#Japanese Art

Who Was Toshusai Sharaku? The “Mystery Artist” Who Vanished After Ten Months: Major Actor Prints, Theories on His Identity, and Where to See Them

Toshusai Sharaku debuted suddenly in 1794 with 28 mica-ground okubi-e actor portraits and disappeared about ten months later. A guide to his four periods and major works, the theories about who he was, and where to see his prints.

Who Was Kitagawa Utamaro? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of Beauties Behind “Three Beauties of the Kansei Era,” and Where to See Them

Kitagawa Utamaro won fame with okubi-e close-up portraits of women, working with the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo. A guide to his life and major works, his clash with the shogunate’s censorship, and where to see his work, including the British Museum’s Edo painting exhibition.

Who Was Utagawa Hiroshige? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” and Where to See Them

Utagawa Hiroshige won fame with “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” and his “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” was copied by Van Gogh. A guide to his life and major works, the color known as “Hiroshige blue,” and where to see his prints, from the Tokyo National Museum’s Hiroshige exhibition to museums named after him.

Who Was Katsushika Hokusai? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master Behind “The Great Wave,” and Where to See Them

Known worldwide for “Under the Wave off Kanagawa,” Katsushika Hokusai kept painting until his death at 90. A guide to his life, his major works from “Hokusai Manga” and “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” to the paintings of his final years, and where to see them, including The Sumida Hokusai Museum and the Hokusai-kan Museum in Obuse.

Who Was Utagawa Kuniyoshi? Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of Warriors, Cats and Giant Skeletons, and Where to See Them

Utagawa Kuniyoshi won fame with his “Suikoden” warrior prints and still astonishes viewers with his cat caricatures and the giant skeleton of “Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre.” A guide to his life, major works, the wit that dodged the Tenpo Reforms, and where to encounter his prints and video installations.

What Is Japonisme? How Ukiyo-e Influenced Monet and Van Gogh, and Related Exhibitions to See in Japan Now

Japonisme was the craze for Japanese art in late-19th-century Europe. How did ukiyo-e influence Monet and Van Gogh? A guide to the key artists and works, and related exhibitions in Japan in 2026–2027.

Famous Japanese Yokai and Masterpieces of Yokai Art: The Night Parade Scrolls, Toriyama Sekien, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi—and Museums to Meet Them

Kappa, tengu, oni, tsukumogami and rokurokubi: Japan’s yokai have been drawn from Muromachi-period picture scrolls to Edo-period yokai encyclopedias, ukiyo-e and manga. A guide to representative yokai, masterpieces of yokai art, and museums and exhibitions where you can meet them in person or on screen.

12 Famous Ukiyo-e Prints: From Hokusai’s “Great Wave” to Sharaku and Kuniyoshi—Highlights and Where to See Them

Hokusai’s “Under the Wave off Kanagawa,” Hiroshige’s “Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” Utamaro’s beauties, Sharaku’s actor portraits and Kuniyoshi’s giant skeleton: 12 ukiyo-e masterpieces, with notes on the artists, what to look for, and where to see them in person or as moving images.

[Autumn/Winter 2026] Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi Art Guide: Asakura Museum of Sculpture, Takehisa Yumeji Museum, Mori Ogai Memorial Museum and More

A roundup, as of October 31, of exhibitions at eight museums, galleries and other sites in and around Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi (“Yanesen”). The special exhibition at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture runs until December 27, and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE opens a Nobuko Tsuchiya exhibition on November 4. We also sort out the different closing days and suggest routes.

[Autumn/Winter 2026] Ebisu, Shirokanedai and Meguro Art Guide: Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Yamatane Museum of Art and More

A roundup, as of October 31, of exhibitions at seven museums in the Ebisu, Shirokanedai and Meguro area. The Marimekko exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum runs until December 20, and the Yamatane Museum of Art’s 60th-anniversary exhibition until December 6. We also sort out the different closing days and how to get around from the stations.

[Autumn/Winter 2026] Omotesando, Aoyama and Harajuku Art Guide: Nezu Museum, Ota Memorial Museum of Art, Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum and More

A roundup, as of October 31, of exhibitions at five museums and galleries in the Omotesando, Aoyama and Harajuku area. The Nezu Museum’s “Bugaku Costumes” runs until November 23, and the Katsushika Oi exhibition at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art until December 6. We also sort out the different closing days and how to get around from the stations.

Architect Toyo Ito and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto Among 2026 Order of Culture Recipients; Nihonga Painter Hiroshi Senju Named a Person of Cultural Merit

The recipients of the Order of Culture and the Persons of Cultural Merit for fiscal 2026 were announced on October 23. Architect Toyo Ito and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of “Super Mario” and other games, will receive the Order of Culture, and Nihonga painter Hiroshi Senju was named a Person of Cultural Merit. The conferment ceremony will be held at the Imperial Palace on November 3.

“Hakuin World” at the Eisei Bunko Museum and Waseda University’s Aizu Museum: The First Joint Project Linking the Collections of Moritatsu Hosokawa and Shigenori Tomioka

The first joint project of the Eisei Bunko Museum (Bunkyo City) and the Waseda University Aizu Museum (Shinjuku City) presents paintings and calligraphy by the Edo-period Zen monk Hakuin Ekaku at both venues. The Eisei Bunko Museum’s exhibition runs until Sunday, November 29, and the Aizu Museum’s until Tuesday, December 8; admission to the latter is free.

National Archives of Japan’s “Playful Spirits” Is Free Until December 6: Edo-Period Books and Records Featuring Kappa and Mermaids

The National Archives of Japan’s exhibition “Playful Spirits: Yokai and Fantastic Beasts in the Edo Period” is being held at its Tokyo main building in Takebashi. It presents records of the uncanny written down by people of the Edo period, including the “Suiko Koryaku,” which shows five different scenes of kappa. Until Sunday, December 6, free admission.

Contemporary Craft Exhibition “Aikyakuko” at Kyoto’s Ginkaku-ji Ran Until November 10, with Tomioka Tessai’s Sliding-Door Paintings in a Normally Closed Study Hall

Works by 16 artists using clay, lacquer, glass and other materials were shown in the study hall and Shuhoken of Higashiyama Jishoji. The exhibition was supervised by Hiromi Kurosawa, former chief curator of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Advance registration was required, and admission, including temple entry, was ¥3,000.

“From When Is Now? — Settai Komura and Takuro Tamayama” at Shiseido Gallery from November 3, Pairing a New Tamayama Work with Settai Materials

Three items by Settai Komura, who handled Japanese-style design in Shiseido’s design department from 1918 to 1923, are shown alongside a new installation by Takuro Tamayama at the Ginza gallery that opened in 1919. Admission is free.

Adachi Museum of Art Announces Four Special Exhibitions for Fiscal 2027, Including a Bunten 120th Anniversary Show and an Autumn Show Featuring Yokoyama Taikan’s “Muga”

The Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, has announced its spring, summer, autumn and winter special exhibitions in the Main Building starting in March 2027. Drawing on the museum’s collection, they take up themes such as Nihonga painters of the government-sponsored exhibitions and works that marked turning points for painters.

National Treasure “Daigo-ji Documents and Sacred Texts” Expands to 94,192 Items, with the Commemorative Exhibition “Prayers in 100,000 Items” at the Reihokan Through December 6

Following a survey of all some 100,000 items, the National Treasure designation of the documents and sacred texts handed down at Daigo-ji in Kyoto is being expanded. The temple’s Reihokan museum is holding a commemorative special exhibition showing Tawaraya Sotatsu’s “Scattered Fans” and the National Treasure Yakushi Triad.

What Is the Digitization of Cultural Properties? From High-Resolution Replicas, 3D Scanning and Digital Archives to Video Exhibits

The revised Museum Act added the digitization and publication of materials to museums’ activities. Using official materials, we cover everything from the terms of use for ColBase images to high-resolution replicas, 3D scanning and immersive exhibits at national museums.