Art of the Samurai:

 Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868

 

 

Most Important Exhibit

Of Japanese Arms

Ever Held Outside of Japan

 

October 21, 2009 to January 10, 2010

 

Metropolitan Museum of New York

 

 

 

      

 

Tachi Mei Yoshifusa  13th Century               Yoroi 14th Century

Kokuho                                               Kokuho

 

 

in cooperation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Government, and the National Museum in Ueno Tokyo Japan are exhibiting the most important display of Japanese Arms and Armor ever shown outside of Japan. 

They will be showing 214 masterpieces sent over from Japan.   These will include:

 

 34              National Treasurers of Japan,

 

60               Important Cultural Properties, and

 

6                 Important Art Objects.

 

Anything with any of these titles is subject to strict controls by the Japanese Government to prevent any of them from leaving Japan.  That is another reason this is such a notable exhibit.  For the Japanese Government to allow so many titled objects to leave at the same time is unheard of before now.

 

 

Exhibits of Nihontô

 

Lately there have been more and more exhibits of Japanese Arms by such large institutes as the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Metropolitan Museum as well as smaller Museums over the last few years. These exhibits are quite often from their own collections, but it really requires a joint effort with Japanese sources to put on a comprehensive exhibit.  The American collections, public or private, just do not have the breadth and quality to hold high level exhibits.  For example, there are currently two exhibits showing in California.  A joint exhibit by the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana in cooperation with the National Museum is ending soon.  Also, there is an exhibit at the Asian Arts Museum in San Francisco.  Both are worth a visit. But, the nearest comparison to the exhibit coming in October requires going back to the exhibit “Japan, The Shaping of Daimyo Culture 1185-1868”, held October 1988 to January 1989 at the National Gallery in Washington DC.  This was an important exhibit at the National Gallery in cooperation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Government, the National Museum in Tokyo and the Japan Foundation.

 

These various exhibits quite often will have a few titled objects on display.  These titles are issued by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Government so as to protect their heritage.  There are three levels of titles:

                                                                                                   

         

HOME               DATES

 

Basic dates:

 

Wednesday,         October 21, 2009         Exhibit Open to public

 

Sunday,                November 8, 2009       Free lectures and Discussion

 

November 30-December 4, 2009            60 objects replaced in the exhibit

 

Thursday,             January 10, 2010          Exhibit Closes

 

 

SPECIAL NOTICE TO ARMOR FANS. The Heian Kokuho with red lacing Yoroi from Okayama Museum of Art is on display only for the first 2 weeks of the exhibit. This is the oldest known Yoroi, and it is exhibited in Okayama for only 2 weeks every 5 years.

 

For a complete list of the exhibit click on the following link

 

LIST OF EXHIBIT ITEMS with few Photos.     

 

For a more complete dates list: Calendar Click Here.

 

 

There is a comprehensive catalog, (Art of the Samurai, Japanese Arms and Armor 1156-1868), available shortly before the exhibit opens.  This catalog will be available at the Museum store and through Yale University Press.  It will 9 x 11 inches, with 304 pages.  There are 75 black and white illustrations and 300 color plates.  The list price is $65.00. 

The ISBN is 9780-300-19205-1. 

Be sure and check Amazon.com for a discounted price.

 

Remember the Met is not open on Mondays except Holiday Mondays (if a holiday falls on a Monday they will be open).  They also have limited parking under the museum. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is in New York City, 83rd Street and 5th Avenue,

 

Monday: Closed (Except Holiday Mondays)
Tuesday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

 

For more information visit the Met web site at

 

www.metmuseum.org

 

This web site is compliments of the New York Token Kai.  Visit our web site for information about our activities and monthly meetings.  Also, we would be happy to answer any questions about this exhibit as far as we might know something not readily apparent on the Met site.  Click on Home below.

 

 

 

Tachi Koshirae - Important Cultural Object

 

 

Anyone who is interested in Japanese culture, and samurai arts in particular who does not see this exhibit will be making a big mistake that they will regret.

New York Token Kai

 

 

HOME               DATES

 

LIST OF EXHIBIT ITEMS with few Photos.        LIST OF EXHIBIT ITEMS with Photos.