Suntory Museum of Art
Exhibitions
NEGORO ― The Art of Fascinating Lacquerware in Red and Black

NEGORO ― The Art of Fascinating Lacquerware in Red and Black

November 22, 2025 to January 12, 2026

*There will be an exhibition change during the course of exhibition.
*This is a traveling exhibition held at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts from September 20 to November 9, 2025.

The term negoro usually refers to red lacquerware in which a sturdy wooden base is coated with a layer of black lacquer, over which a layer of red lacquer is applied. In addition to their bold and graceful forms, these pieces are particularly valued for the patina that they develop over years of use, as the red lacquer wears away to reveal the black lacquer beneath.
Tradition has it that this style of lacquerware acquired its name because red lacquerware was produced at Negoro-ji Temple (Iwade, Wakayama prefecture), which was once a major temple complex. That connection, however, remains unclear. In recent years, archaeological excavations of the former temple complex and studies of historical documents and religious texts have begun to shed light on how this red-and-black lacquer aesthetic developed and was received, from the medieval to the early modern periods.
This exhibition considers the history of negoro based on the results of that research. Focused primarily on medieval lacquerware from the period when Negoro-ji’s glory was at its peak, this exhibition also includes recognized masterpieces from the preceding and following eras, introducing pieces from famous collections. In this, the year of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, we hope that you will fully enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Japanese lacquerware, which epitomizes the excellence of Japanese crafts.

Works from the exhibition

Period

November 22, 2025 to January 12, 2026

*There will be an exhibition change during the course of exhibition.
*This is a traveling exhibition held at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts from September 20 to November 9, 2025.

Hours

10:00-18:00　*Friday 10:00-20:00

*Open until 20:00 on January 10
*Last admission: 30 minutes before closing

Closed

Tuesdays, December 30 to January 1

*Open until 18:00 on January 6

Admission

Adult	General ¥1,800	Advance ¥1,600
University Student	General ¥1,200	Advance ¥1,000
High School Student	General ¥1,000	Advance ¥800

Online Ticket Sales

Elementary, junior high school students and under are free.
*Advance tickets will be available on the website from September 10 to November 21.

Discount

◇100 Yen Discount
•For presenting a ticket to a thematic exhibition at the National Art Center, Tokyo, or Mori Art Museum
•For parties of 20 or more

*Only one discount per person

Audio Guide

¥700

*Japanese audio guide only

Organized by

Suntory Museum of Art

About Suntory Group

As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Group aims to inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Sustained by the gifts of nature and water, the Group offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products, from award-winning Japanese whiskies Yamazaki and Hibiki, iconic American whiskies Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, canned ready-to-drink -196 (minus one-nine-six), The Premium Malt's beer, Japanese wine Tomi, and the world-famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection also includes non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Oasis, BOSS coffee, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea, and V energy drink, as well as popular health and wellness product Sesamin EX.
Founded as a family-owned business in 1899 in Osaka, Japan, Suntory Group has grown into a global company operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, with an annual revenue (excluding excise taxes) of $20.3 billion in 2024. Its 41,357 employees worldwide draw upon the unique blend of Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product categories and markets.
For more information, visit www.suntory.com and Drink Smart.

PAGE TOP

About Us
Brands
- Brands
- Soft Drink
- Spirits
- RTD & Non-Alcohol
- Beer
- Wine
- Health & Wellness
- Our Portfolio
Stories
Sustainability
Financial
Careers
Recruit (Japan)Open in a new window
Come Visit Us
Newsroom
- News Release
- Media Kit
Contact Us

The Suntory Group’s Social Media Policy

NEGORO ― The Art of Fascinating Lacquerware in Red and Black

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART

About Suntory Group

About Suntory Group