Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2011

Left to right: Kazunobu Kano, #51 Jintsuu, 1854-63. Zojoji Temple; Kazunobu Kano, #61 Kinjuu, 1854-63. Zojoji Temple; Kazunobu Kano, #23 Rokudou Jigoku, 1854-63. Zojoji Temple

Oft-ignored Zojoji temple near Tokyo Tower was in fact the center of worship for the Tokugawa shogunate’s family during the Edo Period. In addition to housing the graves of six of the 15 shoguns, the temple also contains 19th-century artist Kazunobu Kano’s massive Buddhist-themed Gohyaku Rakan (“Five-Hundred Arhats”) scrolls, now on show in their entirety at the Edo-Tokyo Museum to commemorate the temple’s 800th birthday. Kano’s work is currently the subject of much fascination for its psychedelic virtuosity and overt adoption of Western techniques.

Edo-Tokyo Museum
Mar 15-May 29, free (MS and under)/¥650 (HS, 65 and over)/¥1,040 (univ)/¥1,300 (general). 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku. Tel: 03-3626-9974. Open Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:30pm (Sat until 7:30pm), closed Mon & hols. Nearest stn: Ryogoku. www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp