Celebrating the 1,300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital

Visit Museums & Art Events All around Nara!

Traditionally Japanese people consider autumn to be the best season of all to enjoy many kinds of activities: eating autumn specialties, reading, sports, hiking, etc.. And one of the common sayings states that autumn is the season for art! In Nara there are many great museums, each deeply associated with Japanese history and cul- ture, which should not be missed by foreign visitors. Also some interesting special art events are being held around Nara this autumn. Visit one or more and dis- cover old and new art and culture from Nara!

Nara National Museum Beauty of Japanese Buddhist Art: Opened in 1895, the Nara National Museum is one of the famous national museums in Japan, especially renowned for its large collection of Buddhist art from different periods of Japanese history. There are four exhibition buildings and something is always on: East Wing, West Wing, Buddhist Sculpture Hall (closed Sept. 13-Oct. 2) and Bronze Ware Gallery (closed Sept. 13-Oct. 2).; Oct. 29-Nov. 14: The 63rd Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures: The Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures will provide a glimpse into the splen- dor of cherished artifacts that came to Japan from China and along the Silk Road during the Nara period (710-784), as well as items produced in Japan during that time.; Shoso-in Repository contains about 9,000 other items and selected pieces are exhibited every year. It is miraculous that the treasures have been stored and preserved in such perfect condition especially since no other examples of such items exist anywhere else in the world.; Open: 9:30-17:00 (open until 19:00 on Fridays until end of Oct.); Closed Mon. (except for between the Shoso-in Exhibition); 500 yen for regular exhibition (Shoso-in Exhibition is 1,000 yen); Tel: 050-5542-8600; map A, B-4, pg 6; http://www.narahaku.go.jp/

Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City Superb collection of photography of Nara: Taikichi Irie (1905-1992) was a Japanese photographer born in Nara. He opened a photographic shop and studio in Osaka before World War 2 and after the war became aware of the traditional culture of his native city. This made him turn his lens towards Nara Buddhist art which remained a main interest throughout his life. His photographs are noted for their reverence for Bud- dhist discipline, whether in landscapes of the Yamato region, views of Nara or documents of Buddhist rituals. After his death, his entire photographic collection (about 80,000 items) were donated to Nara City, which established the museum we enjoy today.; Until Sept. 25: Life in Nara in the 1940s to 60s: Irie's representative photo- graphic motif is Nara, from seasonal scenery to sacred Buddhist statues. How- ever, he also captured the life of common people and the changing townscape between the 1940s and 60s. He did not depict special events or people focus- ing instead on ordinary daily life. This exhibition features Irie's view of these times through his viewfinder and the results offer important material illustrat- ing how Japanese people in Nara lived and worked in those days.; Open: 9:30-17:00; Closed Mon.; 500 yen; Tel: 0742-22-9811; map A, D-5, pg 7; http://www1.kcn.ne.jp/~naracmp/

Neiraku Museum World of tea ceremony and unique garden: The Neiraku Museum and Isui-en Garden complex is an ideal place to take a break from temple view- ing and to experience the tranquility and unique landscape of a traditional Japanese garden. The complex is situated a little off the main tourist path, nestled in a residential neighborhood just west of Todai-ji Temple.; The approach to the garden is along a gravel drive- way leading to the main house and the museum is located to the left of the driveway. The collection includes precious ancient oriental arts such as early Chinese bronzes, porcelain, Korean porcelain and more.; Until Dec. 4: Appreciating Tea Ceremony: Part of the museum's fine collection of tea ceremony utensils will be exhibited. The exhibit features the historical transition of tea ceremony in Japan through changes in the form of utensils; how it was born and how it has been developed by each of the Schools.; Open: 9:30-16:30; Closed Tues.; (except for Oct. 25- Nov. 30); 650 yen; Tel: 0742-25-0781; map A, B-4, pg 6; http://www.isuien.or.jp/

Nara City Museum of Calligraphy in Honour of Kason Sugioka Museum of Japan's calligraphy pioneer: Kason Sugioka (1913- ), born in Nara, is one of the most important and still living calligraphers of Japan. He has received many prizes in recogni- tion of his work, including the Order of Culture in 2000. The museum, specialized in Japanese cal- ligraphy, was opened in the same year as the artist donated a number of his calligraphy works to Nara City. Calligraphy pursues not only writing in the proper, formal form of characters but seeks to ex- press the profound elegance and beauty of the form itself. No matter whether you read Japanese or not, this museum will let you feel the true beauty of Japanese letters.; Until Oct. 2: Horizontally Long Writing by Sugioka:This exhibits features Sugioka's callig- raphy written horizontally long (typical Japanese writing goes vertically long). Oct. 8-Jan. 15: Sugioka and His Pupils: Sugioka learned cal- ligraphy from three different great calligraphers and he himself is a master of many pupils. The exhibit shows Sugioka's newly collected works and along with the works of 20 other calligra- phers related to the artist.; Open: 9:00-17:00; Closed Mon.; 300 yen; Tel: 0742-24- 4111; map A, D-2, pg 6; http://www3.kcn.ne.jp/~shodou/

Nara Prefectural Art Museum Collection of modern Japanese art: The Nara Prefectural Art Museum, opened in 1973, possesses a variety of modern Japanese paintings, ukiyoe and craft works based on the donated art pieces from a Japanese ethnologist and painter, Kanpo Yoshikawa. The museum later received additional great art collections from other artists and researchers, and now over 4,200 art pieces are in their collection. The collection is sequentially exhibited in the special exhibitions.; Sept. 6-Oct. 10: Tomimoto KENKICHI - Pat- terns come into existence from wayside scene: Kenkichi Tomimoto (1886-1963), born in Nara, is recognized as the great master of modern Japanese pottery. He was a best friend of a British artist, Bernard Leach (1887-1979) and their friendship nurtured Tomimoto's outstanding creativity. This exhibition features the artist's original and ingenious pottery works which al- ways attempted to create something new.; Open: 9:00-17:00; Closed Mon.; 600 yen; Tel: 0742-23- 3968; map A, B-3, pg 6; http://www.pref.nara.jp/dd_aspx_menuid-11842.htm

NaraExplorer

Up-to-date and essential English tourist information about Nara for international visitors

Visit Museums & Art Events All around Nara!

Autumn 2011