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).
The winners of the 6th 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 YAMAMOTO Tadayoshi, the only craftsman in Japan who consistently carries out the production of ‘suketa’, an essential part of hand-made Japanese paper making, from processing the materials to completion. The Encouragement Prize went to KUROSAKA Noboru, who has protected landscapes created by old cherry trees as a tree surgeon, and the Special Prize was given to Bijutsuin, which has been involved in the restoration of numerous Buddhist statues and craft works since its foundation in the Meiji period. (Japanese)
KŌNOIKE Tomoko’s ‘Shira – Spirit from the Wild’ and HAMADA Juri’s ‘Ru•Ten•Sei I’ were selected as the 5th 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 Special Committee Award was shared by AZAMI Takako’s ‘Pine Tree: Muison-so’ and MISE Natsunosuke’s ‘Quest for mountain azalea’. The exhibition featuring these prize-winning works along with other selected paintings was held at the Ueno Royal Museum from May 19 to June 3. (Japanese)
On April 21, the special exhibition ‘KORIN: Irises and Eight Bridges: Masterpieces by Kōrin from the Nezu Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’ opened at the Nezu Museum. The exhibition featured two of OGATA Kōrin’s masterpieces, a pair of gold screens ‘Irises’ (National Treasure) in the museum’s collection and another pair of gold screens ‘Irises at Yatsuhashi’ in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This was the first time for them to be exhibited together since the 1915 commemorative bicentennial exhibition of Kōrin’s death. The exhibition had been originally scheduled to be held the previous year. However, it was postponed due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. (Japanese)
On April 20, the Council for Cultural Affairs submitted a report on two assets to be designated as National Treasures and 46 assets to be Important Cultural Properties to HIRANO Hirofumi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The two assets to be designated as National Treasures are dogū, a clay figurine, from the mid-Jōmon period, excavated at the Nishinomae site in Funagata-machi, Yamagata Prefecture, known for its graceful female form; and Amida Triad, a triptych of hanging scrolls, painted by Pu-yue in the Southern Song dynasty in China and brought to Japan (Shōjōkein temple, Kyoto Prefecture). The list for Important Cultural Properties includes Wooden standing statue of Shukongōshin and Wooden standing statue of Jinja Daishō by Kaikei, sculptor of Buddhist statues in the Kamakura period (Kongōbuji temple, Wakayama Prefecture). The Council for Cultural Affairs also recommended that 166 buildings, including the main building of JR Kotohira Station (Kotohira-chō, Kagawa Prefecture), which serves as the entrance to the Konpira pilgrimage, as well as ‘Archaeological materials in the Suwa region’ collected by the late archaeologist FUJIMORI Eiichi from Nagano Prefecture, be registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties. (Japanese)
The reconstruction of the Rokkakudō of the Izura Institute of Art and Culture, Ibaraki University (Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture) was completed, and its completion ceremony was held on April 17. The Rokkakudō, associated with OKAKURA Tenshin, was washed away by tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Under the direction of MIWA Isoji, Special Appointed Professor of Ibaraki University, the reconstruction was undertaken to reproduce the building as faithfully as it was when it was first built in 1905, including the importation of windowpanes, made using the same manufacturing process as used at the time of the construction, from the United Kingdom. The total construction cost was approximately ¥43 million, most of which was covered by donations. (Japanese)
On December 14, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Commissioner: MIYATA Ryōhei) submitted a report on 126 buildings to be registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties to TANAKA Makiko, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list includes the Tokyo Tower (Minato Ward, Tokyo), which has become a symbol of Japan’s post-war reconstruction and rapid economic growth; the former Okada Family Residence Main Building (Asahikawa City, Hokkaidō), an Art Deco style house built in 1933; the main hall of Renkeiji temple (Agui-chō, Aichi Prefecture), a Jōdo shinshū (known as Shin Buddhism or True Pure Land Buddhism) temple completed in 1811; and Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse, the tallest working lighthouse in Japan at 44 meters high (Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture). (Japanese)
On December 23, the winners of the VOCA Prize, which encourages young artists who create two-dimensional artworks, were announced. The Grand Prize of the VOCA was given to HISAKADO Tsuyoshi, who created ‘crossfades #3’. SUZUK Nozomi, who created ‘Other Days, Other Eyes’, and TANIHARA Natsuko, who created ‘Edo’, jointly received the VOCA Encouragement Prize. ŌYAMA Enrico Isamu, who created ‘FFIGURATI #117’, and SATAKE Maki, who created ‘Shōzōki’, jointly received the VOCA Honorable Mention Award. The Ohara Museum of Art Prize was given to OZAKI Shinpey, who created ‘ceremony’. The VOCA exhibition 2016, where the winners’ works were exhibited, was held at the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo from March 12 to March 30 in 2016. (Japanese)
The Ringa Art Encouragement Prize (organized by the Ringa Art Encouragement Fund), which publicly honors outstanding individuals for their exceptional achievements in the field of art criticism and art history research, announced the winners of the 27th Ringa Art Encouragement Prize. In the Art History Research Division, MIZUNUMA Hirokazu (Chief Curator, Chiba City Museum of Art), IWAO Yoshinobu (Specialist, Oita Art Museum) and MATSUOKA Takeshi (Curator, Oita Art Museum) shared the award for their curated exhibition titled ‘“The Principles of Art” by Akasegawa Genpei: From 1960s to the Present’ and for the contribution of their essays to its exhibition catalog. In the Art Criticism Division, EJIRI Kiyoshi (Curator, Ashikaga Museum of Art) received the prize for his work which includes the curation of the exhibition titled ‘The Coming of Susanoo: The Life, Anger and Prayer’. (Japanese)
The Committee for the Conservation of the Kondō Murals at Horyūji (Committee Chair: ARIGA Yoshitaka) was established with the cooperation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Asahi Shimbun Company. Its first meeting was held on December 5. The latest scientific research project into the mural paintings of the Kondō Murals, which were severely damaged by a fire in 1949, will examine the potential for permanent conservation and use of the murals, including opening them to the public. An interim report on the survey is expected to be compiled in 2019, the 70th anniversary of the fire. (Japanese)
On December 12, the winners of the ICOMOS Japan Prize 2015 as well as the ICOMOS Japan Honorable Mention Award were announced. The ICOMOS Japan Prize aims to encourage the preservation and conservation of structures, groups of historic buildings, cultural landscapes, monuments and historic ruins as well as historic sites. The ICOMOS Japan Honorable Mention Award is specifically aimed at young researchers and encourages their academic research. The ICOMOS Japan Prize was given to YAMADE Tamotsu (Former Mayor of Kanazawa City), who has steadfastly maintained Kanazawa’s reputation as a city of history and culture through his outstanding achievements in promoting the city’s historical and environmental preservation measures. The ICOMOS Japan Honorable Mention Award was shared between TOYOKAWA Saikaku (Assistant Professor, Oyama National College of Technology), who has advanced his research in the history of modern architecture and urban planning, for his monograph titled ‘Architectural Theories and Practices by Kenzō Tange’ and his edited book titled ‘Tange Kenzō and KENZO TANGE’ and TORIUMI Motoki (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Metropolitan University), who conducted a series of studies on the protection of cultural heritage in France. (Japanese)
On November 27, the Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the winning works for the 19th 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 graphic art titled ‘50. Shades of Grey’ by Chung Waiching Bryan (United Kingdom) in the Art Division; a music theater for children titled ‘Best way for counting numbers’ by KISHINO Yūichi (Japan) in the Entertainment Division; an animated short film titled ‘Rhizome’ by Boris Labbé (France) in the Animation Division; and a manga titled ‘So-and-so, Such-and-such’ by HIGASHIMURA Akiko in the Manga Division. (Japanese)
On November 25, the Japan Art Academy (Director: KUROI Senji) announced that six new members had been selected to join their ranks for their distinguished artistic achievements. In relation to art, yōga painter SATŌ Tetsu, architect MAKI Fumihiko and art critic and translator TAKASHINA Shūji were selected. It was officially announced by HASE Hiroshi, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on December 15. (Japanese)
On November 20, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Commissioner: MIYATA Ryōhei) submitted a report on 124 buildings to be registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties to HASE Hiroshi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list includes the Kawana Hotel Main Building (Itō City, Shizuoka Prefecture). (Japanese)
On November 20, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Commissioner: MIYATA Ryōhei) submitted a report on the following places to be designated as Places of Scenic Beauty or Historic Sites to HASE Hiroshi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list includes nine places such as the Tekigai Villa (Suginami Ward, Tokyo), where important meetings were held before the war against the United States, to be designated as Places of Scenic Beauty; and two places such as the Nishiyama-Goten Residence, also called Seizan-sō (Hitachiōta City, Ibaraki Prefecture) where the Lord of Mito domain TOKUGAWA Mitsukuni spent his later life, to be designated as Historic Sites; and three places such as Jikkoku Pass (Higanesan Mountain, Atami City and Kannami-chō, Shizuoka Prefecture), known as for its scenic beauty offering views of Mount Fuji as well as for its sacred land, to be selected as Registered Monuments. (Japanese)
On October 30, the Japanese government announced seven recipients of the Order of Culture and 16 recipients of the Person of Cultural Merit for the fiscal year 2015. In relation to art, textile artist SHIMURA Fukumi was awarded the Order of Culture, and lacquer artist MITANI Goichi was awarded the Person of Cultural Merit. (Japanese)
On October 16, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Commissioner: MIYATA Ryōhei) submitted a report on one building of the Iwashimizu Hachimangū main shrine (Hachiman City, Kyoto Prefecture), which is the oldest and the largest among the existing Iwashimizu Hachimangū shrines, to be designated as a National Treasure as well as eight buildings to be designated as Important Cultural Properties, to HASE Hiroshi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list of Important Cultural Properties designation includes the former Abashiri Prison (Agashiri City, Hokkaidō), where radial wooden cells are perfectly preserved, and the Residence of Toda Family (Kamiita-chō, Tokushima Prefecture) who supported the indigo industry, located by the lower Yoshino River. (Japanese)
The year 2015 marks the 400th anniversary of the opening of the art village, later called ‘Kōetsu Village’ in Takagamine, Kyoto in 1615 by HON’AMI Kōetsu, one of artists thought to have inspired the founding of Rinpa, and the 300th anniversary of the death of OGATA Kōrin. Exhibitions that commemorate the occasion were organized across the nation. In Kyoto, several cultural events titled ‘Rimpa 400 Year Celebration Festival’ were organized, including ‘Rinpa: The Aesthetics of the Capital’ at the Kyoto National Museum (October 10 – November 23) and ‘400th Anniversary of the Rinpa School: The “RINPA” Image’ at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (October 9 – November 23). In addition, ‘Korin and Modern Art’ was held at the MOA Museum of Art (February 4 – March 3) and ‘Irises and Red and White Plum Blossoms: The Secret of Kōrin’s Design’ was held at the Nezu Museum (April 18 – May 17), at both of which ‘Irises’ (Nezu Museum collection) and ‘The Red and White Blossoms’ (MOA Museum of Art collection) were exhibited together. Outside of Japan, the Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Gallery organized an exhibition titled ‘Sōtatsu: Making Waves’ (October 24 – January 31, 2016). (Japanese)
The winners of the 27th Kokka Prize, an award for remarkable research on Japanese and East Asian art, were announced. The Kokka Prize was given to a monograph titled ‘Tō Sō sansuiga kenkyū’ (Chūō kōron bijutsu shuppan, 2015) by TAKENAMI Haruka (Kyoto City University of Arts). The Kokka Special Prize was given to an article titled ‘Nōmen geijutsu no keisei’ (Kokka, Vol. 1431 & 1436, 2015) by TANABE Saburōsuke (Professor Emeritus at Musashino Art University). The Kokka Exhibition Catalog Prize was given to an exhibition catalog titled ‘Buddhist sculpture of Kyushu region’ (Fukuoka City Museum, 2014) by SUEYOSHI Takeshi. (Japanese)
On September 19, the exhibition titled ‘Shunga’ opened at the Eisei Bunko Museum (until December 23). As international recognition and research into shunga continues to grow, the exhibition was organized with full support of the Eisei Bunko Museum, following the Shunga exhibition held at the British Museum from 2013 to the following year. This was the first ever full-scale exhibition of shunga held at a museum in Japan, which attracted a great deal of interest with a record number of visitors. The exhibition travelled to the Hosomi Museum (Kyoto City) (February 6, 2016 – April 10). (Japanese)
On September 10, the laureates of the 27th Praemium Imperiale in Honor of Prince Takamatsu (organized by the Japan Art Association), which publicly honors individual world artists, were announced. In relation to art, the laureates are YOKOO Tadanori (Japan) in the Painting category, Wolfgang Laib (Germany) in the Sculpture category and Dominique Perrault (France) in the Architecture category. (Japanese)
