To members of the media

August 31, 2023
Japan Arts Council

New expanded content on the Japan Cultural Expo website

Fuller coverage now available,including a column by art historian Sophie Richard
As of August 31, the Japan Cultural Expo website features greatly expanded content inEnglish to promote Japanese culture and art to readers overseas, kindle interest in cultural
tourism among visitors to Japan, and guide them to sites around the country. New content
includes a column by French-born art historian Sophie Richard and feature articles by writerand editor Mari Hashimoto. Ms. Richard has spent more than a decade covering art museums
across the country, and Ms. Hashimoto is an expert in Japanese art whose insight helps us
appreciate the essence of Japanese culture and its formative environment. The site will also
serve as a tour guide by providing expanded information on topics in the feature articles,
which we hope inspires further interest in and exploration of cultural tourism.

About Japan Cultural Expo:
The Japan Cultural Expo is an initiative of the Japanese government to enhance the appealof Japanese arts and culture.
Led by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council, it is a collaborative, interagency project drawing on the cooperation of numerous public and private sector partners.
The Japan Cultural Expo was launched as a nationwide celebration of Japanese arts andculture to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Now, Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 has taken over those cultural initiatives and is connecting
people with culture.

To members of the media

Main site image
Site overview■ Start of expanded content:

August 31, 2023

■ URL:

https://japanculturalexpo.bunka.go.jp/

Site content■ Column / Sophie Richard wanders around Japan
Observations and suggested destinations in line with the feature article topic are offeredby art historian Sophie Richard, drawing on more than 10 years of visiting and writing about
art museums across the country. From a fresh perspective, the column shares what makes themuseums, galleries, architecture, and art of Japan so appealing.

Sophie Richard
Born in Provence and educated at the Ecole du Louvre and the Sorbonne in Paris,
Sophie Richard has been travelling to Japan for the past 17 years. Passionate about
Japanese arts and culture, she set out to explore the country's many museums. Her
first book on the subject was published in 2014 and was subsequently translated into
Japanese. Her second book The Art Lovers’ Guide to Japanese Museums waspublished in 2019. Sophie has been a contributor to Japanese television programs,
writes articles on Japanese arts and culture for various publications and she iscurrently producing a series of video interviews under the title Encounters with Japan.
She collaborates with Bunkacho as an advisor for Japan Cultural Expo and thepromotion of Japanese culture towards a foreign audience.
In 2015 her work was recognised by the Agency of Cultural Affairs in Japan and she
received the Commissioner's Award.

To members of the media■ Feature articles
Insight from Japanese art expert writer and editor Mari Hashimoto encourages a deeper
appreciation of Japanese culture and its formative environment. We hope you find yourself
wanting to visit and explore more for yourself.

HASHIMOTO Mari
Director of Kankitsuzan Art Museum establishment preparation office, Odawara Art Foundation.
Former Vice-chairperson of Eisei Bunko Museum (Private Museum of Hosokawa dynasty)
Visiting Professor, Kanazawa Institute of Technology

She is a writer/editor who specializes in Japanese arts. She is known for her contributions
to major newspapers/magazines and for her appearances on arts programs on NHK(Japan Broadcasting Corporation). Her publications include Kazaru Nihon (DecorateJapan, Iwanami Shoten); Bijutsu de tadoru Nihon no rekishi (Japanese history traced byart, 3 volumes, Chobunsha Publishing); Kyoto de Nihon bijutsu wo miru [Kyoto Kokuritsu
Bijutsukan] (Appreciation of Japanese arts in Kyoto [Kyoto National Museum], Shueisha
Creative Publication); Kawari Kabuto Sengoku no COOL DESIGN (Kawari Kabuto, Cool
design of the Sengoku period, Shinchosha Publishing); Shungart (co-authored,Shogakukan); Gensun bijutsukan 100% Hokusai! (Full-scale museum, Hokusai 100%!,co-authored, Shogakukan); and Nihon bijutsu zenshu Vol. 20 (Complete collection ofJapanese Art Vol. 20, Shogakukan, edited).

■ Tour guide
Touring the sites introduced in feature articles to experience them firsthand provides amore intimate understanding of this new insight on the environment and culture of Japan.
Besides introducing the main attraction, this guidance also touches on noteworthy aspects oflocal culture, encouraging exploration through tourism.
■ Recommended tours
Visitors to Japan will also appreciate this content, which includes the places andexperiences recommended by Japan Cultural Expo as part of tours for sightseers.
■ Summary articles
Curated articles organized by keywords that often resonate with visitors, whetherTo members of the media

traditional Japan, museums, ukiyo-e, cherry blossoms, recommendations, or others. For
readers with a keen interest in art, culture, and touring Japan.
■ Staff Editor’s NoteArticles encouraging cultural tourism, from the unmatched perspective of the Japan
Cultural Expo Secretariat.
■ Must-see hotspots – enticing destinations
A detailed treasure trove of galleries, museums, theaters, and events in Japan.

要差し替え

The feature theme for August 2023 is “National Treasures”.
In the future, we plan to feature the following themes for each season.

① October 2023:

Nature and the Four Seasons② November 2023: Crafts③ January 2024:

Architecture and Design④ February 2024:

Spiritual Experiences⚫
The latest information on Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 can be found on the official website
and various social media accounts.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JapanCulturalExpo/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/japanculturalexpo/
X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/enJPCultureExpo
Official website - https://japanculturalexpo.bunka.go.jp/
Contact
Japan Cultural Expo Secretariat
Email: nihonhaku@ntj.jac.go.jp
Hours 9:30–5:30 JST (except weekends and holidays)