| ■Tokyo National Research
Institute for Cultural Properties |
■Center for Conservation
Science |
| ■Department of Art Research,
Archives and Information Systems |
■Japan Center for
International Cooperation in Conservation |
| ■Department of Intangible
Cultural Heritage |
|
Students Being Briefed (Sept. 21st)
On September 21st, seventeen students came here from Kanazawa College of Art to learn how to introduce specialized research and study into their Aesthetics & Art History course. Leading researchers briefed their operations at the Performing Arts Studio of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Library of the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems, and the Restoration Materials Section of the Center for Conservation Science.
Committee Members Receiving Explanation (Aug. 31st)
On August 31st, twelve members of the executive committee for the program of “Cultural Properties Protected by People and Museums Protecting People” visited the Institute to refer to its research activities on disaster prevention and risk management. The members were given an explanatory tour by researchers at the Biological Science Laboratory of the Center for Conservation Science, as well as a lecture from Director Ken OKADA.
Mr. Toru NAKAMURA and Director General Nobuo KAMEI (front row, left to right)
As announced in the monthly report of April this year, the collection of Denzaburo NAKAMURA (1916-1994), Researcher Emeritus of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, was donated to us by a family member, Mr. Toru NAKAMURA, on April 30th. In response to the donation, Director General Dr. Nobuo KAMEI presented a letter of gratitude to Mr. NAKAMURA on June 2nd. It is meaningful for us that Mr. NAKAMURA has understood our projects and donated this important collection for the research of modern and contemporary sculpture history. We hope to utilize this collection for our future projects.
Visitors listening to an explanation about analysis equipment
Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA) (12 participants)
On June 20th, members of JAIMA visited us to gain an understanding of the actual practice of advanced research and development regarding cultural properties at the Institute. They listened to an explanation by the researchers in charge regarding their operation, while looking around the photography room of the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems and the experimental laboratories of the Center for Conservation Science and the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation.
Invitees listening to an explanation
Invitees to the Japan Foundation 2016 Central Asia + Japan Symposium (around 15 participants)
On June 24th, invitees to 2016 Central Asia + Japan Symposium visited the Institute after participating in the symposium to take a look at our activities. They toured the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Center for Conservation Science and the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation and listened to an explanation by the researchers in charge.
Her Royal Princess Ashi Kesang and Director General Kamei
Her Royal Highness Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuk of the Kingdom of Bhutan visited the Institute on May 10th, 2016. She inspected the Institute’s activities for restoring and reproducing cultural assets with a view to helping the country conduct activities to preserve its cultural assets. After an opening address by Director General KAMEI, the Department of Research Support and Promotion gave a brief explanation. This was followed by an explanation of the Institute’s collaborative projects related to Southeast Asia, South Asia and cooperation to Bhutan by Dr. TOMODA, Head of the Conservation Design Section of the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, and another collaborative projects for restoring Japanese antiquities overseas by Dr. KATO, Head of the Resource and Systems Research Section of the Center. Dr. HAYAKAWA, Deputy Head of the Center for Conversation Science, described instruments for analyzing the materials of cultural assets while Senior Researcher Dr.MORII and Special Researcher Dr. KIDA explained how to conduct a survey into cultural assets of textiles or prevent patina deterioration of Japanese paintings.
Her Royal Princess listened to the explanations by our staff members intently and the Institute believes that we played a small part of supporting restoring cultural assets in Bhutan.
In line with the new medium-term plan, we changed the name of departments and sections for the sake of simplicity as of April 1st, 2016 as per the attached chart.
Your continued understanding and support will be very much appreciated.
Director Nakamura of Tokyo Art Dealers’ Association (left) and Director General Kamei of the Institute (right)
President Mitani of Tokyo Art Club Co., Ltd. (left) and Director General Kamei (right)
The National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo received offers of donations from Tokyo Art Dealers’ Association (Director: Jun NAKAMURA) specifically to subsidize public release (publishing projects) of the research results of the Institute and from Tokyo Art Club Co., Ltd. (President: Tadahiko MITANI) specifically to subsidize the research projects of the Institute.
The donations were received at Tokyo Art Club on December 17th and, as an expression of gratitude, a letter of appreciation was presented by Director General Kamei each to Director Nakamura of Tokyo Art Dealers’ Association and President Mitani of Tokyo Art Club.
The Institute expresses deep gratitude for the donations that were made based on kind understanding towards the projects of the Institute and will make the best use of the donated money for the projects of the Institute.
Students receiving explanatory guidance from the head of Archives Section
On December 17th, students of the Fieldwork Introductory Course, which has been run with the aim to develop human resources who are capable to conduct research on and make effective use of regional cultural assets, visited the Museum to learn, for their future activities, correct knowledge about cultural assets and protection of cultural assets. Students were given an explanatory tour by Mitsuru IIJIMA, Director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Naoto YOSHIDA, Head of Conservation Science Section), and Tetsuei TSUDA, Head of Archives Section.
Two visitors from the National Museum of Korea, the Republic of Korea
On November 5, they visited the Institute to take a close look at our equipment to be used as a reference against new equipment they planned to purchase. The visitors toured the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques, where leading researchers explained their work.
Lecture by Deputy Director of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques
21 visitors from the Japan Air Cleaning Association
On November 16, the members of the Association visited the Institute to extend their knowledge about cultural properties in general and learn conservation science and restoration techniques closely related to air quality environment. After attending the lecture by Deputy Director Chie Sano of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques, they toured the Library of the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems, and the Performing Arts Studio of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Leading researchers in each department explained their work
Four students from the Korean National University of Cultural Heritage
On November 17, the students visited the Institute to obtain information on folding screen painting techniques from our experts in the restoration of Japanese paintings for their reference in the investigation of the conditions of Japanese folding screens at the University, as well as in determination of their restoration approaches. They toured the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, where leading researchers explained their work.
Students at a briefing lecture on global activities of the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation
Nine students from Tokyo Gakugei University
On October 5, the students visited the Institute to foster better understanding of our latest activities, such as research on domestic and overseas cultural properties and cooperation in the safeguarding of cultural properties, for the promotion of their on-going study. Leading researchers briefed participants on their operations at the Library of the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems, the Performing Arts Studio of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the Conservation Science Section of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques. In addition to these, at the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, global activities of the Institute were also introduced by a researcher in charge.
Explanation provided in the Physical Laboratory of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques
44 new staffs for the Independent Administrative Institution of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritages
As part of the training for new hires of the Independent Administrative Institution of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritages, 44 staff members visited the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, on July 10. They toured the Library of the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems, the Performing Arts Studio of the Intangible Cultural Property Section and the Physical Laboratory of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques. The staff members in charge of each section explained the work they do.
Receiving an explanation of the display in the Institute’s Lobby
13 visitors from the Graduate School of the National Taipei University of Education in Taiwan
As a part of student training, visitors from the National Taipei University of Education visited the Institute on April 3 to learn about the Institute’s projects and the results of its research. The visitors toured the Library of the Department of Art Research, Archives, and Information Systems and the Performing Arts Studio of the Intangible Cultural Properties Section. The visitors also viewed a display of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques on “Conservation of Modern Cultural Properties: The role of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo” at the lobby of the Institute. Leading researchers in each sections explained their work. In the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, researchers described the Institute’s international efforts.
37 visitors from the Society of Photography and Imaging of Japan
On January 19, visitors from the Society of Photography and Imaging of Japan visited the Institute to tour facilities of preservation and restoration techniques for cultural properties and facilities of scientific research and digital archive. Visitors also toured the Library of the Department of Art Research, Archives, and Information Systems and Chemistry Laboratory No. 3 of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques, and staff members in charge of those facilities explained their work. Afterwards, visitors attended a lecture by SHIRONO Seiji, artificer of Department of Art Research, Archives, and Information Systems.
Five members from the Juming Museum (Taiwan)
On December 1, personnel from the Juming Museum visited the Institute to inspect about the research activities of and the collection of art materials and management of digital archives by National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo. The visitors discussed research efforts with researchers in the Department of Art Research, Archives, and Information Systems in detail.
Five members from the New Taipei City Library in Taiwan
On December 19, personnel from the New Taipei City Library visited the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo to visit its facilities. The visitors inspected a library of the Department of Art Research, Archives, and Information Systems. Researchers in a library and the Archives Section explained the work they do.
Mr. NAKAMURA, Director of the Tokyo Art Dealers’ Association (l.), and Mr. KAMEI, Director General of the Institute (r.)
Mr. MITANI, President of the Tokyo Art Club (l.), and Mr. KAMEI, Director General of the Institute (r.)
Offers for donations to the Institute were received from the Tokyo Art Dealers’ Association (Director: NAKAMURA Jun) and the Tokyo Art Club (President: MITANI Tadahiko). The Tokyo Art Dealers’ Association aims to fund publication of the Institute’s research results and the Tokyo Art Club intends to fund the Institute’s research projects.
We received the donations with great appreciation on November 5 at the Tokyo Art Club. KAMEI Nobuo, Director General of the Institute, presented a certificate of appreciation to both Mr. NAKAMURA, Director of the Tokyo Art Dealers’ Association, and Mr. MITANI, President of the Tokyo Art Club.
We are glad both organizations are aware of our activities and we are most grateful for their donations. We look forward to using these donations to fund our activities.
Everyone from the Getty Research Institute, listening to a general explanation of our institute in the conference room
The visitors from the Getty Research Institute were very interested in the talk on research results by HAYAKAWA Yasuhiro, Head of the Analytical Science Section
On October 22, Dr. Thomas Gaehtgens, Director of the Getty Research Institute of the American J. Paul Getty Trust, together with four staff members and 11 of the institute’s trustees, visited our institute to observe our activities. The purpose of the party’s visit to Japan was to tour historic sites and other points of interest in Kansai and elsewhere in Japan, and to carry out fact-finding relating to cultural property research.
We welcomed the party at our institute, and began by explaining our organization and other general information. Then YAMANASHI Emiko (Deputy Director, Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems) discussed the paintings of KURODA Seiki, who was connected with the founding of our institute. Next, HAYAKAWA Yasuhiro (Head, Analytical Science Section, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques) introduced some of the latest research results using fluorescent X-ray analysis of works such as the Chinese phoenix of the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in temple.
Dr. Gaehtgens said that the Getty Research Institute, which conducts a diverse range of research work including disseminating information on art research, has a strong affinity with our institute, and would like to collaborate and cooperate in the future. It was decided to continue discussions on fields with potential for research collaboration.
An explanation in a restoration laboratory 2
29 participants in “The Training Session for Restores of Cultural Properties (artworks and craftworks)” organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan.
On October 31, training session participants visited the Institute in order to view the work it does as a national center for research on cultural properties. The visitors inspected restoration laboratories, a restoration studio (urushi), and a biology laboratory 1 of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques and a performing arts recording studio of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The staff members in charge of each section explained the work they do.
