This database is a comprehensive collection of articles from Nihon bijutsu nenkan (Year Book of
Japanese Art), published by the Tokyo National Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken).
On June 15, the Council for Cultural Affairs submitted a report on the following places to be designated as Special Historic Site, Places of Scenic Beauty or Historic Sites to HAYASHI Yoshimasa, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list includes nine sites such as the remains of Niitsu Oil Mining and Refine System at Kanazu Oil field (Niigata City) to be designated as Historic Sites; four sites such as Hakusan Park (Niigata City) to be designated as Places of Scenic Beauty; the Itohara Family Garden (Okuizumo Town, Shimane Prefecture) to be registered as Registered Monuments; the rural landscape of Lake Ibanai (Higashiōmi City, Shiga Prefecture) and the cultural landscape of Kitadaitō Island derived from the phosphate mine on Kitadaitō Island (Kitadaitō Island, Okinawa Prefecture) to be selected as Important Cultural Landscapes. (Japanese)
On June 4, the reconstruction work of the Honmaru Palace (total area 3,100 m2) at Nagoya Castle, destroyed by fire during a World War II air raid, which had been under reconstruction by Nagoya City since 2009, was completed and opened to the press (open to the public from June 8). The Honmaru Palace was reconstructed using techniques to faithfully reproduce the wooden structure as it was in the past. The paintings by Kanō school painters such as KANŌ Sadanobu and Tanyū were reconstructed by copying from surviving sliding doors and dry plate glass negatives taken before the fire. (Japanese)
On June 8, the Bill for Partial Revision of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties and the Law concerning the Organization and Functions of Local Education Administration, which was passed by the Diet on June 1, promulgated. This was in response to the urgent issue of preventing the loss and dispersal of cultural properties as communities, which were the foundation for inheritance of cultural properties, had become increasingly fragile due to depopulation, falling birthrates and an aging population. The following three points were focused on; 1. Comprehensive conservation and utilization of cultural properties in the region; 2. Review of the conservation and utilization system for the secure inheritance of individual cultural properties; and 3. Review of the system pertaining to the administration of cultural property protection in local areas. This enables prefectures to formulate a general outline of comprehensive measures for the conservation and utilization of cultural properties. Taking this into account, municipalities are now able to draw up regional plans for protection and utilization of cultural properties and apply for accreditation by the government. In addition, the head of a local authority can now, by ordinance, take charge of the administration of cultural property protection, which were previously under jurisdiction of the local authority’s board of education. (Japanese)
On May 18, the Council for Cultural Affairs submitted a report on ten structures to be designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties to HAYASHI Yoshimasa, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list includes the former Tōyama Family Residence (Kawajima Town, Saitama Prefecture) and the former Kawakami Family Residence (Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture), known for their pre-Shōwa period Japanese-style architecture that skillfully blends tradition with modern techniques. In addition to the list, the Otazuki area of Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, known as the ‘town of storehouses’, was also suggested to be the Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. (Japanese)
In 2018-19, the major event titled ‘Japonismes 2018: les âmes en résonance’ was held in Paris and other parts of France to introduce Japanese culture to commemorate 160 years of friendship between France and Japan, starting with the exhibition titled ‘teamLab:Au-Delà des Limites’, which ran from May 15 to September 9, 2018, at La Villette in Paris. Under the agreement between the governments of Japan and France, the Japan Foundation played a leading role in ‘Japonismes 2018: les âmes en résonance’, which introduced art, theater, film and food culture. In addition to the abovementioned exhibition, a series of exhibitions were held, including the exhibition titled ‘Fukami: une plongée dans l’esthétique japonaise’ (July 14 – August 21, 2018) at Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild and the exhibition titled ‘Jakuchū (1716-1800), le Royaume coloré des êtres vivants (Jakuchū (1716-1800): The Colorful Realm of Living Beings)’ (September 15 – October 14, 2018) at Petit Palais in Paris. (Japanese)
On May 8, the University of Tokyo and the University Tokyo Co-op apologized and announced that USAMI Keiji’s major work titled ‘Kizuna’, which had been displayed on the wall of the University’s Central Cafeteria, had been disposed on September 14, 2017, following renovation work on the cafeteria. The work was commissioned in 1976 as part of the University Tokyo Co-op’s anniversary celebrations. In response to this incident, the university organized a symposium ‘Beginning with Keiji Usami’s Kizuna …’ on September 28, 2018, which questioned the future of cultural resources in the university and beyond. (Japanese)
The winners of the 12th Yomiuri Aoniyoshi Prize (sponsored by the Yomiuri Shimbun with special support from the Japan Society for the Conservation of Cultural Property), which publicly honors individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in the fields of conservation science and restoration, were announced. The Aoniyoshi Prize was given to Fukae Suge-zaiku Hozonkai group (Chair: SHIMATANI Mayumi, Higashinari Ward, Osaka City), which has carried out on the traditional techniques of making suge-grass weaving such as suge hats. The Encouragement Prize was given to Kunisaki Peninsula-Usa GIAHS Promotion Association (Kunisaki shichitō shinkōkai) (Chair: HAYASHI Hiroaki, Kunisaki City, Ōita Prefecture), which works to ensure the survival of shichitōi grass in the Kunisaki region of Ōita Prefecture, known as a material for high-quality tatami mats. The Special Prize went to Ancient Capital Asuka Preservation Foundation (Koto Asuka hozon zaidan) (Chair: WADABAYASHI Michiyoshi, Asuka Vilalge, Nara Prefecture), which works to preserve and utilize the historical heritage of the Asuka region of Nara Prefecture, which was the center of antient Japan. (Japanese)
On April 25, the exhibition ‘Japan in Architecture: Genealogies of Its Transformation’ opened at the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills (until September 17). The exhibition explored the inheritance of modern Japanese architecture, which had been attracting worldwide attention, from traditional architecture since antient times, and introduced a hundred projects ranging from Jōmon period dwellings to the latest architectural proposals through displays of architectural documents, models, and interactive installations. (Japanese)
AZAMI Takako’s painting titled ‘Sakuragi yōgo zu’ was selected as the 7th Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Nikkei Nihonga Award, which was established to honor the achievements of nihonga artist, HIGASHIYAMA Kaii, and to recognize the next generation of nihonga artists. The exhibition featuring these works along with other selected paintings was held at the Ueno Royal Museum from May 18 to 28. (Japanese)
On April 17, the Agency of Cultural Affairs submitted a document titled ‘Towards the revitalization of the art market’ to the fourth meeting for the through promotion of structural reforms of the Council on Investments for the Future “Regional Economy and Infrastructure” (SMEs, tourism, sports culture). The concept of ‘leading museums’ referred to in the document caused a stir in the art world, resulting in the Japanese Council of Art Museums issuing a statement on June 19 that museums should not engage in activities aimed at involvement in the art market. (Japanese)
On April 1, the Film Center of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo in Kyōbashi, was reorganized into the National Film Archive of Japan (Director: OKAJIMA Hisashi), an institution specializing in film at the Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art. The National Film Archive of Japan is coequal with other national museums and further strengthened its function as a national center for the promotion of Japanese film culture. (Japanese)
On March 28, the government budget for the fiscal year 2018 (Heisei 30) was passed. The budget for the Agency for Cultural Affairs became ¥107.729 billion, increasing by 3.3%, which is ¥3.457 billion increase compared to the previous year. The budget is divided into five principal projects as follows: 1. Creation and development of culture and arts, and cultivation of human resources; 2. Preservation, utilization and succession of Japan’s precious cultural properties; 3. Creating Social and Economic Value utilizing Cultural Resources; 4. Disseminating Diverse Culture and Arts to Improve Japan’s Brand; and 5. Improvement/enhancement of the foundation for the promotion of culture. A major category whose budget increased is as follows: In project 3, ¥50 million for ‘Projects to revitalize the arts market’. (Japanese)
On March 22, the Japan Art Academy (Director: KUROI Senji) announced the recipients of the 74th Japan Art Academy Prize. The Imperial Prize and the Japan Art Academy Prize were given to TABUCHI Toshio (for his nihonga painting ‘Uzushio’, exhibited at the Centennial exhibition of Japan Art Institute’s Revival) in the Fine Arts category; and HAGA Tōru (for his monograph titled ‘Bunmei to shite no Tokugawa nihon: 1603-1853’) in the Literature category. In the Fine Arts category, YUYAMA Toshihisa (for his yōga painting titled ‘l’Aube (yoake), exhibited at the third Kaiso Shin-Nitten)’, MITAMURA Arisumi (for his lacquerwork titled ‘Tsuki no hikari Sono saki ni’, exhibited at the third Kaiso Shin-Nitten) and TSUCHIHASHI Yasuko (for her calligraphy titled ‘Katsushika no sato’, exhibited at the fourth Kaiso Shin-Nitten) received the Japan Art Academy Prize. (Japanese)
On March 21, the Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art (Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka City) was opened to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Kosetsu Museum of Art (Mikage, Higashinada Ward, Kobe City), which houses the collection of Japanese and East Asian antiquities collected by MURAYAMA Ryūhei, founder of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper company. The Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art, located on the fourth floor of Nakanoshima Festival Tower West in Osaka’s business district, features the Nakanoshima Genan Tea House, a reproduction of the tea house Genan (Important Cultural Property) in the former Murayama family residence, and the Murayama Ryōhei Memorial Room, which introduces the founder’s life story. The exhibition titled ‘Shugyoku no Murayama korekushon: aishi, mamori, tsutaeta’ was held as a commemorative exhibition for the museum’s opening with five thematic periods from March 21, 2018, to February 11, 2019. (Japanese)
The Domon Ken Award (sponsored by the Mainichi Newspapers Co.), the award for a photographer who has made excellent achievements in the previous year, announced that the 37th winner was USHIODA Tokuko for her photobook titled ‘Views of Books: BIBLIOTHECA’. (Japanese)
On March 17, the winner of the 43rd Kimura Ihei Award (Sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun Company and the Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.), the award given to exceptional new photographers in honor of photographer KIMURA Ihei’s achievements, was announced. The award was given to KOMATSU Hiroko for her installations such as ‘The Execution of Personal Autonomy’ and FUJIOKA Aya for her photobooks such as ‘Kawa wa yuku’. (Japanese)
On March 16, the Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the winning works for the 21st Japan Media Arts Festival Awards that are given to excellent media artworks from inside and outside of Japan. The Grand Prizes were given to a video installation titled ‘Interstices / Opus I – Opus II’ by Haythem ZAKARIA (Tunisia) in the Art Division; a video game titled ‘The Last Guardian’ by ‘The Last Guardian’ Development Team (UEDA Fumito, Representative) in the Entertainment Division; an animated feature film titled ‘In This Corner of the World’ by KATABUCHI Sunao in the Animation Division; and a manga titled ‘Nee, mama (My Dear, Mom)’ by IKEBE Aoi in the Manga Division. (Japanese)
On March 9, the Council for Cultural Affairs submitted a report on five assets to be designated as National Treasures and fifty assets to be designated as Important Cultural Properties to HAYASHI Yoshifumi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The five assets to be designated as National Treasures were a pair of six-panel folding screen paintings, ‘The Four Seasons with the Sun and Moon’ (Amanosan Kongōji temple, Osaka); a wooden statue of the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva Kannon, enshrined in the main hall of Rengeōin (Myōhōin temple, Kyoto); wooden statues of Four Heavenly Kings (Kōfukuji temple, Nara); Daebojagyeong Sutra, Volume 32 in Gold Characters (Kyoto National Museum); and Sugaura documents and illustrated map of Sugaura and Ōura shimo manors (Suga shrine, Shiga Prefecture). One of fifty assets to be designated as Important Cultural Properties was colored murals of Kitora Tumulus (Asuka village, Nara Prefecture). The Council for Cultural Affairs also recommended that 196 buildings, including the former Tōshōgū Treasure House, a modernist building designed by architect KISHIDA Hideto, be registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties. (Japanese)
On March 7, the Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the recipients of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize for the fiscal year 2017. In the Fine Arts category, artist SUGITO Hiroshi for his exhibition titled ‘Hiroshi Sugito module and lacura’ and artist NISHINO Tastu (also known as Tatzu Nishi) for his exhibition titled ‘Tatzu Nishi in Beppu’ shared the prize. In the Criticism category, art historian Professor Emeritus at the University of Tsukuba, OMUKA Toshiharu for his monograph titled ‘Hijōji no modanizumu’ and art critic SAWARAGI Noi for his monograph titled ‘Shin nijutsu ron’ share the prize. In the Media Art category, animator YAMAMURA Kōji was awarded for his animation titled ‘Yamamura Kōji migime to hidarime de miru yume’. The three recipients of the Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists were artist IWASAKI Takahiro for his exhibition titled ‘Turned Upside Down, It’s a Forest’ in the Fine Arts category; director of a non-profit organization (NPO), Creative Support LET’S, for her social inclusion project titled ‘Hyōgen miman, Jikkenshitsu’ in the Development of Art category; and artist WADA Ei for his music project titled ‘Electronicos Fantasticos!’ in the Media Art category. (Japanese)
On February 26, the National Museum of Western Art announced that one of Claude Monet’s series of paintings, ‘Water lilies: Reflection of Willows’, collected by businessman MATSUKATA Kōjirō was found in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The work, purchased by Matsukata directly from Monet in 1921, which had been removed from its wooden frame and rolled into a cylinder, was discovered in September 2016 in a storage room in the Louvre. The work was subsequently returned by the French government to the Matsukata family, who donated it to the National Museum of Western Art in November 2017. The museum carried out restoration work on the painting and unveiled it in its special exhibition entitled, ‘The Matsukata Collection: A One-Hundred-Year Odyssey’, from June 11 to September 23, 2019. (Japanese)
