Research Exchange with the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures: Meetings and Lectures in the United Kingdom

Consultations at the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures

Lecture at SOAS

　The Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC), located in Norwich, United Kingdom, is one of the leading centers for the study of Japanese art and culture in Europe. Since fiscal year 2013, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has continuously carried out joint projects with SISJAC. As part of this collaboration, the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information dispatches researchers to the United Kingdom each year to engage in consultations and deliver lectures. In fiscal year 2025, two researchers— Mr. TASHIRO Yuichiro and Ms. YOSHIDA Akiko—visited the UK for this purpose.

　During this visit, on December 4, Mr. TASHIRO delivered a lecture entitled “Japanese Residents of Colonial Korea and Their Relationship with Ceramics” at Earlham Hall, University of East Anglia. This lecture was held alongside presentations by Simon Kaner, Director of SISJAC, and Lera Mason, a Professor at the University of East Anglia. A panel discussion involving all three speakers followed the lectures.

　After the lecture, Mr. TASHIRO and Ms. YOSHIDA met with SISJAC members, including Associate Professor Eugenia Bogdanova-Kummer, to discuss future collaborative projects. On this occasion, Ms YOSHIDA, who is also scheduled to give a lecture in the following fiscal year, delivered a presentation, and through an exchange of views, participants discussed approaches to fostering more productive research exchange from the next year onward.

　On the following day, December 5, the delegation traveled from Norwich to London. Under the moderation of Bogdanova-Kummer, Mr. TASHIRO gave a lecture entitled “Japanese ‘Kottō’ Culture and Korean Ceramics” at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. A discussion with students enrolled at SOAS followed the lecture.

　In addition to such research exchanges, the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information is also working jointly with SISJAC on a database project that involves compiling information on exhibitions of Japanese art held in Europe and North America*. Moving forward, by strengthening collaboration with SISJAC through the dual pillars of “research” and “archives,” the Institute hopes to contribute further to academic research in both Japan and the United Kingdom.

*Information on Art Exhibitions and Film Festivals Held Outside Japan

Guide for the TOBUNKEN Library – for Researchers from Korea, France, and the United States

　On December 15, 2024, a group of researchers from Korea, France, and the U.S. visited the library of the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN). The group had come to Japan for a research presentation at the Korean history Forum, held at Dokkyo University from December 13 to 14, and TOBUNKEN was selected as a destination to visit during their stay in Japan. Guided by Mr. TASHIRO Yūichirō, the group took a tour of the Institute’s collection of books and rubbings, which have been collected since 1930.

　Among the missions of the Archives Section of the TOBUNKEN Library* are to provide information on cultural properties to experts and students and to create an environment for the effective use of such materials. We hope that the materials of our institute, which are of high value by international standards, will be widely utilized not only in art history research, but also in Asian history research and historical research in general, and will contribute to the development of research on cultural properties that are the common heritage of all humankind.

*The Archives Section provides usage guidance for undergraduate students, graduate students, museum staff, etc. If you are interested, please apply after reading the guidance
(https://www.tobunken.go.jp/joho/japanese/library/application/application_guidance.html
(Japanese only)).