Edo, through to today’s “Yo-kai Watch”, withsome National Treasures and Important Cultural
Properties on display.

2016 NHK Historical Drama
Special Exhibition

From Eary to Endearing:“Sanada Maru”

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Attendance: 46 ,100
A reconstruction of the Japan Museum that
Siebold proposed was attempted, with about 300
pieces carefully selected from the Museum of Five
Continents in Munich, Germany. The exhibition
introduced the way in which Siebold examined theculture and society of Japan, with a retrospectiveof the exchanges between the different cultures ofJapan and Europe in the 19th century.

2017

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13

The Exhibition of
the Sengoku Period

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14

15

Edo and Beijing— Cities and Urban Life in the 18th Century

150th Year Commemorative
Special Exhibition

November 23 rd 2016 – January 29 th 2017

February 18 th – April 9 th 2017

April 29 th – June 18 th 2017

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi

Curation: Eriguchi Yuko, Kutsusawa Hiroyuki,
Kubota Naoko, Hu Yanhong

Curation: Tahara Noboru, Kosakai Daigo— A Century of Dreams

Attendance: 140 ,134
Historical references and artworks created in various
places across the Japanese islands during the
Sengoku period were gathered to examine a time that
saw the spread of diversity. The dynamic and active
lives of the people were also explored. This exhibition
provided a new image of the Sengoku period.

Attendance: 43 ,929
Centering on the 18 th century, a time in which Edo
achieved great development as a city, the history,
life, and culture of Edo and Beijing were comparedin this exhibition. This was one of the international
exchange exhibitions based on the communicationof the Japan, China, and Korea Museum Symposium,and co-research between our museum and the Capital
Museum in Beijing, China.

Sakamoto Ryōma:Japan’s Favorite Hero

Attendance: 116 ,017
An exhibition about Sakamoto Ryō ma, featuring
the hand-written letter that elucidated his own free
approach to life with love for his family at its core,
along with items and related references, including his
favorite sword “Yoshiyuki”. The end of the Edo period
was examined through the actions of Ryōma.

2019

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17

18

A Journey of Shogun and Princesses

The History of Sport in Japan
From the Edo Period to
the Tokyo Olympics

July 4 th – August 6 th 2017

April 27 th – June 16 th 2019

July 6 th – August 25 th 2019

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Sugiyama Satoshi

Curation: Sugiyama Satoshi

Attendance: 55 ,635

Attendance: 54 ,385

Curation: Kutsusawa Hiroyuki, Yoshida Naoko,
Kosakai Daigo, Sugiyama Satoshi

During the Sengoku period, the female warlord Ii
Naotora inherited her family under a male name:this exhibition described her dramatic life story.
In addition, it also used related art pieces andhistorical documents to explore the progress ofthe Hikone Ii family through Ii Naomasa, who was
educated by Naotora and later became a vassal of
Tokugawa Ieyasu. This special exhibition was held inconjunction with an NHK historical drama.

Through references related to the Shoguns’ visits
to Kyoto and pilgrimages to Nikko, and the journeys
of princesses to Edo, maps of routes from the Edo
period were traced. The histories of roadways thatremain to this day were also explored in relation
to the silk chest cover of Atsuhime and nishiki-e
describing Tokugawa Iemochi’s visit to Kyoto.

2017 NHK Historical Drama “Naotora:
The Lady warload”“Sengoku! From Ii Naotora to
Naomasa” Special Exhibition

Traveling on the Edo Highways:|

Attendance: 49 ,626
This exhibition featured various items related to the
traditional sports of the country, such as kemari(kicking ball), sumo, and daky ū (a game like polo),among other items and tools, as well as sporting
equipment and medals belonging to the Japanesespor tspeople who par ticipated in the modern
Olympics, revealing the history of sports and the
Olympics in Japan.

Special Exhibitions|

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20

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Samurai

Five Ukiyo-e Favorites

The Tradition of Edo Creativity—Peacekeeping Contributors in Edo Period

UTAMARO, SHARAKU, HOKUSAI,HIROSHIGE, and KUNIYOSHI— THE SKILL AND SOUL OF CRAFTSMEN

September 14 th – November 4 th 2019

November 19 th 2019 – January 19 th 2020

Curation: Tahara Noboru,
Kosakai Daigo, Okatsuka Akiko

Curation: Koyama Shuko, Kosakai Daigo

February 8 th – April 5 th 2020
Changed to February 8 th – 28 th 2020

Attendance: 48 ,363

Focusing on Kitagawa Utamaro, Tōshūsai Sharaku,
Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, andUtagawa Kuniyoshi – all of ukiyo-e artists – thisexhibition introduced various outstanding pieces,not only from domestic museums, but also frommuseums, galleries, and private collections in
Europe, from the specific genres that the five are
famed for.

Edo was one of the largest cities in the world – how
did the samurai live there? This exhibition described
the unchanged lifestyle of samurai that the peopleof Edo were familiar with, featuring living goods thatwere passed down within families.

Attendance: 129 ,768

GIVE BIRTH TO JAPANESE BEAUTYCuration: Ochiai Noriko,
Tanaka Yuji, Sugiyama Satoshi
Attendance: 11,077
This exhibition traced back the craftsmanship thatthe nation is renowned for, with a focus on fivecharacteristic craftsmen of Edo Tokyo, utilizing themuseum’s collection and the Japan collection ofConte di Bardi (Enrico Carlo Luigi Giorgio di BorboneParma), who traveled to Japan in the early Meiji period(Museum of Oriental Art in Venice).

2020

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22

23

Gifts from the Citizens 2019

The Pioneers○
24

ANCIENT EGYPT— MASTERS OF EDO PAINTING— A Selection of New Acquisitions from 2018

April 25 th – June 21 st 2020
Changed to June 2 nd – 21 st 2020

March 10 th – May 10 th 2020
Changed to August 4 th – September 27th 2020

January 2 nd – April 4 th 2021
Changed to November 21 st 2020 – April 4 th 2021

Curation: Eriguchi Yuko, Yukawa Setsuko, Tahara Noboru

Curation: Collection Management Section, Kosakai Daigo

Curation: Sugiyama Satoshi, Iwasaki Akane

Attendance: 13 ,046

Attendance: 20 ,265

Attendance: 144 ,267

Painters such as It ō Jakuch ū , Soga Sh ō haku,
Nagasawa Rosetsu, and Utagawa Kuniyoshi, whose
strong characters come through in their work, andthose who have been recognized as the “mainstream”
of conventional Edo painting history, such as Tawaraya
S ō tatsu, Ogata Kō rin, and Maruyama Ō kyo, areincluded in the “Genius 35” painters with selected
works on display in this exhibition.

This exhibition displayed items that the museum
purchased or accepted as donations in 2020.
Included were a rare portrait of the second shogun
Tokugawa Hidetada; nishiki-e of one of the three
beauties of Edo, Kasamori Osen, by Harunobu;
and written documents related to one of three wellknown shogunate retainers, Takahashi Deishu. It
also introduced some of the museum’s collection
under the theme of “Blue”, a color that represented
the appreciation of medical staff’s work during theCovid-19 pandemic at that time.

About 130 incredible pieces from the Egypt Collectionof The Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Berlin State
Museums) were introduced with the theme of “themyth of the creation of the world”. The mysterious
world of the Gods of Ancient Egypt was revealed
through precious excavated items and animations.

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Edo-Tokyo Seen through “Blue”

Special Exhibitions|— THE CREATION OF THE WORLD

2021

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27

The Mount Fuji Challenges:

Splendors of Edo:

Jomon 2021

Hokusai and Hiroshige

Rites of the Samurai, Festivals of the
Merchants— Jomon people who lived in Tokyo

April 24 th – June 20 th 2021
Changed to April 24 th, June 1 st – 20 th 2021

July 11 th – September 22 nd 2020
Changed to July 10 th – September 20 th 2021

October 10 th – December 6 th 2020
Changed to October 9 th – December 5 th 2021

Curation: Koyama Shuko, Iwasaki Akane

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Kosakai Daigo,
Kawaguchi Tomoko

Curation: Tahara Noboru, Iwasaki Akane

Attendance: 14 ,816
Precious ukiyo-e wood block prints and printed books
produced by Hokusai and Hiroshige, including a totalof 46 pieces from the series “Thirty-six Views of MountFuji” were exhibited, with an explanation of the tirelesschallenges faced by the two giants of ukiyo-e, as seenin their masterpieces.

Attendance: 14 ,219
This exhibition focused on the events and scenesof Here (special occasions), such as ceremonies,
festivals, and weddings, for the samurai class andfamilies of businessmen. It revealed the cheerful sideof the city of Edo, with excellent pieces and previously
unseen items from the museum’s collection.

Attendance 39 ,033
With the special cooperation of the Tokyo Buried
Cultural Properties Center and other organizations,this exhibition gave a raw and vivid impression of thelife of people in the Jomon period (between 14,000
and 300 BC), with the theme of “The Jomon in Tokyo”.

*Exhibitions 21–27 had their display periods changed due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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23Feature
Exhibitions

Small-scale exhibitions under various themes, held in the permanent exhibition roomand primarily featuring items from the museum’s collection, draw attention to ourpermanent exhibitions and attract more visitors.
From April 2004, the museum hosted 102 special exhibitions.
This book details the feature exhibitions held between April 2014 and March 2022.

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Feature Exhibitions

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2014

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1

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2

3

Painting and Calligraphy by
the Tokugawa Shoguns

Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2014

April 26 th – June 8 th 2014

July 26 th – September 15 th 2014

A Memory of the Modern City ofGinza:

50 Years of Photography by Morooka Kōji

October 7 th – November 30 th 2014

Curation: Tahara Noboru

Curation: Abe Yukihiro, Mashimo Yoshiyuki

Curation: Kutsusawa Hiroyuki

Displaying calligraphy and paintings by each Shogun
from the Tokugawa Memorial Foundation’s collection,
this exhibition showed their personalities and theirstyles of governance. The hand-painted pieces given
to the daimyō and hatamoto are traced back, revealing
the role of painting in samurai society.

On display were finds from excavation researchat major sites, such as the clay doll discovered at
the Kazahari-1 site (a National Treasure), and other
Important Cultural Properties such as pottery fromthe D ō kunmae site. The local exhibition “Jomon
People who Lived in Shinjuku – an Excavation of Ichigaya
Kagacho 2-chome Site” was held concurrently.

2014 marked the 100th anniversary of photographer
Morooka Kōji’s birth. This exhibition introduced thephotographs of Ginza he had continued to capturefor over 50 years from 1930. The history of Ginza andthe people who gathered there was also examined.

2015

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4

Commemorating Renewal:

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5

6

Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2015

Look and Compare in
the Edo Period

March 28 th – May 10 th 2015

May 30 th – July 20 th 2015

August 11 th – September 27 th 2015

Curation: Eriguchi Yuko

Curation: Kosakai Daigo, Mashimo Yoshiyuki

Curation: Mashimo Yoshiyuki, Nagaya Sakura

A total of 120 pieces (including some by Hiroshige II
and an index) from the series of paintings of famoussites, “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo”, which isrecognized as the pinnacle of the work of Utagawa
Hiroshige, were exhibited across two periods.

Pieces excavated from 19 sites were on display, from
Paleolithic era ruins to modern remains. Excavation
research was introduced along with the recovery
project of the Great Tohoku Earthquake. The local
exhibition “Shiodome Site Shimbashi Stop”, focusing
on Old Shimbashi Station, a gateway to Tokyo, washeld concurrently.

Items such as books and paintings, kawaraban
magazines, and rankings issued in the city of Edo
revealed the kinds of information Edoites had access
to, and what they were interested in.

Special Exhibition Hiroshige’s
One Hundred Famous Views of Edo|

Feature Exhibitions|

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Gifts from the Citizens 2015
— A Selection of New Acquisitions
from 2013 and 2014

Tenshōin’s Personal Chest:
A Connection to History○
9

The Birth of the Modern
Department Store:
Mitsukoshi Gofuku Store

October 20 th – December 6 th 2015

January 2 nd – February 21 st 2016

March 19 th – May 15 th 2016

Curation: Collection Management Section

Curation: Kosakai Daigo, Mashimo Yoshiyuki

Curation: Tanaka Yuji

This was an opportunity to exhibit referential items
that had been acquired by the museum in thepreceding years. In 2013, about 1,800 pieces wereadded to the collection, followed by about 6,500 in
2014. Carefully selected items were displayed in thisexhibition.

This exhibition introduced various items related
to the Tokugawa family from the collection of theTokugawa Memorial Foundation. Artifacts from amaki-e chest with a nashiji base featuring a patternof butterflies on peony and a long-tailed cockerel,
which belonged to Tenshōin, wife of the 13th Shogun,
Iesada, were on display.

The establishment of the modern department
store in Japan was explored with the exampleof Mitsukoshi Gofuku Store, through nishiki-e,
postcards, photographs, and posters from themuseum’s collection.

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2016

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10

11

12

Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2016

Tesshu Yamaoka and Bloodless
Surrender of the Edo Castle

Drawings of Phantoms
by Seiu Ito

June 4 th – July 24 th 2016

August 11 th – September 25 th 2016

August 11 th – September 25 th 2016

Curation: Kosakai Daigo, Sugiyama Satoshi

Curation: Kosakai Daigo

Curation: Kobayashi Manae

On display were items from the Rokutanda-minami
site, such as Jomon pottery, selected out of all the
excavation sites across the nation varying from
Paleolithic era ruins to modern remains.
The local exhibition “Excavated Edo: From the
Hitotsubashi High School Site was held concurrently.

Yamaoka Tesshū was instrumental in the surrender of
Edo Castle without bloodshed. With the cooperationof Zenshō -an, a temple connected to Tesshū, thisexhibition followed in his footsteps, looking back on
the surrender, an iconic moment at the end of the Meiji
Restoration.

Exemplified by the painting of a ghost by Itō Seiu
(Yanagiya Kosan V Collection of Zensh ō -an), thisexhibition introduced Edo genre painting withdetailed historical information. A special section,“Ghosts are Beautiful: The Eye of Suzuki Toshio at
Studio Ghibli”, was included.

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Feature Exhibitions

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13

Gifts from the Citizens 2016

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14

15

Weddings of
the Tokugawa FamilyChildren in Wartime— A Selection of New Acquisitions from 2015

October 15 th – December 4 th 2016

January 2 nd – February 19 th 2017

March 7 th – May 7 th 2017

Curation: Collection Management Section.

Curation: Kosakai Daigo, Sugiyama Satoshi

Curation: Matsui Kaoru, Kawaguchi Tomoko

This was an opportunity to exhibit referential items
that had been acquired by the museum in thepreceding years. In 2015, about 5,500 pieces wereadded to the collection, including some sketchesof burned-out sites in Tokyo after the air raids, andreferences to the Yose Theater. Carefully selected
items were displayed in this exhibition.

A picture scroll depicting a scene of a wedding parade
belonging to the Tokugawa Memorial Foundation wasdisplayed in this exhibition, alongside wedding items
belonging to the principal wife of the 13 th Shogun,
Atsuhime (Tenshō -in), and the principal wife of the
14th Shogun, Kazunomiya (seikan-in). The exhibition
revealed what weddings meant to the Tokugawa
family.

Life in the war was presented in this exhibition
through stories of children of the time and related
items, encouraging thoughts of peace.

2017

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16

2018

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○

17

18

Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2017

An Invitation to
the House of Tokugawa

NHK Special related exhibition

June 3 rd – July 23 rd 2017

August 11 th – September 24 th 2017

April 1 st – May 13 th 2018

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Tsuda Hiroko

Curation: Eriguchi Yuko, Kobayashi Manae,
Kawaguchi Tomoko

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Kubota Naoko

This exhibition was a flash report from 17 sites,from Paleolithic era ruins to modern remains. It
included an exclusive look at an investigation
report from underwater sites. The local exhibition“Flash Report: Yotsuya 1-chome Site, Edo Tokyo
from the Perspective of Koji Production” was held
concurrently.

Oedo

From materials handed down from the head family of
Tokugawa that have been collected by the Tokugawa
Memorial Foundation, this exhibition examined
15 generations of Shoguns and the Tokugawa
shogunate family.

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A special exhibition in conjunction with the NHK
Special Series “Oedo” (total three episodes).
E x p l o r i n g h ow t h e s m a l l c a s t l e tow n “ Ed o”
developed into the political, economic, and cultural
capital “Oedo”, this exhibition introduces the historyof its prosperity.

Feature Exhibitions|

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19

20

Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2018

Tokyo 150 Years

June 2 nd – July 22 nd 2018

August 7 th – October 8 th 2018

○
21

Tama

— The Treasures of Ancient Japan —October 23 rd – December 9 th 2018

Curation: Matsui Kaoru, Tsuda Hiroko

Curation: Kutsusawa Hiroyuki, Haruki Shoko

Curation: Nishimura Naoko, Kawaguchi Tomoko

Excavated items from the Kanai Higashi-ura site,where a “person of the Kofun period with armor” who
had been involved in the early 6 th century volcanic
eruption of Mt. Haruna was found, were displayed.
The local exhibition “The Tokyo Folklore Museum
and Archaeology” was held concurrently.

Marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Tokyo,
this exhibition explored the origins of the city,and how it changed over 150 years. It featured
photographs, movie footage, and maps from eachperiod.

This exhibition was held in cooperation with the
Kodai Rekishibunka (Ancient History and Culture)
Conference, consisting of 14 prefectures that are
deeply linked to the history and culture of ancientJapan. Through tama jewels, this histor y andculture was illustrated as a crystallization of ancientaesthetics.

2019

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22

23

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24

Celebrating Spring:

Gifts from the Citizens 2018
— A selection of new acquisitions
from 2016 and 2017

Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2019

January 2 nd – March 3 rd 2019

March 19 th – May 6 th 2019

June 1 st – July 21 st 2019

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Haruki Shoko

Curation: Collection Management Section

Curation: Kawaguchi Tomoko, Saito Shin-ichi

This exhibition of items from the collection of theTokugawa Memorial Foundation focused on eventsand ceremonies of celebration in the Tokugawa
family. Hina dolls and related items belonging to
the wife of the 13 th Shogun, Atsuhime (Tensh ō in), and the wife of the 14 th Shogun, Kazunomiya(Seikaninnomiya) were on display.

Carefully selected pieces from more than 2,000
referential items newly acquired by the museum in2016 and 2017 were exhibited, such as materials
handed down in the Kameido Umeyashiki House,a large-scale hand-painted piece by Utagawa
Toyoharu, studies by maki-e artist Shibata Zeshin,other paintings, and tea utensils that had belonged to
Yamagishi Kaisui.

This exhibition was a flash report with 473 items
excavated from 12 sites, from Paleolithic era ruins
to modern remains. Special displays “Recovery of
Fukushima and Burial Culture” and “Memorial Item
Century” were held. The local exhibition “Minami
Musahi through the Eyes of Dokan” was held
concurrently.

Courtly Splendor of
the Tokugawa Shogunal Family

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Feature Exhibitions

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25

Tales of the Creatures:○27

1784, Ordinary days in Seoul

Animals and Daily Life in Edo-Tokyo

Tenka-Taihei— Pax Tokugawana and the Shoguns’ rolein the birth of a new culture

August 6 th – September 23 rd 2019

October 22 th – December 1 st 2019

Curation: Nishimura Naoko, Tsuda Hiroko

Curation: Park Mihee, Ichikawa Hiroaki, Kumagai
NorikoThe diverse relationships between the people of Edo
Tokyo and the animals around them were explained
through four exhibition sections: “Loved Creatures”,“Working Creatures”, “Popular Creatures”, and“Creature Design.” The materials were mostly fromthe museum’s collection.

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26

January 2 nd – February 16 th 2020

Living in 18th century Hanyang (today’s Seoul), anddying at the young age of 34, an ordinary citizen
called Yu Manju left a diary. This exhibition used theprecious document’s account of 1784 to introduce
everyday scenes from the life of the people of Seoulat the time.

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Kawaguchi Tomoko
Generations of Shoguns presided over a peacefulera of 260 years, and also contributed to cultural
creation. This exhibition showed calligraphic works
by these Shoguns and some paintings of the Kano
school, from the Tokugawa Memorial Foundationcollection.

2020

○
28

Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2020

June 6 th – August 10 th 2020
Changed to June 13 th – August 3 rd 2020
Curation: Nishimura Naoko, Haruki Shoko,
Kumagai Noriko
About 670 items from 51 sites were exhibited. The
local exhibition “Tokyo-fu Historic Sites” was held
concurrently. This introduced some of the historicalplaces in Tokyo-fu at the time when the “Historical
Spot, Scenic Beaut y and Natur al Monument
Preservation Law” was enacted, using references fromthe museum’s collection and donated materials.

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29

30

Splendors of Great Tokyo:

Princess Kazu Goes to Edo:

“Modern” Culture that Embellished the CityThe Objects She Held and the World She Saw

August 25 th – November 23 rd 2020

January 2 nd – February 23 rd 2021

Curation: Tsuda Hiroko, Nishimura Naoko

Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Kawaguchi Tomoko

The subject of this exhibition, explained through themuseum’s collection, was the time from the Meiji
period, when western culture was taken in, to aroundthe 1930s, when people began to enjoy modern
urban life. Items that gave color to peoples’ lives,
such as block prints, postcards, and photographs
were shown.

This exhibition displayed pieces that the principal
wife of the 14 th Shogun, Kazunomiya (seikan-in)
actually saw and touched from the Tokugawa
Memorial Foundation collection. Among the exhibits
were furniture that Kazunomiya used, silverware she
was presented by Emperor Komei, and a waka poemin her own handwriting.

*The exhibition period was changed due to the
Covid-19 pandemic.

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Feature Exhibitions|

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2021

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31

32

Gifts from the Citizens 2020
— A Selection of New Acquisitions from○
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Exhibition of Excavations in
the Japanese Archipelago 2021

Color Sumo Wood-Block Prints
and Edo Culture

June 5 th – July 4 th 2021

July 17 th – September 5 th 2021

2019

March 9 th – May 9 th 2021
Curation: Collection Management Section

Curation: Kumagai Noriko, Nishimura Naoko

Curation: Haruki Shoko

Carefully selected items newly acquired by themuseum in 2019 and 2020 were exhibited, such as“Scroll Painting Illustrating Ieyasu’s 30 th Memorial
Service at Momijiyama Toshogu Shrine” and “Musui’s
Story”, with a total of around 100 pieces.

This exhibition featured about 630 items from 42
sites. The local exhibition “Gold Foil Tiles of Edo”,
which reported finds from excavations in urban
development business projects related to the Tokyo
2020 Olympics, was held concurrently.

At the end of the 18th century, the popularity of sumo
and nishiki-e reached their zenith. This exhibition
captures the excitement of the entertainment alongwith the charm of sumo in Edo, with the nishiki-e thatfurthered the popularity of star wrestlers.

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34

35

Memories of the City:The Tokugawa Clansmen:

A Thirty Thousand Year History of Tokyo

The People Who Supported the Shogunal Family

September 18 th – December 5 th 2021

January 2 nd – March 6 th 2022
Period extended to January 2 nd – March 31 st 2022

Curation: Tsuda Hiroko, Hashimoto Yukiko
The 30,000-year journey of Tokyo, from the Paleolithic
period to today, was traced with the museum’s
collection. The latest information was also introduced,
such as finds from excavations at the Takanawa Chikutei
and the underground highway in Nihombashi.

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Curation: Saito Shin-ichi, Akima Takayo
This exhibition introduced the Tokugawa clansmen
who suppor ted the shogunal family, throughcalligraphy and painting pieces and craft items
belonging to the Tokugawa Memorial Foundation.
“Chronological History of the Life of Tokugawa
Ieyasu”, edited by Tokugawa Yoshinao of the Owari
Tokugawa family, and Atsuhime (Tenshō -in)’s hina
dolls were on display.

Feature Exhibitions|

Featured
特集展示
Exhibitions

From 2000 onwards, these were held in sections of the permanent
exhibitions. They established special themes that were not included in the
exhibition contents, based mainly on the museum’s collection.

○
1

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2

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○

4

3

5

2016

Katsushika Hokusai

6

November 22 nd – December 25 th 2016

* No leaflet was produced for this exhibition.
2017○ The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road July 25 – August 27 20172018

○ The Gaze of Sharaku

th

1

2

th

/ Utamaro in Love: Ukiyo-e Masterpices		 from the Museum Collection

April 1 st – May 6 th 2018

○ Tamagawa Waterworks and Its Basin August 28 – September 24 2018
th

3

2019

th

○ Featured Exhibition “FUROSHIKI TOKYO” July 23 – August 25 2019
○ Ukiyo-e Prints and Japanese Music around the Sumida River 		
rd

4

th

5

		 August 27 th 2019 – September 23 rd 2020

○ Nagai Kafū and the Scenes of Edo-Tokyo November 6 2019 – January 5 2020
th

6

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Featured Exhibitions|thMain Projects|

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Various
Reference
Collection

Introduced from the Edo-haku Collection, which amounts
to 620,000 items (including 270,000 books)

Folding Screens withMusashino Plain Design
Mid-Edo Period (18 th century)

Between Mt.Fuji, depicted on the left of the screen,and Mt. Tsukuba on the right is a field of pampas
grass, and a full moon can be seen on the horizon.
The Musahino area at the base of the image had seenno opportunity for development for a long time due

to an unsatisfactory water supply. The turning
point was a development of new fields by the 8 th
Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, that was a part ofthe 1736 Kyōhō Economic Reforms. Within 15 yearsof the project’s start, 80 villages were created in theMusashino area, with over 1,000 houses. The trees
planted for wind-breaking, compost, and firewood
have eventually formed rich mixed forests. This
screen evokes the view of Musashino as it was before
the development began.

Sea wall
Shiodome Site (Shimbashi, Minato-ku) Sendai-date
Domain Ruins Excavation
Approx. mid-17 th century

Thin bamboo strips are woven between pike pillars
sunk into the mud, with shells of hard clams andJapanese littlenecks present among them. These
woven fences with bivalves affixed to their rears
are called shigarami. A part was removed froman excavation site in Shiodome, and scientificallypreserved.
Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo in 1590, and began
developing the city by reclaiming the Hibiya inlet,building canals, and so on. This spot became thedaimyō house site for the Sendai, Tatsuno, and Aizu
domains around the mid-17th century, and due its
proximity to the sea, some areas were surroundedby these shigarami and board fences before being
reclaimed with mud and sand. The shigarami sloped
towards the land, and perhaps to prevent them fromcollapsing, they are connected to beams on theback every few meters. Shells are thought to havebeen affixed to the backs of these fences to facilitate
water drainage. This is a precious reference that
demonstrates the land reclamation technology of theearly Edo period.

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Various Reference Collection|

Anthology of Poems: 		
The Love Section: 		
Reflective Love
Approx. 1793 by Kitagawa Utamaro

One from a set of five nishiki-e in which Kitagawa
Utamaro painted a woman’s face close up on a
background of benikirazuri. It is a work from the peakof his career, around 1793, published by Tsutaya
Jū zaburō. From “kasen”, meaning “great waka poet”,
he coined the term “kasen”, meaning “selecting apoem” and placed it together with “love”, one of thecategories of the anthology of poems referenced in
the title. He expressed subtle emotional nuances infacial expressions and appearance to paint different
ways of being in love. In “Reflective Love”, the woman– thought to have been married due to the fact her
eyebrows are shaved off – is gazing into the distance.
Perhaps she is reminiscing about a past love. The
depiction of her fingers also seems to be telling usthat she is dwelling on her thoughts. This work isoften described as the masterpiece of the series, and
it is an extremely rare piece.

The Actor Ichikawa Ebizo as
Takemura Sadanoshin
1794 by Tōshūsai Sharaku

This picture Based on the theater play The Colored
Reins of a Loving Wife, which was performed in thesummer kyogen program at the Three Edo Kabuki
Theater, this picture portrays Takemura Sadanoshin,
as played by Ichikawa Ebizo (previously Ichikawa
Danjū ro) in May 1794. It is one of 28 large o-kube-e(facial portraits) with kurokirazuri backgrounds,
and is viewed as a masterpiece that conveys Ebizo’s
dignity and character, accepted to be among the
pinnacles of Sharaku’s work. It depicts one characterwith a long nose, and superbly conveys the tense
atmosphere on the stage just before Sadanoshin’ssuicide by seppuku. The powerful eyes at the momentof striking a swaggering pose were utilized in thedesign of the museum’s logo. On the back of this paper,a sketch of an actor’s portrait is drawn in sumi ink.

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Various Reference Collection|

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White Raxa, Battle Surcoat
with Aoimon Crest
Black-lacquered Warrior’s
Hat with Tatewaku Aoimon( owned by Tokugawa
Yoshinobu )End of Edo to early Meiji period

This battle surcoat features white felt on
the outside, with aoimon placed in black felt
in the upper center on the back, while theinside lining shows butterflies, and plants
and flowers in splendid needlework on a baseof gold nishiki cloth. The silver buttons arealso engraved with aoimon. The warrior’s hat
is irregular, with waves on the rim making
the back slightly longer, and in between thenine silver waving lines aoimon are present
in maki- e. The surcoat’s curvaceous design
differs from a conventional surcoat in that it isinfluenced by European culture, suggesting aturning point in fashion trends. Photographsof various items from the collection of Duke
Tokugawa Yoshihisa, the 7th son of Yoshinobu,
including these two are featured in the book
“Tokugawa Yoshinobu Official Legend Vol. 4”,
published in 1918 by Shibusawa Eiichi, who
served under Yoshinobu. Both the coat and hat
are finished beautifully, as befits items owned
by a Tokugawa Shogun.

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Various Reference Collection|

Diary of Katsu KaishūAugust 1862 – December 1898

A handwritten journal by Katsu Kaish ū , apolitician from the end of the Edo period into thestart of the Meiji, with a total of 25 notebooks.
The journal begins on August 17th 1862, when
Katsu was appointed as navy commissioner,and concludes on December 31st 1892, a month

before his death. It formerly belonged to thecollection of the Court Katsu family. The journal
is based on Katsu’s actions, while also detailingthe incidents happening in the world aroundhim, and those he had seen or heard, as well as
the people surrounding him and his thoughts onpolitics. As a shogunal retainer who supported
the parliamentary regime, he had a wide circleof acquaintances, and in the Meiji Restoration

he worked hard to open Edo Castle. The actions
and policies of Katsu Kaishū , someone who
worked tirelessly to recover the honor of theTokugawa family while cooperating with the
Meiji government, and the dramatic time that helived in can be understood through the journal.
This document is an extremely significant
reference for the study of the transition from theEdo period into the Meiji.

Utagawa Hiroshige’s Last
Will and Testimony
September 2 nd 1858 , Late Edo period

Tabaco Container Owned
by Utagawa Hiroshige
Pouch [to be carried inside the sleeve]
Late Edo period

The museum holds several wills and possessionsof Hiroshige in its collection, a s well a s
documentation of the history of the Ando family
he belonged to. The final will was hand-written
soon before his death, on September 6th 1858,
while others were written on the 2 nd and 3 rd,
and another was undated. The one dated the
2 nd and the undated one are almost identicalin content, directing that his painting tools,
painting samples, and sword to be handed to his
assistant, his clothes to a relative, and the rest to
be sold to repay his debts. The will closes witha kyoka poem: “Dying / Whatever happens inhell / My money will sort my life”. Hiroshige wasborn in Edo the son of a shogunate fire warden,
and the poem may suggest the famous phrase“what he earns by day, he spends by night”, anature often ascribed to Edoites. The will dated
the 3rd requests the burial to be simple, quoting
an old poem: “When I die / Do not cremate orbury me / Leave me out on the ground to stretch
the stomach of a hungry dog”. It also displays his
pride in his family, saying: “the funeral should bein the style of a samurai family”. His possessions,a tobacco box and money pouch, look simple
at first glance, but they are finely made with an
elegance that speaks to Hiroshige’s personality.

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Various Reference Collection|

Main Projects|

35Statues of Four Gods

SUBARU360

Early February 1848

Manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industry(today’s Subaru) in 1967

“So cute!” It is almost as though we can hearsuch comments from an audience captivatedbefore these figures of four gods: blue dragon,
white tiger, vermilion bird, and black tortoise.
The figures were placed on a platform at
festivals, with a flag and an inari sacred stamp, atthe tip of a pole, and decorated with swords andpikes. Originating in Chinese culture, these fourgods are the guardians of the four directionsof the universe, and they are placed on thecompass points. In the homes of merchants in
Edo, inari were worshipped as gods of businessprosperity. The Kajimaya Higashidana store, abranch of Kajimaya, a famed sake wholesaler in
Edo, took excellent care of these Tominaga inari
as their home-gods. These figures were used in
the Hatsu-uma Festival in February in Tominaga
I na r i Shr ine to t he e a st. Documentation
about the Kajima family, part of the collection
along with the figures and their historicalreferences, include not only the shrine of
the inari and festival paraphernalia, but also
cultural references and money counting items,
conveying the connection to mass culture andlarge store operation to this day.

Along with home electrical appliances and theso-called “three sacred treasures”, privately
owned cars had a huge influence on postwar
life. They began to spread later than electricalappliances, around 1966, which was describedas “my- car first year”. The origin was the
Subaru 360. Fuji Heavy Industry had grownout of Nakajima Aircraft Company, the largest
supplier of military aircraft. After the war, it
shifted to scooter and bus manufacture, butforeseeing the coming demand it began todevelop automobiles. Pursuing its unique ideas
and technologies, it began selling the Subaru
360 in 1958. With enough space for four adults
to sit, outstanding drive stability and speed
for a small vehicle, and a low price, it was a big
hit. It was given various changes and updates
over time, and the car in the museum features
a flasher light, which was introduced from 1967.

MirrorWoman’s Palanquin with Scatterd Holly hock Crests,
Pine Lozenge, Plum Blossoms and Arabesque Pattern in
Maki-e on Pear-skin Ground
Mirror with Turtule Shell and Flower-shaped Patterns
Mitsuba Aoi, Nashiji-lacquered Aoimon Crest,
Matsubishi and Plum Blossom-designed Mirror Case
1698

The base of this luxurious palanquin for womenis nashiji, a way of spreading gold powder that
resembles the skin of a pear, and on it patterns
like karamatsu, wakamatsu, and baika are placedin geometric form, and three-leaf and six-leaf
aoimon crests are scattered. These aoimon crestssuggest this was for a wedding in the Tokugawa
family, and due to the signature that appears tobe from the Kōami family and historical accounts,
it is believed to be from the wedding of Yae-hime(Princess Yae) – an adopted daughter of the 5th
Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi – into the Mito
family. This palanquin was mended in 1851 and36|

Main Projects|

used for the wedding of Itonomiya Takako, an
adopted daughter of the 12th Shogun, Tokugawa
Ieyoshi. A mirror case bearing the same design
and a large mirror of 49.5cm diameter were also
probably Yae-hime’s wedding items, based on
an auction catalog issued in 1921 and Yae-hime’s
wedding itinerary.
These wedding furnishings that were separated
have been reunited in the museum, and are stored
together. There are only four confirmed femalepalanquins with nashiji pear-skin finish, and there
are fewer large mirrors still in existence thanthere are standard-sized mirrors.

Various Reference Collection|

Mirror Case|

Various Reference Collection|

Main Projects|

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The museum offers different kinds of educational

Education
Programs

outreach projects, aimed at a wide variety of people,
from children to adults.

Edohaku Culture (Museum Seminars)

Hands-on Workshops

Throughout the year, lectures and workshops are held to discuss thefindings and achievements of the curators and researchers of themuseum and the major features of our exhibitions. Since they began
in 1996, The total number of attendance has reached about 190,000
people.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, some of these lectures werecanceled. However, when the museum reopened, the lectures
resumed, with ventilation and appropriate social distancing andmask-wearing as prevention strategies, thanks to the cooperation ofparticipants.
Even during the period of closure for major renovation since April
2022, the museum has continued to hold these lectures in othervenues, such as the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum andthe Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Through the process of holding
these events in other venues, with different lectures and workshops
on offer relating to the concurrent exhibitions in each venue, thethemes have broadened, and they have attracted new audiences.

Hands-on volunteer staff held workshops for families on weekends
and holidays. The volunteers were split into eight groups: glass
craftwork, kimono, kabuki, old plays, ukiyo-e, aizome, historic walks,
and folk history. Matching the seasons with seasonal events, they
offered opportunities for visitors to experience traditional techniquesand culture.
In the process of preparation for the workshops, volunteer staff
had the opportunity to be trained by skilled traditional craftsmen,
as well as other learning opportunities, and the museum was able
to use their help to operate its educational promotion programs as
experiences.
From September 2001, the process started as a trial under thename “Fureai Support Staff”, and it began operating in full under the
new name “Fureai Staff” in June 2002. Until these activities ended
due to the closure of the facility for renovations, they had held 876
classes, with 35,575 attendants over their 21 years of operation.

Museum Talk
Exhibition explanations by museum curators were held at 4 o’clock
every Friday, where the people in charge of each section in thepermanent exhibition room’s Edo Zone and Tokyo Zone and thespecial exhibitions would take turns to present. The assembly point
was Nihombashi, Nakamuraza in the 5 th floor permanent exhibition
room, and each talk took around 30 minutes.
In order to encourage the visitors to deepen their understanding of
the exhibitions, they explained the concepts and major features of theexhibits in an accessible fashion.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, these talks were partially canceledfrom March to September 2020 and from August to September
2021, and after re-opening, they were shortened to 15 minutes as apreventative measure against the spread of infection.
Until that point, anyone could attend, but to maintain social
distancing, numbered tickets were introduced, limiting attendees toa maximum of 20 people.

At a lecture (August 2019)

Reception with preventative measures against the spread of infection(August 2020)

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Education Programs|

School Cooperation

Let’s Touch! Tools from the Past

T h e p e r m a n e n t ex h i b i t i o n r o o m wa s u s e d by m a ny s c h o o lorganizations throughout the year. In order to foster a more fulfilling
learning experience, worksheets targeting different audiences andthemes were made available on the website. Various programs werealso held, such as “Let’s Touch! Tools of the Past” in the museum
laboratory, “Learning in Visit” – in which students went around theexhibition rooms in groups, answering questions about the curator’s
jobs and the exhibitions – and “Job Experience” for junior high school
students: all aimed at making the museum a more welcoming placefor visitors.
For teachers leading groups, a guide outlining major features toview was distributed, along with visiting consultations and various
training programs, working together to make the museum contributeto the educational activities of schools.

Since 2015, a program has been run that allows participants to touch
various tools at the museum laboratory. This was held from 13:30
to 14:30 on Thursdays, with anyone welcome to take part. Curators
introduced various items each week, ranging from everyday items likeold style telephones, charcoal irons, and gramophones, to replicas ofarmor that you are rarely permitted to touch.
The everyday items were warmly received, not just by children
seeing them for the first time, but also by generations of that time, whorecalled the items fondly. Students participating in Job Experience
also had the opportunity to lead this program, offering them thechance to interact with visitors and learn about handling items at
a museum. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, experiential workshops
in the exhibition rooms were canceled, but four different tools wereintroduced on the official YouTube channel.

Museology Practicum

Workshops

Required for universit y education based on the Museum Act,museology practicum is one of the classes taken by aspiring students.
The subject includes vocational experience at a museum.
It was conducted as a trial from August 2 nd to 13 th 1999, and since
the following year has been held annually. The number of applicants isvery high, but the program is limited to 20 people, from 20 institutions.
In 2022, with the main facility closed, the program took place in theannex, with 16 participants from 16 universities.
The training does not simply include handling pieces, but also
experience of managing and exhibiting references using the items in
our collection, and even assignments for planning special exhibitions.
We have received many positive comments from participants, andour museum offers an important opportunity for the curators of
tomorrow.

Not only the permanent exhibition and feature exhibitions, but also
many experiential programs were provided to foster understandingof the wide range of history and culture of Edo Tokyo. Alongside
workshops by curators and volunteer staff members, other guests,
such as traditional craftsmen, university students in calligraphy
courses, and some people who lived through the war conducted
events. These workshops were well attended, by everyone fromchildren to adults, and by people from overseas.

Volunteer Training
Exhibition guide volunteers originated as a trial in October 1997, withthe concept that a museum is a place for lifelong learning. At first,
guided tours in foreign languages and orientational tours in Japanese
were introduced, but with the addition of exhibition tours in Japanesein 1999, the service began in earnest. Volunteers took part in practicaltraining to learn about the exhibits of the Edo Tokyo Museum andreception practice, enabling them to learn the history and cultureof Edo Tokyo and its ideas of social inclusion, and at the same time
facilitating social participation and self-realization though guiding
tours around the exhibition rooms.
With the closure of the museum for renovations from March 2022,
the volunteer training ended its activities. During its 24 years ofoperation, 599 volunteers registered, and conducted 175,658 tours.

|

Education Programs|

Main Projects|

39

As a research institute on Edo-Tokyo, the Research Center of Edo-Tokyo
Urban History conducts research and studies on the history, culture,and life of the city, primarily based on references in the collection.

Researchand Studies

The outcomes and achievements are made available to the public throughexhibitions and publications, and are also reflected in other projects,
such as Edohaku Culture and other symposiums.

Main Publications◆Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum Research Reports

Reports that provide summaries of various research projects
conducted at the museum. The first volume was published in March
1994, and publication has continued since then.

Vol. 10 “Kikukadan Yashinaigusa (Culivation of ChrysanthemumBed)” (March 28 th 2019)Vol. 11 “Shinko Kaisen Shiki (Revised Old and New Records on
Officials in the Edo Period) 1” (March 13 th 2020)

No. 29, “The Culture of Gardening in Edo” (March 20 th 2015)

Vol. 12 “Komeya Tanaka-ke Meiji Nenkan Nikki (Komeya-Tanaka
Family, Diary in the Meiji Period) 1” (March 26 th 2021)

No. 30, “The History of the Asakusa Area: Beliefs and Vibrancy inEdo” (February 29 th 2016)

Vol. 13 “Shinko Kaisen Shiki (Revised Old and New Records on
Officials in the Edo Period) 2” (March 4th 2022)

No. 31 “Read about Edo Gardening Culture in Historical Materials”(March 30 th 2016)

Vol. 14 “Komeya Tanakake Meiji Nenkan Nikki (Komeya-Tanaka
Family, Diary in the Meiji Period) 2” (March 3 rd 2023)

No. 32 “Thinking about the Sumida River Basin: History and Culture”(March 30 th 2017)“Documents Related to Count Katsu Kaisyu: Diaries 6” (March 31st 2017)

No. 33 “The History of the Asakusa Area II: Modernization andTransformation in the Entertainment District ” (March 31st 2018)

Symposiums

No. 34 “Meisyo Edo Hyakkei (One Hundred Famous Views of Edo)and Naniwa Hyakkei (One Hundred Views of Naniwa)” (March 30 th
2020)

As part of its research activities, the Research Center of Edo-Tokyo
Urban History holds symposiums and other public discussions.
These events are open to the public, and have been held at irregularintervals since January 1997.

No. 35 (Japanese Edition) “Edward Sylvester Morse” (March 4th 2022)
No. 35 (English Edition) “Edward Sylvester Morse” (February 24th 2023)“The History of the Asakusa Area: Beliefs and Vibrancy in Edo”
(November 22 nd 2014)“Thinking about the Sumida River Basin: History and Culture”(March 5th 2016)◆ Bulletin of the Edo-Tokyo Museum

A collection of documents detailing the results of the daily research
activities of our staff. Publication began in October 1995 as “Research
Report” and has continued since 2011, under the new name “Bulletin” No.1.

“The History of the Asakusa Area II: Modernization andTransformation in the Entertainment District” (August 5th 2017)

No. 5 (March 20 th 2015) – No. 13 (March 10 th 2023)

Symposium, “The History of Asakusa Area II” (Panel Discussion)

Research Report No. 33“The History of the Asakusa Area II:
Modernization and Transformationin the Entertainment District”(Published March 31st 2018)

Bulletin No. 10 (Published March 30 th2020)

In 2019 and 2020, the museum chaired the secretariat of the Tokyo
Metropolitan Council of Museum’s Director’s Office and the Tokyo
Branch of the Japan Association of Museums.

◆ Edo-Tokyo Museum Historical Archives

A collection of historical documents, carefully selected from among
the archival documents held by our museum and transcribed into
print. The first volume was published in March 1998, and publication
has continued since then.
Vol. 9 “Edo Odemma-cho Nanushi Magome-ke Monjo Kyuki(Documents by Magome Family, Head of Edo Odemma-cho Town:
Old Records)” (March 15th 2018)40|

Main Projects|

Research and Studies◆ Tokyo Metropolitan Council of Museums and Tokyo Branch of
the Japanese Association of Museums|◆ Japanese Liaison Council of History and Folk Museums

Since its inauguration in June 2012, we have been in charge of theadministration of the Council together with the National Museumof Japanese History, and continue to support its operations in the
Kanto bloc.

International
Exchange
ProgramThis program promotes exchanges between museums in different
countries through symposiums and other events.

Japan-China-Korea International
Symposium on Museum
Since 2002, this symposium has been held annually in rotation
between our museum, the Capital Museum in Beijing, China, andthe Seoul Museum of History in South Korea. In these events, we
exchange information and opinions on the management and activities
of museums in cities in Japan, China, and South Korea, and deepen
our ties. In 2007, the Shenyang Palace Museum, in China, was added
to the list.

2021

Canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
2022 (September 5 th and 6 th)*Event numbers not applied from this iteration
Theme: “City Museums and Future Strategy”
Venue / Location: Seoul Museum of History
Presenters: Tanaka Nobuhiro, Taki Ryosuke

International Council of Museums (ICOM)

2022 Japan-China-Korea International Symposium on Museum(Panel discussion with remote participation)

No. 13 (December 2 nd and 3 rd 2014 )Theme: “Museum Collections and Visitors”, “Exchange and Cooperation
Between Museums”
Venue / Location: Capital Museum, Beijing
Presenters: Takeuchi Makoto, Kagami Yutaka, Eriguchi Yuko
No. 14 (October 28 th and 29 th 2015 )Theme: “Urban Museums as Bases for Cultural Dissemination”
Venue / Location: Edo-Tokyo Museum
Presenters: Nitta Taro, Ichikawa Hiroaki
No. 15 (October 10 th and 11 th 2016 )Theme: “The Role of Culturally Creative Original Goods in the Process ofMuseum Development”
Venue / Location: Shenyang Palace Museum
Presenters: Ichikawa Hiroaki, Sakai Takako
No. 16 (September 26 th and 27 th 2017 )Theme: “Urban History Museums and Urban Memory”
Venue / Location: Seoul Museum of History
Presenters: Nitta Taro, Yoneyama Isamu
No. 17 (August 15 th and 16 th 2018 )ICOM is an international non-governmental organization headquarteredin Paris, France. It was founded in 1946 to promote the developmentof museums. ICOM is the only global museum association thatfacilitates dialogue and exchanges on ethical standards andinnovative practices among museums and museums professionals
worldwide. ICOM has National Committees in each country, Regional
Alliances, and 32 International Committees dedicated to various
museum specialties. A General Conference, where each committee
gathers in one location, is held every three years, and an Annual
Conference of each committee are conducted annually.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is an institutional member of the ICOMInternational Committee for Collections and Activities of Museumsof Cities (CAMOC), a forum for members working in or interested
in city museums. Since 2019, the Research Center of Edo-Tokyo
Urban History has represented the museum, at Annual Conferences
and General Conferences facilitating information exchange andknowledge sharing with professionals connected to museums allover the world.
September 1 st – 7 th 2019

ICOM Kyoto 2019: The 25 th ICOM General Conference and CAMOC
2019 Annual Conference
Main venue: Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto)
CAMOC 2019 Annual Conference co-organizers and presenters:
Kobayashi Junichi,
Globalization and the Role of City Museums (CAMOC ANNUAL
CONFERENCE 2019 Book of Proceedings, 2020); Tanigawa Mamiko,
The Edo-Tokyo Museum Renewal of Permanent Exhibition Galleries(Celebrating CAMOC 2019 in Kyoto: “Japanese City Museums Special
Dossier”, 2019)*As an additional activity, the museum conducted a CAMOC postconference tour on September 8 th, including a permanent exhibition
room tour and discussions with the museum staff.
June 9 th – 11 th 2021

CAMOC 2020 (2021) Annual Conference *as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic, the conference was postponed to the following year
Main venue: National Museum in Kraków, Poland (online conference)
Presenter: Kobayashi Junichi, The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Roleof City Museums (online release) (CAMOC ANNUAL CONFERENCE
2020 (2021) Book of Proceedings, 2022)
December 1 st – 4 th 2021

Theme: “Resource Sharing and Academic Cooperation: Hyperconnectionof Museum under the Context of ‘Capital Study’”
Venue / Location: Capital Museum, Beijing
Presenters: Okatsuka Akiko, Tateishi Momoko

CAMOC 2021 Annual Conference
Main venue: History Museum of Barcelona, Spain (hybrid of online
and in-person attendance)
Presenter: Okatsuka Akiko, Changing Tokyo (CAMOC ANNUAL
CONFERENCE 2021 Book of Proceedings, 2022)

No. 18 (October 22 nd and 23 rd 2019 )August 22 nd – 25 th 2022

Theme: “City Function Roles and Museums”
Venue / Location: Edo-Tokyo Museum
Presenters: Fujimori Terunobu, Hayakawa Noriko

ICOM Prague 2022: The 26 th ICOM General Conference and CAMOC
2022 Annual Conference
Main venue: Prague Congress Center, Prague City Museum, Czech
Republic (hybrid of online and in-person attendance)
Participant: Okamoto Junko (online)

2020

Canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic|

International Exchange Program|

Main Projects|

41◆ Scenes Around Sumida River in Edo-Tokyo

International Exchange Exhibition◆The Metropolises and the Prosperities: Within Tokyo and Beijing
in the 18 th century

Growing out of cooperative planning and research conducted as partof an exchange program between Japan, China, and South Korea
which began in 2002, the special exhibition “Edo and Beijing: Cites
and Urban Life in the 18 th Century” was held in our museum between
February 18 th and April 9 th, 2017. With additional works about Edo, thesame exhibition was held in the Capital Museum in Beijing.
Period: August 14th – October 7th, 2018
Venue: Capital Museum, Beijing
Attendance: 278,790
Curation: Eriguchi Yuko, Kutsusawa Hiroyuki, Kubota Naoko,
Hu Yanhong

One of the fruits of the more than 20 years of the Japan-China-Korea
International Symposium on Museums, the exhibition “Scenes
Around Sumida River in Edo-Tokyo”, developed with our collection,
was held in the Seoul Museum of History, Korea. Featuring paintingsand historical references, the culture and lifestyle of the Sumida River
area in the Edo period was introduced to the people of Seoul.
Period: September 7th – October 23 rd 2022
Venue: Seoul Museum of History
Attendance 79,581
Curation: Park Mihee,
Iwasaki Akane

Exhibition poster
Exhibition venue at the Capital Museum, Beijing◆ Ikimono: Life with Animals in Edo-Tokyo◆ Tandem Paris-Tokyo 2018

As part of the Tandem Paris-Tokyo 2018 program organized by the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government and the City of Paris, a performance featuring
automatons was held at Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris. In addition,
an introductory movie and a panel exhibition on automatons were also on
display.
Period: November 2 nd and 3 rd 2018 (Automaton Movement
Performance: 30 mins. per performance, five times each day,ten performances in total)
Venue: Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris Petite salle
Curation: Okatsuka Akiko, Nagaya Sakura, Kobayashi Junichi,
Koyama Shuko, Kimura Sagiri

Co-organized exhibition with Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris,
France. The ways in which people lived with animals in Edo-Tokyo waspresented, with a wide variety of items from the museum’s collection, suchas block prints, lacquerware craft, dyeing, weaving, and children’s toys.
Period: November 9 th 2022 – January 21st 2023
Venue: Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris
Attendance: 15,546
Curation: Koyama Shuko, Kawaguchi Tomoko,
Nishimura Naoko

Exhibition poster

Pamphlet for Les Automates Karakuri
Ningyô Démonstration

42|

Main Projects|

International Exchange Program|

A library specializing in the history and culture of Edo-Tokyo, it is

Library

open to the public. Publications by the museum, such as exhibition
catalogs, are available for viewing. A reference service for researchand study is also provided.

OutlineCollection System Update / Data Provision

Since the museum’s opening in 1993, the Edo-Tokyo Museum Libraryhas aimed to serve not only the museum staff but also to support
the research and study needs of visitors. Actively expanding its
collection with books and magazines covering Edo- Tokyo acrossvarious period and areas the library makes its catalog, news frommuseums nationwide, local government publications, and Tokyo
Metropolitan town magazines accessible to the public. As of January2023, the collection comprises approximately 270,000 items.
Closed for major renovations since April 2022, the library opened
its reading room, available by advance reservation, in the renewal
preparation office. *A trial period began on March 20 th, 2023, with theroom fully open since April.

In 2019, the museum renovated its collection system and migrated
the data to Ar tize MA (Nissha Printing Communications, Inc.).
Enhancements were implemented on the library management screen,
introducing features for adding new information entries and importing
information. The Web OPAC underwent an overhaul, incorporating
new display functions such as the addition and editing of information
items, daily automatic updates, English translation, and book coverimages.
Data is not only available on the OPAC, but also through crosssearches with the Art Library Consortium (ALC) and Tokyo Reference
Search, as well as in collaboration with NACSIS-CAT. From August
2021, an institutional repository has been established, releasingbulletins and historical archives on the website.

Reading room in a renewal preparation office

Edo-Tokyo Museum Library Web OPAC

User Service

Cooperating with exhibitions

The viewing room is open to the public, offering services such as
viewing, copying, and reference assistance. Additionally, it provides
access to the museum’s historical documents through microfilm.
Since April 2019, we have been participating in “the National Diet
Librar y Digitized Contents Transmission Ser vice”, allowing theviewing of discontinued publications by the National Diet Library
within our museum.
Our daily reference services often cover topics related to ourpermanent exhibitions, and some of these instances are share on themuseum website and the National Diet Library’s Collaborative Reference
Database. Every summer, we conduct “Summer Vacation! Kids Historical
Learning Support,” primarily aimed at children and students.

As a specialized librar y affiliated with the museum, the librar yactively collaborates in exhibitions and events. It has establishedfeatured sections displaying books related to ongoing exhibitions
and organized a series of events called “One Theme Tour.” Thisinitiative collaborates with the permanent exhibitions and open
lectures, introducing relevant themes and encouraging visitors to
explore both the exhibition gallery and the library. The library also
provided guidance on utilizing and researching old archive books andheld workshops on creating Japanese-style bound books.
In addition to these activities, small exhibitions are held in display
cases set up inside the library, creating a space to examine andpresent the books from our collection.

Kids Historical Learning Support

A small exhibition in the library|

Library|

Main Projects|

43

Traditional
Performing Arts
Demonstrations

In the rental hall, the museum holds a series of“Traditional Performing Arts Demonstrations” with the aims ofproviding PR for the hall, and aiding the development of andcontinuation of traditional culture and entertainment.

Between October 2017 and March 2018, the hall was under renovation,
before being completed as a rental hall equipped for traditional
performing arts. With this new hall, the museum regularly provides“Traditional Performing Arts Demonstrations” to be enjoyed by all,from children to adults, with the goal of supporting traditional culture
and entertainment, and facilitating it being handed down to the next
generation.
In September 2019, to commemorate the opening of the renewed
hall, “Celebrate Edo Tok yo Geinoh Zukushi” was organized incooperation with GEIDANKYO: Japan Council of Performers Rights &Performing Arts Organizations.
In March 2021, in collaboration with the NIHONBUYO Association,
we hosted “Nihon Buyo Performance”, which was very well received.
After that, the museum was temporarily closed due to the Covid-19
pandemic and in that chaotic period many events were cancelled
and postponed. However, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics
were held in summer 2021, and as an encouragement we held nihon
buyo (dance), rakugo (comedic stor y-telling), tate (sword battle
performance), and silent movie with ben-shi (narrator) events.
At the end of March 2022 preceding the closure for largescale renovation, the hall was host to a last-minute “Countdown
to Closure Performance”, which communicated the attraction of
traditional entertainment. Despite the closure, the hall is still host to
demonstrations that spread the charm of Japan’s history and culture
under the title “Edohaku Special Performance”.

Muraji Kaori (guitar) Mini Concert (July 2021)

September 2019

Performing Arts of Edo Tokyo: noh, rakugo, wazuma (traditional
Japanese magic), kiyomoto (j ōruri narrative performance), gidayu(traditional puppet theater), biwa lute, shinai (j ōruri doll performance),
kouta (Japanese ballads), tokiwazu (style of jōruri narrative used forkabuki dances), san-kyoku (instrumental trio of koto, shamisen, andshakuhachi), nihon buyo, nagauta (Japanese classical music), andtate performance and workshop.
March 2021

Nihon buyo dance

Rakugo Stories with Subtitles (July 2021)

December 2022 – February 2023

See! Learn! Enjoy! – Edohaku Special Performance: Silent movie
with ben-shi and piano, learning tate, traditional music trio of koto,shamisen, and shakuhachi for beginners, fun rakugo story

July 2021

Muraji Kaori (guitar) mini concert (in conjunction with permanent
exhibition)
June – September 2021

Olympic and Paralympic Support Event: nihon buyo, tate, rakugo with
subtitles, iromono (romance stories), and silent movie with ben-shi.

Ben-shi and Silent Movie (December 2022)

Nihon Buyo “Bolero” (June 2021)

February – March 2022

Countdown to Closure Special Event: Muraji Kaori (guitar) miniconcert, nihon buyo, rakugo and iromono, tate performance andworkshop
Tate Performance (January 2023)

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Main Projects|

Tr a d i t i o n a l P e r f o r m i n g A r t s D e m o n s t r a t i o n s|

Utilizing
DigitalTechnology

In order to spread the word about projects and exhibitions,the museum releases content in various formats using
different digital technologies.

Digital archives
Edo-Tokyo Museum Digital Archives is a database open to the
public for reference and information searches, which was updated
in March 2020 in order to allow the collected references to reach awider audience. It was built based on the previous database with thefollowing improvements:
1. An additional function allowing a series or a group of referencesfrom the collection to be viewed.
2. The ability for the Historical materials to be displayed on thescreen from different angles, with related scenes.
The digital archive aims to incorporate every item in the collection,and it continues to evolve today, with items being added regularly. It
is also being continually updated, with a focus on usability, increasing
the number of images, building information about references,
digitalizing images, and adding English translations.

“Splendors of Edo” exhibition
also included further digitalcontents, such as embedded
commentar y movies, tohighlight the attraction of
the museum collection andpublicise it domestically andinternationally.
*The vir tual tours for both
exhibitions ended on March
31st 2022

Special exhibition “The Mount Fuji
Challenges: Hokusai and Hiroshige” virtual
tour opening pamphlet

Edohaku Channel

The portal of Edo-Tokyo Museum Digital Archives. Alongside the standard“Detailed search”, you can search within specified sections of the collection.

Aiming to reach a wide range of the public, an official YouTube
channel was set up in 2012. It features videos introducing different
museum projects along with exhibitions and events. In addition,with the temporary closure of the museum and the discontinuationof parts of its educational promotion programs resulting from theCovid-19 pandemic, the online content on the platform, which allowed
viewers to enjoy the museum from home, was strengthened. Many
videos were produced, such as substitutes for some of the halted
workshops, continuing the series “Let’s Touch! Tools of the Past”,
and other explanatory videos by the museum curators. They aimed
to utilize the museum’s exhibitions and references to be a source ofenjoyment and a learning resource for anyone, anywhere. As of March
31st 2023, the channel had uploaded 68 videos.

Special Exhibition Virtual Reality
For the two special exhibitions held in 2021, “The Mount Fuji Challenges:
Hokusai and Hiroshige” and “Splendors of Edo: Rites of the Samurai,
Festivals of the Merchants”, online virtual tours (in Japanese and English)
based on 360-degree images of the exhibition space were provided forthe first time at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. These were part of the project“Hokusai and the Culture of Edo”, which was supported by The Ministryof Culture’s “Creating Cultural Resource Contents projects for the Japan
Expo”, and were developed by commission.
Although the opening period of “Hokusai and Hiroshige” exhibition
was shortened due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition wasavailable for online public viewing during its temporary closure.

Special exhibition “Splendors of Edo: Rites of the Samurai, Festivals of the
Merchants” virtual tour image|

U t i l i z i n g D i g i t a l Te c h n o l o g y|Main Projects|

45360-degree Panoramic View

Hyper Edohaku

Following the 360-degree panoramic view that opened in EdoTok yo Open Air Architectural Museum in 2017, a 360 - degree
panoramic view of the Edo-Tokyo Museum permanent exhibition
room became available on the website in 2018. Various models areshot from different angles, such as the life-sized reconstructionsof “Playhouse Nakamura-za Kabuki Theater”, and “Festival Float of
the Kanda Myōjin Shrine”, as well as the smaller scale model of “TheTownspeople’s District around Nihombashi”, visualizing the space ina way that is unique to the virtual museum. The dynamic views makeit feel as though viewers are in the exhibition room whenever they
access it, regardless of where they are, giving them the freedom toenjoy the exhibition.

The app that allows users to enjoy the exhibition and references ofthe museum as if they are carrying Edo around with them was coproduced with Rhino Studios, and was released in iOS format on
April 22 nd and Android format on June 30 th 2022. There are Japaneseand English versions, which can be downloaded at no cost all over
the world. The area around Ry ō gokubashi Bridge in the late Edo
period was created in 3D computer graphics, based on the model of
Area to the west of Ryōgokubashi Bridge displayed in the permanent
exhibition space, and users can move around it freely, peeking into
the playhouse, and experiencing fires, firework displays, the sumo
tournament, and the opening of the season at Sumida river, whilecollecting 100 material items of the museum, and various charactersdesigned based on references, such as Katsushika Hokusai. This
museum app utilizing a game engine is the first of its kind in thenation, and has received a lot of attention.

“The chōnin (townspeople) areas around Nihombashi”, as seen through the 360-degree
Panoramic View

Flythrough: The Edo-Tokyo Museum in 2022
Before the long-term closure of the museum for its large-scalerenovation from April 2022, the entire view of the 9,000 square meter
permanent exhibition room was recorded in dynamic video with highdefinition drone footage, which enabled by recording from a floating
position. This was planned and produced as part of the “Tokyo Smart
Culture Project”, run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government andTokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, and upon its
release on the museum YouTube channel (Edohaku Channel) it went
viral on SNS.

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Main Projects|

U t i l i z i n g D i g i t a l Te c h n o l o g y|About the Facility
Designed by prominent architect Kikutake Kiyonori, the Edo-Tokyo Museum is unique with its
elevated structure at a height of 62.2 meters which features seven floors above ground and abasement area. It harmonizes with the adjacent Kokugikan (Sumo Hall).On the 29,293m2 site,
the total floor space measures 48,512m2, of which 8,934m2 of the 5th and 6th floors are dedicated to
the Permanent Exhibition Area, and 1,006m2 of the first floor to Special Exhibition Gallery.

|A b o ut t h e Fa c i l i t y|

47

As of March 2022

48|

A b o ut t h e Fa c i l i t y|

Edo-Tokyo
Open Air Architectural Museum

Main Projects
Exhibiting
Reconstructed
Buildings

30 historical buildings dating from between the Edo and mid-Showa periods thatwere difficult to preserve at their original sites have been relocated, reconstructed,
preserved, and exhibited, in order to hand them down to future generations as aprecious cultural asset.

50|

Main Projects|

Exhibiting Reconstructed Buildings|

Center Zone		
C1

Featuring the Visitor Center that is the entrance and exit of the museum,the Center Zone exhibits buildings that express history.
Notation style Building name, original location / construction year / reconstruction year Buildings that were reconstructed
before 1993 were part of the collection of the former Musashino Folklore Museum●●

Visitor Center (Former “Kokaden” Palace)

C4

Second House of the Nishikawa Family

Chiyoda, Chiyoda Ward / 1940 / 1941

2 -chome, Nakagamicho, Akishima City / 1922 / 1993

The ceremonial hall that was temporarily built for the ceremonycommemorating the 2,600 th year of the founding of Japan, held in the
Palace Plaza in 1940, was relocated the following year. From 1954, it
was a feature of the Musashino Folklore Museum, and it is used as
the Visitor Center for the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

A house built by the businessman Nishikawa Izaemon, who established aleading silk-reeling company in the Kita-tama area, for his retirement andfor entertaining guests.

C2

Jisho-in Mausoleum (Otama-ya)

C5Gate of Date Family Residence

Tomihisa-cho, Shinjuku Ward / 1652 / 1995

2 -chome, Shirokane, Minato Ward / Taisho period / circa. 1965

Chiyohime, the principal wife of Tokugawa Mitsutomo of the Owari
Domain, built this mausoleum for the soul of her mother, Ofuri-noKata (an unofficial wife of the third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu). It
has been designated a Tangible Cultural Property by the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government.

The Date family of the former Uwajima Domain built this gate in the
Taisho period. The gate features an attached guardhouse with acurved roof, seemingly reproducing a daimyō house.

C3

House of Korekiyo Takahashi

C6

Tea Arbor “Kaisuian”

7-chome, Akasaka, Minato Ward / 1902 / 1993

5 -chome, Nishiogi-kita, Suginami Ward / Taisho period / 1998

Part of the huge garden and the main building of this house were recovered.
The main building is made entirely of hemlock fir, and the dining roomfeatures parquet flooring. The study and bedroom was the site of the
February 26th Incident in 1936 (an attempted military coup).

This tearoom, built by Yamagishi Soju (Kaisui), a tea-ceremony
master of the So-henryu school, was purchased by playwright Uno
Nobuo in 1957 and relocated to Nishi-Ogikubo.

|

Exhibiting Reconstructed Buildings|

Main Projects|

51

West Zone
W1

Facing Yamanote-dori Street, this area recreates houses of various forms.

Tokiwadai Photo StudioW 3 		Elevated Granary from Amami-Oshima Island

1-chome, Tokiwadai, Itabashi Ward / 1937 / 1997

Uken son, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture / end of Edo period / 1966

A photo studio that stood in Tokiwadai, which was developed as a“healthy residential area”. In order to maintain stable light levels, thelarge second-floor windows on the north side are frosted glass.

A warehouse with a raised floor, built in Amami Oshima. This kind ofhigh-floored building is seen in Tokyo’s Hachijo-jima island. It has
been designated a Tangible Cultural Property by the City of Koganei.

W 4 		Farmhouse of the Yoshino Family
2 -chome, Nozaki, Mitaka City / late Edo period / 1963

The Yoshino family is said to have served at the head of Nozaki village,a status that can be seen in the stepped entrance and the fixed desk inthe back room (facing the exterior corner of the alcove on the veranda). It
has been designated a Tangible Cultural Property by the City of Koganei.

W2

52

Residence of Hachirouemon Mitsui

W5

House of the Leader of the Hachioji Guards(Hachioji-sennin-doshin)

3 -chome, Nishi-azabu, Minato Ward / main building 1952 ; warehouse
1874 / 1996

Oiwabecho, Hachioji City / late Edo period / 1993

The guest room and dining room of the main building were built
in 1897 in Kyoto, and relocated to Nishi-azabu after the war. They
have been designated Tangible Cultural Properties by the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government.

The Hachioji Thousand Warriors (Hachioji-sennin-doshin) was agroup of retainers of Tokugawa that were based in Hachioji in the Edo
period. The house of the leader of this land bestowed by Tokugawa
demonstrates its status, as seen in details like the stepped entrance.

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Exhibiting Reconstructed Buildings|W 6 		House of Kunio Mayekawa

W 9 		House of Koide

3 -chome, Kami-osaki, Shinagawa Ward / 1942 / 1996

2 -chome, Nishikata, Bunkyo Ward / 1925 / 1998

A house that belonged to the architect Mayekawa Kunio, who
contributed to the development of the modern architecture of Japan.
The exterior is Japanese-style with a gable roof, and the interior has
a living room with a vaulted ceiling, and a study and bedroom around
it. It has been designated a Tangible Cultural Property by the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government.

This house was designed by Horiguchi Sutemi, who led the modernist
movement in Japan after his return from a visit to Europe. Its design
combines traditional Japanese forms with elements that were popular in
the Netherlands at that time. It has been designated a Tangible Cultural
Property by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

W 7 		House of Okawa in Den’enchofu

W 10

4 -chome, Den’enchofu, Ota Ward / 1925 / 1995

Shinanomachi, Shinjuku Ward / circa. 1910 / 2013This house was built in Den’enchofu, Ota-ku, a residential suburban
area. It features a dining room, bedroom, and study around a central
living room, all built in the Western style.

Originally a Western-style house on one floor, which was said tohave been designed by meteorologist and physicist Kitao Jiro, thisbuilding was later converted to a three-story house by the Germanarchitect Georg de Lalande.

House of Georg de Lalande

W 8 		Farmhouse of the Tsunashima Family
3 -chome, Okamoto, Setagaya Ward / mid-Edo period / 1997

This house with a thatched roof has a floor plan including a largehall. Large pillars surrounding the hall with a rectangular crosssection and equipment such as an old-style stage for decoration
demonstrate the history of the house.

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53

East Zone
E1

Farmhouse of the Tenmyo Family

E4

Public bathhouse “Kodakara-yu”

1-chome, Unoki, Ota Ward / late 18 th century / 1982

Senju-motomachi, Adachi Ward / 1929 / 1993

This was an administrative house that served an important rolein Unoki village in the Edo period. At the front is a main building
featuring a chidori hafu (dormer and plover gable), a nagaya gate, anda Japanese dry-style garden, which attest to its high status. It has
been designated a Tangible Cultural Property by the City of Koganei.

A typical Tokyo public bath. It has luxurious features such as a large
Chinese-style gable, carvings of the seven gods of good luck above
the entrance, and a lattice ceiling in the dressing room: all of thehighest quality.

E2“Kodera” Soy Sauce Shop

E5

Tailor’s workshop

5 -chome, Shirokane, Minato Ward / 1933 / 1993

1-chome, Mukogaoka, Bunkyo Ward / 1879 / 1994

The distinctive features of this building are its protruding beam style(dashigeta-zukuri), and round eaves purlin supported by brackets.
The shop was established in Shirokane, Minato Ward in the Taisho
period, and sold soybean paste, soy sauce, and liquor.

This merchant house has a protruding beam style (dashigeta-zukuri) andround eaves purlin, and was built in the early Meiji period (1868-1912). The
workplace of a tailor of the Taisho period is reproduced inside.

E3

54

With many merchant stores, this area has the atmosphere of a local town. Inside the buildings,
items from everyday life, products, and business tools of the time are on display.

Bar “Kagiya”

E8

Police Box at the Mansei Bridge

2 -chome, Shitaya, Taito Ward / 1856 / 1975

1-chome, Kanda-sudacho, Chiyoda Ward / late Meiji period (assumed) / 1993

It is said to have been build in 1856 as a bar and restaurant. The
building and its interior have been restored to their appearance inaround 1970.

Formerly a police box at the foot of Mansei-bashi Bridge, this structureis built in brick, with tiles on the exterior. It was moved in one piece on
a trailer truck when it was relocated.

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E6

Stationery store “Takei Sanshodo”

E9House of Uemura

1-chome, Kanda-sudacho, Chiyoda Ward / 1927 / 1993

2 -chome, Shintomi, Chuo Ward / 1927 / 1998

This stationary shop was established in the Meiji period. It initially soldcalligraphy goods wholesale, before moving into retail sales. The building
was constructed after the Great Kanto Earthquake. It is built in the kanban(signboard) style, and features a front wall covered in tiles.

The front wall with copper plates is characteristic of the kanban(signboard) style. The exterior was created in the Western style, but
the second-floor is in the Japanese style.

E7

E 10 		 “Maruni Shoten” Kitchenware Store“Hanaichi” Flower Shop

1-chome, Kanda-awajicho, Chiyoda Ward / 1927 / 1994

3 -chome Kanda-jinbocho, Chiyoda Ward / early Showa period / 1998

This flower shop was built in the kanban (signboard) style in the earlyShowa period, and the front is decorated suitably for a florist. Theinterior is a reproduction of a 1950s flower shop.

This building features a front wall covered in an ingenious combinationof small copper plates. Tenement houses have been placed behind theshop to reproduce the street atmosphere of the time.

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E 11 		 Cosmetic Manufacturer “Murakami Seikado”

E 13 		 “Yamatoya Store” Grocery Store2 -chome, Ikenohata, Taito Ward / 1928 / 1999

4 -chome, Shirokanedai, Minato Ward / 1928 / 2011

This cosmetics shop used to stand on Shinobazu Street. The
characteristic facade of the building features representations of Ioniccolumns.

This is a wooden, three-story structure. It is a rare, special building
featuring the disproportionately tall facade of the kanban (signboard)style, and traditional protruding beams (dashigeta-zukuri) on thethird floor.

E 12“Kawano Shoten” Oil-paper Umbrella 		Wholesale StoreE 14 		 Mantoku Inn
Nishiwakecho, Ome City / late Edo – early Meiji period / 20118 -chome, Minami-koiwa, Edogawa Ward / 1926 / 2000

This inn was located in Nishiwakecho, Ome City, on the Ome highway.
The reconstruction here is close to its original form, while the interior
is from the 1950s.

This is a wholesale store building in the protruding beam style(dashigeta-zukuri), and its interior reproduces the shop of anumbrella wholesaler from around 1930. It also displays materials
and tools for making Japanese-style umbrellas and products suchas bangasa and Janome-gasa umbrellas.

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Management
andMaintenance ofReconstructed
Buildings

In order to sustain the culturally significant architecture
over a long period of time, the museum conducts regularrenovation and maintenance work.

Aseismic Reinforcement
With the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes fresh in the mind, the museum
examined the seismic resistance of the reconstructed architecture.
The results suggested that some of them required reinforcement,
so from April 2018 to March 2021, the main building of Farmhouseof the Tenmyo Family, the House of Kunio Mayekawa, the House of
Okawa in Den’enchofu and the House of Koide underwent aseismic
reinforcement work.

History of Aseismic Reinforcement

2003: House of Korekiyo Takahashi, “Kodera” Soy Sauce Shop
2004: Public bathhouse “Kodakara-yu”, Stationery store “Takei
Sanshodo”, “Hanaichi” Flower Shop
2005: Tokiwadai Photo Studio, Second House of the Nishikawa
Family, “Maruni Shoten” Kitchenware Store – housing
space
2006: House of the Leader of the Hachioji Guards (Hachiojisennin-doshin), Bar “Kagiya”, Cosmetic Manufacturer“Murakami Seikado”
2007: Farmhouse of the Yoshino Family, Farmhouse of the
Tsunashima Family
2008: Visitor Center (Former “Kokaden” Palace)
2018: Farmhouse of the Tenmyo Family
2019: House of Kunio Mayekawa, House of Okawa in
Den’enchofu
2020: House of Koide

Installation of bearing wall (diagonal)(Farmhouse of the Tenmyo Family)

Installation of reinforcing material to roof frame(House of Kunio Mayekawa)

Installation of horizontal under-floor braces on the second floor(House of Koide)|

Installation of (structural plywood) bearing wall
(House of Okawa in Den’enchofu)

Management and Maintenance of Reconstructed Buildings|

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57

Maintenance of Roof Cladding
Cladding installed upon the completion of the roofs was replacedwhen it had deteriorated. In the case of roof tiles, each tile was
examined, and only those evidencing damage were replaced. Alongwith work on roofs, drainpipes were maintained and the tops of tiled
roofs had seismic reinforcing metal fitted.

2013: Farmhouse of the Tenmyo Family main building andNagaya-mon gate
2014: House of the Leader of the Hachioji Guards (Hachiojisennin-doshin)
2016: Farmhouse of the Tsunashima Family, Residence ofHachirouemon Mitsui, Gate of Date Family Residence,Re-thatching(House of the Leader of the Hachioji Guards)“Kodera” Soy Sauce Shop, Bar “Kagiya”, Cosmetic
Manufacturer “Murakami Seikado”, Tailor’s workshop,“Kawano Shoten” Oil-paper Umbrella Wholesale Store
2017: Tokiwadai Photo Studio, House of Koide, Tea Arbor“Kaisuian”, Public bathhouse “Kodakara-yu”
2018: House of Korekiyo Takahashi, Second House of the
Nishikawa Family, House of Okawa in Den’enchofu
2019: House of Uemura, Cosmetic Manufacturer “Murakami
Seikado”, Public bathhouse “Kodakara-yu” boiler room
roof water-proofing
2020: Gate of Date Family Residence
2021: Elevated Granary from Amami-Oshima Island

Tiled roof maintenance(Cosmetic Manufacturer “Murakami Seikado”)

Rain Leak Emergency Repair Work
“Maruni Shoten” Kitchenware Store and Residence and the Houseof Koide suffered water leakage caused by their roof shape and thefitting of the eaves. After repair work was completed, the materials
damaged by the water were repaired, and at the same time a great
number of discussions about the causes of rain penetration andsolutions took place. Renovation was done to the buildings in orderto prevent rainwater from getting inside them again.

58

2016: “Maruni Shoten” Kitchenware Store and Residence
2017: House of Koide

Before changing the position of valley structure of the room(“Maruni Shoten” Kitchenware Store and Residence)

After changing the position of valley structure of the room(“Maruni Shoten” Kitchenware Store and Residence)

Before flat-roof repair (House of Koide)

During flat-roof repair (House of Koide)|

Main Projects|

Management and Maintenance of Reconstructed Buildings|

Planned Maintenance WorkAs the decades have passed since the museum opened in 1993, thereconstructed architecture has deteriorated here and there. In 2018,the museum established repair plans for all 30 buildings over thefollowing ten years. The finishing materials of the rooms, paints, andequipment require maintenance as they degrade over time, but it isdifficult to complete repair work on many buildings at one time while
continuing to welcome visitors and securing the budget. As a result,maintenance work needs to be carefully planned. To date, the work
has proceeded according to sched

2019: House of Kunio Mayekawa, House of Okawa in
Den’enchofu (*combined with aseismic reinforcement)

Re-plastering the exterior wall
(antique-look) (House of Kunio Mayekawa)

Copper plate joint caulking(House of Uemura)

Fitting and repainting handrails(“Maruni Shoten” Kitchenware Store)

Electric trunk cable replacement(Tokiwadai Photo Studio)

Exterior wall shitamiita-bari(weatherboard) repair (“Hanaichi” Flower Shop)

Signboard lettering repair(“Hanaichi” Flower Shop)|

2020: House of Koide (*combined with aseismic reinforcement)
2021: Tokiwadai Photo Studio, Elevated Granary from AmamiOshima Island, House of Uemura, “Maruni Shoten”
Kitchenware Store
2022: Bar “Kagiya”, “Hanaichi” Flower Shop, Police Box at
the Mansei Bridge, Cosmetic Manufacturer “Murakami
Seikado”

Management and Maintenance of Reconstructed Buildings|

Main Projects|

59Special
Exhibitions

Special Exhibitions are held a few times each year in the exhibition room at the back of
the Visitor Center. The themes are wide ranging, including the materials that were takenover from the former Musashino Folklore Museum, the historical architecture on site,
the history and culture of the Tama area, and so on.
Details for the special exhibitions from 2014 onwards are as follows.

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Special Exhibitions

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2014

○
1

2015

○

○

2

3

Simofuda Site

Studio Ghibli’s
Three-Dimensional Architecture

History and Archaeology of Musashino

July 10 th 2014 – March 15 th 2015

March 28 th – May 17 th 2015

Literary Magazines of a Modern City:
Asakusa, Ginza, Shinjuku, and Musashino
in depicted

June 2 nd – July 20 th 2015

Curation: Hayakawa Noriko

Curation: Matsui Kaoru

Curation: Yukawa Setsuko

On display were backdrops of buildings, art designboards, art concept references, and models ofrepresentative buildings that appear in the works ofStudio Ghibli.

Drawing on the archaeological materials that were
inherited from the Musashino Folklore Museum,
this exhibition focused on items discovered at the
Shimofuda site in Chofu City. It introduced theprocess of excavation done by the museum and its
achievements.

The townscape of Tokyo in the period following
the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake were unraveledthrough the literature of Kawabata Yasunari, Nagai
Kafū, Ryutanji Yu, and Yokomitsu Riichi.

2016

○
4

○

○

5

6

The Story of
the Tokyo Folklore Museum

The Cherry Blossomsof Koganei

History and Archaeology ofMusashino

The Beginning of the Regional Museum in Tokyo

Round Trip of Edo Tokyo’s Famous Sites in Spring

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Collection Exhibition

July 28 th 2015 – February 21 st 2016

March 8 th – May 8 th 2016

May 24 th 2016 – January 22 nd 2017

Curation: Matsui Kaoru

Curation: Maruyama Haruka

Curation: Abe Yukihiro

The Tokyo Folklore Museum, which opened in 1934,
was the first regional museum operated by city ofTokyo.
Based on remaining plans from the museum, theexhibition at that time was recreated as closely as
possible to look back on the history of Tokyo’s local
museums.

Centering on cherr y blossoms in Koganei, theexhibition introduced cherry blossom viewing spots
and culture related to cherry blossoms in historicalTokyo, through the Edo-Tokyo Museum’s collectionof nishiki-e (woodblock prints) and artifacts.

Among the archaeological materials inherited from
the Musashino Folklore Museum, the exhibitionf e a t u r e d m a te r i a l s exc ava te d f r o m J o m o n period sites. In addition, the reconstruction ofa marukibune(dugout canoe) using the methodof experimental archaeology was introduced inconjunction with the display of a marukibune.

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2017

○

○

7

8

Kawasaki Heiemon
The Leading Player of Musashino Shinden
Rice Field Development

Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History andCulture Cooperation Project Special Exhibition
Commemorating Registry as a World Heritage Site○
9The History and Customs ofMusashino

le Corbusier and Mayekawa Kunio

The Former Musashino Folklore Museum

May 30 th – September 10 th 2017

September 26 th 2017 – March 4 th 2018

February 7 th – May 7 th 2017
Curation: Mashimo Yoshiyuki

Curation: Yoneyama Isamu

Curation: Maruyama Haruka

The Musashino Shinden(rice fields) was createdthrough the development of new rice fields led by
the 8th shogun, Yoshimune Tokugawa. This exhibition
looks back on the achievements of Heiemon Kawasaki,
who was assigned with the management of the newrice fields.

This exhibition was held to commemorate theregistration of the National Museum of Western Artsin Ueno as a World Heritage Site the previous year.
The work and concepts of the museum’s architect, Le
Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret), and one ofhis direct students, Mayekawa Kunio, were introduced
at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, theTokyo Metropolitan Art Gallery, and the Tokyo Bunka
Kaikan.

The exhibition introduced the process from thepioneering facilities to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air
Architectural Museum. The Musashino Folklore
Museum, the predecessor of the Edo-Tokyo OpenAir Architectural Museum, the Musashino Museum
located in the Inokashira Park Zoo area, and theTokyo Field Artifact Exhibition Hall, located in the
Memorial Park are also included.

2018

○

○

10

11

Commemorating Tokyo’s 150th Anniversary

Tokyo 150 Years

Kanban-Style Architecture
Exhibition

Urban City and Architecture, People

March 20 th – July 8 th 2018

July 24 th 2018 – January 20 th 2019○12

The History and Customs ofMusashino
The Former Musashino Folklore Museum

February 5 th – June 23 rd 2019

Curation: Abe Yukihiro

Curation: Yoneyama Isamu

Curation: Maruyama Haruka

With the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and thetemporary housing that was built after the disasteras the theme, this exhibition introduced the origins of
the kanban (signboard) style of architecture and its
characteristics.

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Tokyo, thisexhibition was held in conjunction with a special
exhibition at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, “Tokyo 150
Years”. The transitions of the city were examinedthrough various buildings, revealing the role ofarchitecture in the 150-year history of the city of Tokyo.

Based on the archaeological materials inheritedfrom the Musashino Folklore Museum, this exhibition
displayed items related to archaeological references
and folk traditions, as well as some belonging to acollector of items with frog motifs.

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Special Exhibitions

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2019

○
13

<Featured Exhibition>

FUROSHIKI TOKYO

2020

○

○

14

15

House of Koide andSutemi Horiguchi:

THE SENTO:

The Shapes and Colors on His Creative
Works During the 1920s

July 23 rd – September 29 th 2019

October 16 th 2019 – February 16 th 2020

March 3 rd – September 27 th 2020
Changed to June 2 nd – September 27 th 2020

Curation: Nitta Taro

Curation: Ando Ayumi

In fall 2018, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
held the exhibition “Furoshiki Paris” in Paris, France,
displaying furoshiki cloths and installations, andfeaturing workshops aiming to promote the charm of
furoshiki to the world. A report exhibition was held
here, in conjunction with the Edo-Tokyo Museum.

Horiguchi Sutemi was the designer of the Houseof Koide (1925) that has been relocated andreconstructed in the museum. This exhibition focusedon Horiguchi’s pursuit of the forms and colors in the
1920s as an introduction to his activities and works.
Through this, it revised the significance of the House of
Koide, approaching the origins of Horiguchi’s creation.

|

The history and the culture of thebathhouses in Tokyo Part 1

Curaton: Kobayashi Manae
Unveiling the history of sento (public bathhouses) inTokyo, this exhibition communicated its charms while
introducing the role that sento played in society andits transformations.

Special Exhibitions|

Main Projects

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63

2021

○

○

16

17

○
18

THE SENTO:

THE SENTO:

THE SENTO:

The history and the culture of thebathhouses in Tokyo Part 2

The history and the culture of thebathhouses in Tokyo Part 3

The history and the culture of thebathhouses in Tokyo Part 4

October 24 th 2020 – January 31 st 2021
Changed to October 24 th – December 24 th 2020

Cancelled February 27 th – May 30 th 2021

June 26 th – September 12 th 2021

Curation: Kobayashi Manae
Unveiling the history of sento (public bathhouses) inTokyo, this exhibition communicated its charms while
introducing the role that sento played in society andits transformations. (Change of exhibition contents)

Curation: Kobayashi Manae

Curation: Kobayashi Manae*Cancelled due to the temporary closure of themuseum (December 25th 2020 – May 31st 2021)during
the COVID-19 pandemic

Unveiling the history of sento (public bathhouses) inTokyo, this exhibition communicated its charms while
introducing the role that sento played in society and its
transformations. (Change of exhibition contents)

2022

○

○

19

20

○
21

Jomon 2021

Edo-Tokyo Museum Collection

JAPA NESE “TILE”:— Lifestyles and Buildings of the Jomon Era— Tokyo Through the AgesA Century of Beauty and Utility

October 9 th 2021 – May 29 th 2022

June 25 th 2022 – February 12 th 2023

March 11 th – August 20 th 2023

Curatioin: Abe Yukihiro

Curation: Abe Yukihiro

Curation: Kutsusawa Hiroyuki

Held in conjunction with the Edo-Tokyo Museum.
With the references taken over from the Musashino
Folklore Museum at its center, this exhibition
introduced the lifestyle of people in the Jomon period
and featured reconstructed Jomon housing in the
East Zone of the museum.

The permanent exhibition of the Edo-Tokyo Museum,
which entered a lengthy closure for long-term
renovations in April 2022 was compactly organized.
This exhibition introduced the history of Tokyo,
including the materials and models previously
on display, as well as materials collected by theMusashino Folklore Museum.

Commemorating the 100 th anniversary of the word“tile” taking on a unified meaning, this exhibition
looked back on the history of tiles, which are still
essential to architecture today. The exhibition
also toured to the INAX Museums and Mosaic Tile
Museum, Tajimi.

*Exhibitions ⑮, ⑯ and ⑲ changed their periods from the original plans due to the COVID-19 pandemics
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SceneryReconstruction
Project

At the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, the placement of reconstructed buildings in a waythat utilizes the view of the streets has been a part of the project since its early planning phases.
While reconstructing and exhibiting buildings that hold important cultural value, from the Edo to the Showa periods,
it also holds experimental events with re-visualized scenes related to the buildings to
evoke the life and commerce of the time for visitors.
Depending on the formation of each street view, the contents of a project may show a transition. However,through many trials and errors, the museum has aimed to develop a more enjoyable and historical world,
unique to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.
Examples of events include Children’s Day, Downtown Summer Evening, Illumination of Fall Foliage and Buildings,
Special New Year’s Opening, and the Museum Festival.

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65Children’s Day Event (May 4th and 5th)
In the middle of Golden Week, this event provides many activities
supporting the healthy growth of children.
These include making paper kabuto helmets with newspaper ina house, playing with spinning tops and takeuma in a square, and a
shopping game in the local stores in which children go around with ashopping list, tatemono yen currency, and a shopping bag.
These began in May 5, 2000 as an “Experience Children’s Play in
Olden Times” and expanded into a “Children’s Day Event” in 2004.

Illumination of Foil Foliage and Buildings(late November)
Around the time that the trees in the woods that remind us of theMusashino Plain and the trees in the reconstructed garden turn theircolors, the museum opens specially in the evening, and the trees andbuildings are lit up. In the light, the vivid colors and the presence ofthe huge trees and the depth of the buildings stand out. Additionally,
the warm light shining out of the windows of the buildings is worth
noting, as it expresses a different charm of the museum.
These began in November 26-28, 2010.

Downtown Summer Evening (Early August)In the midst of the summer heat, thinking of the time when a coolbreeze comes with the dusk each day, the museum opens speciallyin the evening, reproducing the scene of a summer festival in a local
town. Lanterns hung on the shop fronts, a bon-odori dance in a

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Main Projects|

Scenery Reconstruction Project|square, and stores and old-style stalls create the feeling of a festival,
with people young and old dressed in yukata.
These began in July 20 and 21, 2003.

Special New Year’s Opening(January 2nd and 3rd)Both summer and the new year holidays bringpeople out in the town. The museum opensfrom January 2 nd, and welcomes guests withthe theme of good fortune. To provide visitorswith the feeling of the seasonal events of
the new year, various events are held, suchas shishimai performances, distribution of
pictures of takarabune-e (treasure ships),
dai-kagura performances, and mochi making.
These began in January 2 and 3, 2016.

Happy Coming of Age Day at the Museum
On the special day that marks young people becoming adults, themuseum holds a heartfelt event to celebrate the occasion. It offersa tour around the museum in a rickshaw and a photo shoot in the
Tokiwadai Photo Studio. The newly adult guests visit the museum intheir kimono, brightening the space, and filling it with an atmosphereof joy and happiness.
These began in January 14, 2019.

Demonstration of Traditional Craft(24 times a year)
Based on the fact that one of the reconstructed buildings, the Houseof Uemura, was a dealer in jewellery and had connections with many
craftsmen, performances of traditional crafts from Tokyo take place
twice a month. Two craftsmen whose skills are rarely seen in publicappear for each distinct program, giving the opportunity for visitors
to observe them closely. These performances are held at the Houseof Uemura and Kawano Shoten in the East Zone.
These began in June 27 and 28, 1998.

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Festival (late March)

Tsunashima Family Seasonal Events(8 times a year)

As March 28 th is the anniversary of the museum’s opening, many
events related to the buildings, their life, and the museum are held
when the cherry trees begin to blossom. Events such as our original“Architecture Exercise”, an architecture quiz rally, and a concert at
the Public bathhouse “Kodakara-yu” take place.
These began in March 28, 2011.

At the “Farmhouse of the Tsunashima Family”, which was built inthe mid-Edo period, seasonal events are held based on interview
research: making sour plums, a summer bon festival, drying pickledplums, moon-viewing decoration on jugo-ya (October 15th in the lunar
calendar) and jusan-ya (September 13 th in the lunar calendar), drying
daikon radish, Little New Year, New Year’s decoration with cocoonshaped cakes, and setsubun. Through these seasonal events, visitors
can get a feel for the changing seasons.
These began in February 3, 1998.

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67

68

Educational
Promotion
Projects

The museum offers a place for learning about the history and culture of

School Cooperation

Museum Talk

Utilizing its unique features as an open air museum, visitors areoffered the opportunity to experience and learn through the tools ofdaily life in the reconstructed buildings.
The museum conducts demonstrations and experiences of daily
life in the past, such as lighting fire with charcoal in a hibachi in athatched house, searching for old tools, cleaning an old house, andother seasonal events.
Additionally, for third grade students studying Social Studies and“the changing life of people”, it offers a “life of the past” expedition
map of the museum that can be used in classes.

On the four th Saturday of each month, a museum talk is held,
where curators explain the reconstructed architecture and special
exhibitions. These began in November 1994. In 2022, talks were
held with the themes: Memories of Showa, Aspirations of Showa,
Features of the Special Exhibition “Edo-Tokyo Museum Collection:
The Path Tokyo Followed”, and Christmas at the House of Okawa in
Den’enchofu. The talks are held from 14:30, and last from 30 minutes
to one hour, with no reservations required.

Touchable Exhibitions

Volunteer Work

From 2018 to 2022, touchable models were developed for visuallyimpaired visitors. There are two kinds of model, with some representing
an entire building, and some allowing visitors to feel the floor plans of therooms and the materials used in the house. Exterior and interior modelsof three buildings were produced: House of Okawa in Den’enchofu,
Farmhouse of the Yoshino Family, and Public bathhouse “Kodakara-yu”.
Exterior models of Farmhouse of the Tsunashima Family, House of Koide,
House of Kunio Mayekawa, Stationery store “Takei Sanshodo”, andHouse of Uemura were also made.

We consider volunteer work to be an opportunity for lifelong learning,
and through its activities we aim to improve the experience forvisitors. About 200 volunteers were responsible for 1) controlling thefire places and kitchen stoves in thatched houses, 2) guiding visitors
through the museum, 3) supporting the museum’s projects, and 4)
other independent activities.
In addition, from 2002 a summer holiday kids’ volunteer program,“Hijirokko”, began for children from third grade and above in neighboring
schools, who cleaned houses, guided visitors, and taught old time games
during the summer holidays. (Activities stopped from 2019)|

Main Projects|

Edo-Tokyo, with different kinds of projects aimed at a wide variety ofpeople, from children to adults, as a “museum to learn and have fun”.

Educational Promotion Projects|

Utilizing
DigitalTechnology

The museum aims to integrate digital technology that compliments
the unique characteristics of the open air museum.

360-degree Panoramic View

Opening of “Select and Learn: Edomaru Square”

Based on comments such as, “I would like to go to the Edo-Tokyo
Architectural Museum, but first I want to learn about what kinds ofbuildings it has”, or “I visited the museum, but did not have time to go
round every building”, the museum created a 360-degree panoramicview of the buildings and opened it on the website.
In this panoramic view, the exterior and interior of all 30 buildings
located in the museum can be viewed freely through a computer.
Within your own home, you can see the details of the buildings on thewebsite, even including some sections of certain buildings that are
not open to the public on site.

In July 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum
launched the educational program “Select and Learn: Edomaru Square”
on its website, aiming to support children’s learning. It began with three
concepts: “see and learn”, “research and learn”, and “make and learn”,
and later added “learn in English”. It has operated since it started withregular updates.
The contents include cross-words and paper crafts with themes of thereconstructed architecture in the museum site and open air exhibits, andseasonal events at different times of the year, which users can select according
to their ages and preferences. Using the other technologies previously
implemented, such as the 3D walkthrough “360-degree Panoramic View” andthe “Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Explanation” book sold in themuseum shop, it could develop deeper learning.
Using these contents at school, at home, on school trips, or during private
museum visits, schoolchildren can enjoy the museum from a multi-faceted
perspective.

Audio MRAs a part of the “Anyone can Get Connected
through Culture Project”, aiming at improving
accessibility for those with disabilities,
creating new ways of experiencing art andculture, and being innovative, the museum
introduced a new audio guide application
development in 2021.
The MR platform “Auris”, producedby the compa ny G ATARI, is able tosituate audio like an item in 3D space, afunction this app utilized to embed audio
commentary and ambient sound in thereconstructed East Zone to offer a newexperience for visitors in which visualand audio information merge seamlessly.
At a January 2022 workshop for those
the app is aimed at, the convenienceof realizing viewing without physicalinterference in the cultural assets andthe synergy of the architectural viewingthat the added audio and sound provide
received great praise.

A special device is worn

Workshop|U t i l i z i n g D i g i t a l Te c h n o l o g y|Main Projects|

69About the Facility
The reconstructed buildings surrounded by a green wave of trees tell the history andculture of Edo-Tokyo.The restaurant and cafe is a space for relaxing in the museum.
The site area is 70,164m2 and the exhibition space is 300 m2

70|

A b o ut t h e Fa c i l i t y||

A b o ut t h e Fa c i l i t y|71Results of Operations（1993–2022 ）Number of Visitors

Edo-Tokyo Museum
Number of Visitors
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Number of Visitors

Edo-Tokyo Museum Number of project participantsMuseum Talks(number of times/number of participants)
Hands-on workshops (number of participants)
Edohaku Culture (number of participants)
Note: In FY1994, 119 groups and 942 individuals participated in hands-on workshops, and in FY1996, 387 groups and 257 individuals participated in hands-on
workshops. For convenience, the number of participants was calculated based on the assumption that one group consisted of two individuals.

Edo-Tokyo Museum Facilities on loanNote: The counting method for the Facilities on loan was changed in FY 2001. The figures from FY1993 to FY2000 indicate the number of cases.
The figures from FY2001 to FY2013 indicate the number of days of use.							
		

72

|

Results of Operations||

Results of Operations|73

Edo-Tokyo Museum Number of people who used the facility

Video library(number of users and number of accesses)
Video hall (number of users)
Library (number of visitors)
Note: The counting method for the video library was changed in FY 2000 and FY 2010. Due to system changes,
the number of accesses has been counted since FY 2010.

Edo-Tokyo Museum Number of website accesses

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Number of website accesses

74|

Results of Operations||

Results of Operations|

75

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Number of project participantsHistoric scene reproduction
operations(number of times/
number of participants)
Historic scene reproduction(monthly event)(number of times/
number of participants)
Traditional craft demonstrations(number of times/
number of participants)
Museum Talks(number of times/
number of participants)
Other events
Notes:
1. There are fiscal years for which results have decreased significantly due to closures for renovation work and the COVID-19 pandemic. 		
See the chronological table on p. xxx for the impact on each operation.
2. Historic scene reproduction operations include Children's Day events, Downtown Summer Evening events, Illumination of Fall Foliage 		and Buildings, and New Years at the Open-Air Architectural Museum.
3. Historic scene reproductions (monthly events) conducted by volunteers, such as tea ceremonies at Tokiwadai Photo Studio, portrait drawings, and Yose
performances.
4. The number of participants in "Other events" in FY1998 and FY1999 includes the number of participants in “Traditional craft demonstrations.”

Awards List for the Activities of the Edo-Tokyo Museum
Exhibition
Award Year
FY 2015

OperationAward Details

FY2015 Special Exhibition From Ukiyo-e to
Photography: Cultural Awakening in Japan’s
Visual Field

Okatsuka Akiko’s essay, titled“Photographs of the Meiji Period:
Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for
The Era of Abundant Excellence,” was History and Culture, Edo-Tokyo
awarded the Excellent Essay Award by Museum, The Yomiuri Shimbun
the Japan Association of Art Museums.

Number of Items in the Collection
FY 2020
Number of Materials in theCollection

Number of Sample Materials
and Audiovisual Materials

Number of Restored Buildings
at the Open Air Architectural
Museum

FY2019 Special Exhibition The Tradition of Edo
Creativity — The Skill and Soul of Craftsmen
Give Birth to Japanese Beauty —The exhibition was recognized with theSilver Prize of the Matsunaga Shin
Award in the catalogue category at the62nd National Catalogue Exhibition.

Organizers

Organizers: Tokyo Metropolitan
Foundation for History and Culture,
Edo-Tokyo Museum, Mainichi
Newspapers
Support: Embassy of Italy
Sponsors: Dai Nippon Printing, Toyota
Motor
Cooperation: Museum of Oriental Art in
Venice, Alitalia

Heisei 26

FY 2014592,659

356,839

30

Heisei 27

FY 2015

602,500

361,71230

FY 2014

FY 2014 Collaborative Reference Database

Letter of thanks from the Director of the
National Diet Library
National Diet Library

Heisei 28

FY 2016

607,453362,332

30

FY 2015

FY 2015 Collaborative Reference Database

Letter of thanks from the Director of the
National Diet Library
National Diet Library

Heisei 29

FY 2017

611,707363,23630

FY 2020

FY 2020 Collaborative Reference Database

Letter of thanks from the Director of the
National Diet Library
National Diet Library

Heisei 30

FY 2018

617,335

364,78630

FY 2021

FY 2021 Collaborative Reference Database

Letter of thanks from the Director of the
National Diet Library
National Diet Library

Heisei 31

FY 2019

626,406

364,80830

Library Operations

76|

Management and Operation
FY 2014

Self-defense fire drill review board

Award

Tokyo Fire Department

Certificate of Appreciation

Honjo Police Station

Reiwa 2

FY 2020

611,430

347,25230

FY 2016

Cooperation with security activities associatedwith the G7 Ise-Shima Summit

Reiwa 3

FY 2021610,075

345,90430

FY 2020

Merit for self-defense firefighting activities inautumn fire prevention campaignAward

Honjo Fire Station

Reiwa 4

FY 2022622,672

346,36530

FY 2021

Cooperation with various police forces inconnection with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic andParalympic Games

Certificate of Appreciation

Honjo Police Station

Results of Operations||

Results of Operations|

77

The Edo-Tokyo Museum Chart
Section and number of employees (April 2022 to March 2023)
Director Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum

1Vice Director Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum1

Director of Management Division
Management Section

1
12(3)

Management Division

Curator Division

Research Center of
Edo-Tokyo Urban History
Total

General Accounting Section

5

Project Promotion and Public Relations Section

4

Chief Curator

1

Permanent Exhibitions Section9(2)Collection Management Section

16(2)Special Exhibitions Section

4

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Section

9(3)Director of Research Center of Edo-Tokyo Urban History

1

Research Center Section

15(10)
79(20)

Notes:
1. Figures in parentheses ( ) indicate the number of part-time and short-time staff (specialized researchers, contract staff, librarians, etc.)
2. The Director of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum belongs to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Section.
3. The Director of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum concurrently serves as Deputy Chief of the Programs Promotion Section.

78|

Results of Operations|

Visitor Information
Edo-Tokyo Museum

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum■ Hours:■ Hours:- 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.)- April – September 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. October – March 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

* Last admission 30 minutes before closing time.

* Last admission thirty minutes before closing time.

■ Closed:■ Closed:- Mondays (When Monday is a public holiday, closed on the following
Tuesday instead.)- During the year-end and New Year holidays- Mondays (When Monday is a public holiday, closed on the following		Tuesday instead.)- During the year-end and New Year holidays■ Tickets for Permanent Exhibition:■ Tickets:- General public 600 yen (480 yen)
- students (includes university and occupational school students)
480 yen (380 yen)
- Seniors (65 and over) 300 yen (240 yen)
- Junior high school and high school students (not residents of 		
Tokyo) 300 yen (240 yen)

- General public 400 yen (320 yen)
- students (includes university and occupational school students)
320 yen (250 yen)
- Seniors (65 and over) 200 yen (160 yen)
- Junior high school and high school students (not residents of 		
Tokyo) 200 yen (160 yen)

Admission to the Permanent Exhibition is free of charge for thefollowing visitors:- Preschool and younger children- Junior high school students who are residents of Tokyo- Disability handbook holders and their two caregivers- Atomic bomb survivor chart holders

Admission to the Permanent Exhibition is free of charge for the 		
following visitors:- Preschool and younger children- Junior high school students who are residents of Tokyo- Disability handbook holders and their two caregivers- Atomic bomb survivor chart holders* Prices in ( ) are for groups of 20 or more
* Proof of status may be required.
* Admission fees for Special Exhibitions are set separately from those for
Permanent Exhibitions.

* Prices in ( ) are for groups of 20 or more
* Proof of status may be required.
* Admission fees for Special Exhibitions are set separately from those for
Permanent Exhibitions.

■ Transportation:■ Transportation:- Three minutes on foot from the West Exit of Ryogoku Station 		(JB21, JR Sobu Line Local).
- One minute on foot from the Exit A3 or A4 of Ryogoku Station		(E-12, Toei Oedo Line).
- Three minutes on foot from Toei Ryogoku Eki-Mae bus stop 		(Toei bus; routes 錦27, 両28 and 門33) or bus stop ⑪ (Sumida Ward
Circulation Bus, route South).
- Approximately ten minutes driving either from Komagata Junction(No.6 Mukojima Extension) or from Kinshicho Junction (No.7 		
Komatsugawa Extension) of Shutoko Metropolitan Expressway.
* We have parking lots for buses (advance reservation required, 		paid) and accessible parking spaces.

- From Musashi-Koganei Station (JC15, JR Chuo Line) North Exit,
bus stop No.2 or No.3, five minutes bus ride to Koganei-KoenNishiguchi bus stop (Seibu Bus) then five minutes on foot, or EdoTokyo-Tatemono-En-Mae bus stop (Kanto Bus) then three minutes
on foot.
- From Hana-Koganei Station (SS18, Seibu Shinjuku Line) South
Exit, five minutes bus ride (bound for Koganei-Koen-Nishiguchi,
Seibu Bus), then five minutes on foot from Koganei-KoenNishiguchi bus stop.

■ Address:

1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015, Japan
Tel. 03-3626-9974■ Address:

3-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-0005 (in Koganei Park) , Japan
Tel. 042-388-3300■ Website:

https://www.tatemonoen.jp■ Website:

https://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp|

Visitor Information|

79

About the authors

Akima Takayo

Kanbara Rika

Saito Shin-ichi

Ando Ayumi

Kawaguchi Tomoko

Sugahara Nagisa

Eriguchi Yuko

Kimura Sagiri

Suzuki Ayaka

Fujiwara Yuriko

Komiyama Megumi

Tahara Noboru

Haruki Shoko

Kutsusawa Hiroyuki

Takahashi Hidehisa

Hashimoto Yukiko

Maruyama Haruka

Tanaka Miho

Hayakawa Noriko

Maruyama Naoko

Tanigawa Hajime

Hirano Etsuko

Mashimo Yoshiyuki

Tateishi Momoko

Ichikawa Hiroaki

Nishimura Naoko

Torigoe Chihiro

Inoue Minako

Ochiai Noriko

Tsuda Hiroko

Iwasaki Akane

Park Mihee

The 30 th Anniversary a History

The Edo-Tokyo Museum and
The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Fiscal Years 2014 – 2022

Date of publication

March 31 2024

Publisher

Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Edo-Tokyo Museum

Address

1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015, JapanPhone+81-3-3626-9974 (General Information)

Production

D-CODE inc.