Exhibition
Current Exhibition
Step Inside Moronobu’s Genre Scenes of the Twelve Months:
Masterpieces of Early Ukiyo-e
- June 27 (Sat.) – August 23 (Sun.), 2026
Exhibition period divided into two phases, with some changes to the items on display.
Part 1: June 27 (Sat.) – July 26 (Sun.)
Part 2: July 28 (Tue.) – August 23 (Sun.)
10:00 – 17:00
*Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
- Until 20:00 on July 3 (Fri.), July 10 (Fri.), and July 22 (Wed.)
- Until 19:00 on August 21 (Fri.) and August 22 (Sat.)
- Mondays (Open on July 20)
- July 21 (Tue.)
Important cultural property, Scene along the Riverside at Shijō, Kyoto,
Edo period, 17th century
By Hanabusa Itchō, Leading a Horse under the Morning Sun,
Edo period, ca.1688-98 (Genroku 1-11)
By Suzuki Kiitsu, Three Women Representing Snow, Moon and Flowers,
19th century, Edo period
By Miyagawa Chōshun, Beauty,
18th century, Edo period
By Hishikawa Moronobu, Genre Scenes of the Twelve Months,
Edo period, Genroku era (1688–1704)
Hishikawa Moronobu (?–1694) was a pioneer of the ukiyo-e genre of woodblock prints and paintings, particularly known for his work Beauty Looking Back. Genre Scenes of the Twelve Months, in the Seikado collection, is a brilliant pictorial scroll executed on a vast scale, using Moronobu’s unique pictorial gifts to vividly illustrate the lives of ordinary people throughout the year. In addition to screens and scrolls by Moronobu himself, the exhibition traces his artistic genealogy, looking at his influence on Hanabusa Itchō and artists of the Miyagawa school.
Next Exhibition
Ceramicist Kawai Kanjirō, 60 Years After His Death:
The Sources of His Creativity in Traditional Ceramics
- September 5 (Sat.) – November 8 (Sun.), 2026
By Kawai Kanjirō, Slip Decorated Bowl with Both Hands Design,
Shōwa era, 1931
By Kawai Kanjirō, Melon-shaped Jar with Purplish Opaque Glaze,
Shōwa era, c.1930
By Kawai Kanjirō, Iron Glazed Small Lidded Jar, Yōhen Type,
Shōwa era, c.1927-2
By Kawai Kanjirō, Marbled Clay Bowl,
Shōwa era, 1935
Incense Burner with Bluish Opaque Glaze Flecked with Purplish Splashes,
Yuan dynasty, 13-14th century, China
Kawai Kanjirō (1890–1966) was one of the outstanding Japanese ceramicists of the first half of the twentieth century (Taishō and early Shōwa eras). Following his encounter with Mingei (folk art) in the 1920s, he began to produce ceramics marked by a strong awareness of the idea of functional beauty. This exhibition brings together 51 pieces by Kanjirō from the Seikado collection and explores the sources of the artist’s creativity.
Exhibition Schedule 2026-27
Wooden Demon Face, Date unknown
The Fascination of Masks:
Collecting, Recreating and Performing
- November 21 (Sat.), 2026 – January 17 (Sun.), 2027
Masks capture the various expressions of the human face and conjure up the features of demons and other imaginary beings. Why are some people so fascinated by masks? Focusing on masterpieces of the art, including a replica of a Gigaku dance mask by Kanō Tessai, a Wooden Demon Face that previously belonged to the collection of Matsuura Takeshirō, and noh masks from the daimyō collection of the Shibata domain, this exhibition explores the fascinating power that draws some people to collect and recreate ancient masks from the early modern period to the modern era.
Hina dolls, crown prince and princess as boy and girl, Produced by the studio of Ōki Heizō V, Early Shōwa era, Early 20th century
National Treasure, Tea bowl, Yōhen-tenmoku, known as “Inaba Tenmoku”
Hina Dolls and Ukiyo-e Prints of the Tale of Genji:
Objects Beloved by the Iwasaki Wives
- January 30 (Sat.) – March 8 (Sun.), 2027
To coincide with the hina-matsuri (doll festival) that greets the arrival of spring, this exhibition marks the first ever public showing of the colorful album of nishiki-e prints depicting scenes from the Tale of Genji , which were cherished by Sanae, the wife of Iwasaki Yanosuke. These will be shown alongside the hina dolls that were specially commissioned by Iwasaki Koyata and beloved by his wife, Takako. We hope visitors will enjoy these two masterpieces, still imbued with the affection they inspired in these two women more than a century ago.
