News Letter
Japan Cultural Expo Secretariat,

November 14th, 2022
To all members of the press

Japan Arts Council

The beauty of Japan according toJapan Cultural Expo ambassador Kuroyanagi Tetsuko
Experience events symbolizing the beauty and the spirit of Japanon the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo National Museum
The Japan Cultural Expo presents a range of events such as an exhibition of objects
that are candidates for future national treasures, VR experiences, and play readings
by popular voice actors, that will give the audience a more intimate experience ofJapanese culture

November 3rd is Culture Day in Japan. The Japan Cultural Expo is a program of events that aims tobring the beautiful culture of Japan to a wide audience with a variety of events presented all over thecountry, including exhibitions and art events, VR video and workshop experiences, and a not-to-bemissed tour of the National Theatre of Japan. On this occasion, Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, public relations
ambassador for the Japan Cultural Expo, visited the Tokyo National Museum, which is celebrating its
150th anniversary, and spoke, once again, about the appeal of Japanese culture that can be enjoyedwhile experiencing Japan Cultural Expo events.

An item on display in the 150th Anniversary Special
Exhibition Tokyo National Museum: Its History andNational Treasures
National treasure: Blade for a Long Sword (Tachi),Named “Mikazuki Munechika”(Heian period, 10th–12th century, Tokyo National
Museum, Gift of Seiichiro Watanabe)

Japan Cultural Expo ambassador Kuroyanagi Tetsuko during her visit
to the Tokyo National Museum (photo by Nikaido Ken)

Tokyo National Museum 150th Anniversary Logo

1

News Letter

SUMMARY OF THE NEWSLETTER■A visit to the Tokyo National Museum by Japan Cultural Expo ambassador
Kuroyanagi Tetsuko! Speaking, once again, about the beauty of Japan
Japan Cultural Expo ambassador Kuroyanagi Tetsuko visited the Tokyo National
Museum, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and spoke, once again,
about the beauty of Japan and the appeal of the Tokyo National Museum.

■Enjoy the history of Japanese culture and artworks with a focus on the futureat Tokyo National Museum, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year
In commemoration of its 150th anniversary, Tokyo National Museum is presentinga special exhibition that will display all the 89 national treasures held in themuseum s collection, together with an unusual exhibition of items that may become
Japan s national treasures 150 years from now, in a program of events that allow
visitors to experience both the past and future of Tokyo National Museum.

■A closer experience of Japanese culture! Introducing a variety of events for thisfall and winterThrough media such as VR videos, workshops, and play readings, visitors canenjoy a range of content that will help them feel closer to Japanese culture.

For inquiries please contact:
Japan Cultural Expo Secretariat General Affairs 2
Tel: 03-3265-6041 (reception), Email: nihonhaku@ntj.jac.go.jp

2

News Letter
Japan Cultural Expo public relations ambassador Kuroyanagi Tetsuko makes a visit to theTokyo National Museum! Speaking, once again, about the appeal of Japanese beauty■Comments from Japan Cultural Expo ambassador Kuroyanagi Tetsuko on her visit to theTokyo National Museum, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year
My name is Kuroyanagi Tetsuko and I’m honored to be acting as public relations ambassador for theJapan Cultural Expo. The concept of the Japan Cultural Expo can be expressed as none other than thebeauty of Japan. As public relations ambassador, it is my great pleasure to promote, in a way that is easyto-understand and accessible to a greater number of people, the beauty of Japan that has been passed
down to us since days of old and cultural artefacts that allow visitors to the expo to feel the spirit of Japan.
These cultural artefacts include kimono and washoku, which I myself adore, traditional theater such as
Kabuki and Noh, and artworks on display at the Tokyo National Museum, which I am visiting today.
―Experiencing the Tokyo National Museum 150th
Anniversary Special Program
One of the things embodying this beauty of Japanare the national treasures housed here at the Tokyo
National Museum. The museum with the longest
history in Japan, the Tokyo National Museum is home
to 89 national treasures. This is a very valuable
opportunity to see the museum’s national treasures,
which are not typically on view to the public, as theentire 89 will be on display to mark the memorial year
this year. Japan has some 900 art and craft works thatare designated as national treasures, and this is an

Kuroyanagi Tetsuko visiting the exhibition “Tokyo National
Museum: Its History and National Treasures”（Photo by Nikaido Ken）

amazing opportunity to be able to see 10% of them
here. It was also my first opportunity to see them, andI can say that they were all wonderful. The sight of
the Japanese swords lined up in a row was a highlightfor me. I felt a sense of fear and awe as I found myself
holding my breath as I viewed them. It is alsointeresting how calligraphy has changed to a softerstyle through time. I was able to learn about thehistory of the museum, and I enjoyed viewing theexhibitions while imagining how people who visitedthe museum 150 years ago must have been similarly
impressed.

Japan Cultural Expo ambassador Kuroyanagi Tetsuko with Gate
Guardians (Heian period, 12th century, Tokyo National
Museum) (Photo by Nikaido Ken)

― A message to the public
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of its founding, the Tokyo National Museum is holding a special
exhibition displaying national treasures introduced earlier, as well as an interesting event showing works
that may very well be national treasures 150 years from now. We would like many people to experience the3News Letter
beauty and the spirit of Japan at the Tokyo National Museum, which is taking a broadly sweeping view
from its inauguration 150 years ago to 150 years into the future.
Not only this, but the Japan Cultural Expo program will take place nationwide to allow for a multifacetedenjoyment of Japanese culture, such as through VR videos and workshops offering experiences of the
Jomon period, and the final year of the National Theatre of Japan, which opened in 1966, before its
refurbishment. Many events are coming as we head to the 2025 World Expo to be held in Osaka, so wewelcome everyone to come along and take part.

Enjoy Japanese culture and art at the Tokyo National Museum, which is celebrating its 150th
anniversary this year
■150th Anniversary Special Exhibition
Tokyo National Museum: Its History and National Treasures
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of its founding, the Tokyo
National Museum is holding its first-ever special exhibition, in which all
89 national treasures in the museum’s collection will be on display.
Including an impactful corner where all the museum’s 19 nationaltreasure swords are exhibited together, the museum is presenting theappeal of its national treasures on an unprecedented scale.
In addition to national treasures, the museum is also presenting its
history from the Meiji through the Reiwa eras through items in thecollection and related materials from each era. Also on display are
reproductions of items that were on display in the Yushima Seidō
Exposition, held 150 years ago, and from the time of the Imperial
Museum. Offering a sense of the history of the museum andNational Treasure: Tomb Sculpture(Haniwa): Warrior in Keikō Armor(From Iizuka-cho, Ota-shi, Gunma, Kofun
period, 6th century, Tokyo National
Museum)experiences of the surprises and emotions that people must havefelt 150 years ago, this is a perfect exhibition for the memorial year.
We welcome you to take this special opportunity to visit the Tokyo
National Museum.
*Some of the works on display will be changed during the exhibition period. For information on theworks, such as titles and exhibition period, please visit List of Works on the exhibition’s official
website.
《Exhibition official website: https://tohaku150th.jp/》
Venue: Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum
Dates: October 18th (Tue) to December 11th (Sun)4

News Letter■Our National Treasures: 150 Years in the Future
In an exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of thefounding of the museum, candidates for national treasuresthat people hope to pass down into the future 150 years fromnow are displayed along with their background stories.
This exhibition is the first open-call exhibition in the historyof the Tokyo National Museum. Personal treasures that could
become national treasures 150 years into the future havebeen collected from individuals and companies. Putting ourheads together to think about them offers a new opportunity
to feel the appeal of such items for people who have had few
chances to see cultural properties and those who have notyet visited the Tokyo National Museum.
Candidates for national treasure are daily-life items, such as
mobile phones, cars, comics, games, and fashion. Pleaseenjoy a magnificent time capsule that has never existed
before, where the passage of 150 years will create newnational treasures.
《Special website: https://150ourtreasure.jp/》
Venue: Hyokeikan, Tokyo National Museum
Dates: November 2nd (Wed) to January 29th (Sun)■Regular Exhibitions
In the Regular Exhibitions, Japanese and Asian cultural assets fromvarious fields such as archeology, fine arts, and crafts, together withhistorical documents are on exhibit in five exhibition halls: the Tokyo
National Museum Japanese Gallery (Honkan), Japanese Archaeology andSpecial Exhibition (Heiseikan), Asian Gallery (Toyokan), the Gallery of
Horyuji Treasures, and Kuroda Memorial Hall. A total of 3,000 items areon exhibit, and a range of items in the collection and on loan are viewable
at any time. Exhibits are changed about 300 times a year, so you are sure
to discover something new each time you visit.
In 2022, as a project commemorating the 150th anniversary of themuseum’s founding, special thematic exhibitions will be held throughout
the buildings. We welcome you to come enjoy them.

5News Letter
150th anniversary commemorative project special thematic exhibitions, held in
November and December■Future National Treasures: Masterpieces of Painting and Calligraphy from theMuseum Collection (※ exhibits will change during the exhibition period)
Venue: Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2 / Dates: April 12th (Tue), 2022 to April 9th(Sun) 2023
■Future National Treasures: Masterpieces of Sculpture, Decorative Art, andArchaeology from the Museum Collection (※ exhibits will change during the exhibition
period)Venue: Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 11 and 14 / Dates: September 6th (Tue) toDecember 25th (Sun), 2022
■Rediscovered! Tracing the Journeys of Ancient Textiles and the Ōtani Expeditions
Venue: AsianGallery (Toyokan) Room 5 / Dates: September 21st (Wed) to December
4th (Sun), 2022
■Islamic Ceramics from the TNM Collection
Venue: Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 5 / Dates: October 4th (Tue), 2022 to January
22nd (Sun), 2023
■Conserving Ancient Textiles: An Endeavor Spanning Five Decades
Venue: The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures Room 6 / Dates: October 18th (Tue) toDecember 11th (Sun), 2022
■The Gō Seinosuke Netsuke Collection
Venue: Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 12 / Dates: November 2nd (Wed) 2022 toJanuary 22nd (Sun), 2023
■The Prince Takamado Collection of Netsuke—A 20th Anniversary Exhibition
Dedicated to the Memory of His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado
Venue: Heiseikan Thematic Exhibition Room / Dates: November 15th (Tue) toDecember 25th (Sun), 2022

6

News Letter
Become more intimate with Japanese culture! Introducing events to be held this fall andwinter, from VR experiences to play readings by popular voice actors
The Japan Cultural Expo offers a variety of VR videos, workshops, and play readings by popular
voice actors to bring the appeal of Japanese culture to a greater number of people. We invite you toenjoy content that will help you feel more intimate with Japanese culture.
■JOMON DAYS／JOMON DAYS SATELLITE
Learning about the sustainable way of living in the
Jomon period through original VR and workshops
Jomon Days is an exhibition and event where visitors canexperience the sustainable way of living in the Jomon period
through a look at its life and culture. Through videos produced forthis project and exhibits of stone tools, dogū (clay figurines),
earthenware, and fossilized fish bones excavated from the
Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site in Aomori, which was
registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2021 as part of the
Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, this exhibition
introduces the sustainable way of living of the period.

Earthenware excavated from the SannaiMaruyama site

Jomon Days brings you an original VR experience where you can enter a Jomon period pit dwelling, aworkshop where you can make miniature earthenware and comma-shaped beads, and also a time capsuleproject “To us in 2025” through which participants can set goals for how to work toward SDGs and keepthese as a time capsule until 2025.
The Jomon culture, which survived for more than 10,000 years, was nurtured by the Jomon people, who
adapted to climate change and lived as a part of nature while experiencing various natural disasters. The
Jomon culture was a culture that respected all living things in the natural world and wished for theregeneration and circulation of life, and it is believed to have been a culture without major conflicts and inwhich villages helped each other, a culture unparalleled in the entire world. Jomon cultural values
encapsulate our concept of SDGs, which is exactly what is required of us today. Taking a fresh look at
Japan’s Jomon culture can enable us to see what the future of the Japanese people and of Japan in theinternational community should be.
Dates: October 1st (Sat), 2022 to January 9th (Mon), 2023
Venue: 4F, Tokyu Plaza Ginza (5-2-1 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo)

7

News Letter■ National Theatre Open House ： In Commemoration of theReconstruction Project－Towards a New Adventure－
A unique experience that can only be enjoyed at the National
Theatre before its redevelopment.
The National Theatre, which opened in 1966, will be undertaking
refurbishments for six years commencing in the fall, 2023 in a new step
toward its future. National Theatre Open House is an event that is part of
the “National Theatre Reconstruction Project – Towards a New Adventure–” before the theatre’s redevelopment. Its lobby and auditorium that arenormally only accessible to performance ticket holders will be made widely
open to the public.
The National Theatre has many noteworthy features including its distinctive
façade, its vestibule and interior, and gallery showcasing works by some ofJapan's leading artists. Through the Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Theatre
Lobby, visitors will be able to explore the inside of the theatre and its
hidden charms using the audio guide app.

“Kagamijishi” sculpted by
Hirakushi Denchu

This program also offers a Stage Tour, where visitors can enjoy a first-hand experience of Kabuki stage
mechanisms such as the Hanamichi and the revolving stage. Standing on the same stage as the actors,
visitors can have a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the gorgeous world of the kabuki stage.
Furthermore, as a special event to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of sculptor Hirakushi
Denchu, the project is presenting a lecture and demonstration in which you can enjoy the delights of oneof his masterpieces “Kagamijishi”, a symbol of the National Theatre that has been much loved over theyears. In addition to a special lecture by an invited lecturer from the Kodaira Hirakushi Denchu Art
Museum, visitors will also be able to appreciate a live performance of “Shunkyo Kagamijishi,” a famous

Nagauta piece.
Dates: December 11th (Sun) and December 12th (Mon), 2022
Venue: Large Theatre, National Theatre (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo)

8

News Letter■The 43rd World Heritage Theater—Daigoji Temple—A Symphony of Esoteric Buddhism andCulture, Nature and Culture
Experience the teachings of esoteric Buddhism through play readings by popular voice actors
The founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi—also known as Kukai—has had a great influence on theJapanese people. His teachings will be presented at Daigoji Temple in a variety of media such as playreadings and noh performances over the course of two days from Saturday December 17th to Sunday
18th. Daigoji Temple, a leading temple of the Shingon sect, is a registered World Cultural Heritage site.
On Saturday 17th, popular voice actors Namikawa Daisuke, Masuda Toshiki,
and Ueda Hitomi will appear in the play reading of The Saint of Mt. Koya (byIzumi Kyoka) and The Earth God and the Fox (by Miyazawa Kenji). Visitors canenjoy powerful performances by famous voice actors in a solemn art spacesurrounded by the Buddhist statues and works of art of Daigoji Temple. In
particular, The Saint of Mt. Koya presents the fantastic world experienced bymonks training deep in the mountains. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn
about the teachings of esoteric Buddhism, founded by Kukai, through a playreading. Also part of the program is The Culture of Esoteric Buddhism and theHistory of Daigoji Temple,” a lecture that will be presented in an accessible way
for younger generations by scholar of Japanese literature Nakanishi Susumu.
Meanwhile, the program for Sunday 18th also features a concert of shomyo, aDaigoji Temple

style of chanting used in Buddhist rituals; a Noh performance of Jinen the Lay
Monk by living national treasure Otsuki Bunzo and others; and a forum Thus Spoke Kukai, where experts
from various fields including biologist Fukuoka Shinichi and sociologist Furuichi Noritoshi will talk about
the significance of esoteric Buddhism in this day and age.
Dates: December 17th (Sat), 2022 Opening time: 3:30 p.m. Start time: 4:30 p.m.
December 18th (Sun), 2022 Opening time: 3:00 p.m. Start time 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Reihokan, Daigoji Temple (Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture)《Other events scheduled for the fall and winter》
Event nameLocation

Japanese Modernization
Heritage—Utilizing the Strengthand Beauty of Naturenationwide

Venue

Dates

nationwide※
Please check here for details.
https://www.zenkin.jp/koukai/Oct. 1st–Nov. 30th,2022

Sinpokan Special Exhibition“Creating the Heart of Karatsu
Pottery Nakazato Taroemon
Exhibition”

Fukuoka

Munakata Shrine Shinpokan
Museum (Munakata City)

Season 1
Oct.1st–December
4th
Season 2
Dec.7th 2022–
February 5th, 2023

Special Exhibition Chanoyu: Tea
in the Cultural Life of Kyoto

Kyoto

Kyoto National Museum, Heisei
Chishinkan Wing (Kyoto City)

Oct. 8th–Dec. 4th,2022
9

News Letter
Tokiwaso Street Showa Retro
Museum (Toshima Showa
Museum of History and Culture)(Toshima Ward)

Toshima Ward 90th Anniversary
Commemorative Project
Exhibition: Manga Edutainment!

Tokyo

New National Theatre, Tokyo(drama)Series: Bridge to the Future
Vol.ⅠMy Month (Nov.)
Vol.ⅡBeaching at Dawn (Dec.)

Tokyo

Fireworks for Everyone

Tokyo

Kōgei Dining 2022 Kōgei and
Gastronomy

Fukuoka

Ryoeti Sagano (Fukuoka City)

Nov. 22nd, 2022

Food culture experience event
Cultural Exchange Program
between Japan and the Vatican－A day to experience theunknown charms of Nagasaki
and Sotome

NagasakiFormer Shitsu Aid Center andother locations (Nagasaki City)

Nov. 27th, 2022

STAND BY FESTIVAL

Osaka

Creative Center Osaka (OsakaCity)

Dec. 23rd–25th,
2022

New National Theatre, Tokyo(Shibuya Ward)

Summerland Parking Lot 2(Akiruno City)

Nov. 3rd, 2022–
Feb. 28th, 2023

Nov. 2nd–20th/
Dec. 1st–18th,
2022

Nov. 19th, 2022

10

News Letter
Reference section■What is the Japan Cultural Expo?
The Japan Cultural Expo is an initiative to rediscover the charm ofJapanese culture by offering experiences of the beauty and the spirit of Japan through events such as
exhibitions, stage performances, and art festivals held all over the country.
The Japan Cultural Expo is distinctive for:⚫

presenting a top-class cultural festival by artists carefully selected from a range of artistic genres⚫

being a project that rediscovers the charms of regional Japan through a cross-fertilization of local
cultural resources and food culture⚫

offering ultra cutting-edge virtual experiences through cutting-edge technologies such as theMetaverse⚫

being a project that is open to the participation of all and that opens up to the future though thepower of youth⚫

working in collaboration with international artists and cultural facilities

Japan Cultural Expo official website:
https://japanculturalexpo.bunka.go.jp/en11