International Symposium

Creating a Global Museum Community through the Arts of Japan:
Challenges in and after the Era of COVID-19
January 30 (Sat.), 2021
Online Event

Installation view of Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, 2020, Seattle Asian Art Museum

Introduction to the Symposium
The coronavirus pandemic has brought about radical changes in the way we live our lives.
While taking preventive measures against the virus, museum professionals around the world
have thought deeply about what the post-lockdown museum will look like. In light of the current
situation, we have decided to hold our international symposium completely online. The title ofthe FY2020 program will be“Creating a Global Museum Community through the Arts of Japan:
Challenges in and after the Era of COVID-19.”
There will be two major themes. First, the speakers will discuss how they have approachedJapanese art and disseminated the results of their research under the restrictions of movement
across international borders. The second theme is presenting Japanese art online with digital
data. During the museum closures caused by lockdowns, museums around the world haveproduced many videos and other online productions accessible through their website and social
media platforms. Presentations will reveal the advantages and disadvantages of the online
content created by their museums.
Many people continue to be infected with the novel coronavirus, and the future remains
unclear. For this reason, we would like to think about what we can do through the arts of Japan,
about the possibilities and future of museums in this symposium, and make these discussions
accessible around the world.

Kawano Kazutaka
Supervisor, Research Div.,Tokyo National Museum

International Symposium

Creating a Global Museum Community through the Arts of Japan:
Challenges in and after the Era of COVID-19
January 30 (Sat.), 2021
Online Event
13:30-13：40

Opening Remarks
Mr. Zeniya Masami | Executive Director, Tokyo National Museum
Chairperson: Mr. Kazutaka Kawano | Supervisor, Research Div., Tokyo National
Museum13：40-14：20

Keynote Speech: True Grit to Absorb Other Cultures
Mr. Hida Toyojiro | Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

14：25-14：45

Presentation 1: Presenting Japanese Art in Cross-cultural Milieux at the SEATTLEASIAN ART MUSEUM
Dr. Xiaojin Wu | Curator of Japanese and Korean Art, Seattle Art Museum

14：45-15：05

Talk Session: with Mr. Goto Hisashi | Senior Curator, Fukuoka Art Museum

15：10-15：30

Presentation 2: From #culturedoesntstop to #openbutsafe and Back Again
Activating the Japanese Collection at the MK&G
Ms. Wibke Schrape | Head of East Asian Department, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe
Hamburg

15：30-15：45

Talk Session: with Dr. Mary Redfern | Curator of East Asian Collections, Chester Beatty

15：55-16：15

Presentation 3: Digital Initiatives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Age ofCovid
Dr. Aaron Rio | Associate Curator of Japanese Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

16：15-16：30

Talk Session: with Dr. Laura Allen | Chief Curator and Curator of Japanese Art, AsianArt Museum of San Francisco

16：35-16：55

Presentation 4: Plum Blossoms Bloom Beautifully after Enduring the Snow – Tokyo
National Museum’s Special Exhibitions during the Pandemic
Mr. Inokuma Kaneki | Senior Manager, Special Exhibition Planning, Tokyo National
Museum

16：55-17：10

Talk Session: with Ms. Sanekata Yoko | Head, Curatorial Board, Sen-Oku Hakukokan
MuseumClosing