Treasures of the Imperial Collections

November 5, 2009

Treasures of the Imperial Collections

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2009 To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito’s enthronement, the TNM presents the most comprehensive display ever of treasures from the imperial collections. The two-part show takes place in reverse chronological order, perhaps because the ancient artifacts being exhibited in the second segment are more important than the […]

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2009

Offering Table Cover of Plain Weave Silk with Resist-Dyed Design on Dark Blue Ground, from the South Storehouse Section 150-14, Nara period, 8th century, the Shosoin Treasures

Offering Table Cover of Plain Weave Silk with Resist-Dyed Design on Dark Blue Ground, from the South Storehouse Section 150-14, Nara period, 8th century, the Shosoin Treasures


To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito’s enthronement, the TNM presents the most comprehensive display ever of treasures from the imperial collections. The two-part show takes place in reverse chronological order, perhaps because the ancient artifacts being exhibited in the second segment are more important than the recent paintings shown in the first. Among such rarely seen pieces from the Todai-ji temple in Nara and the Museum of the Imperial Collections are an 8th-century Chinese lute with exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay, superb scrolls from the Kamakura period, and scenes from the Tale of Genji created in the early Edo era.

Tokyo National Museum
Treasures of the Imperial Collections. Various media. Nov 12-29, free (HS and under, 70 and over)/¥400 (univ)/¥600 (general). 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku. Tel: 03-3822-1111. Open Tue-Sun 9:30am-5pm, closed Mon. Nearest stn: Ueno. www.tnm.jp