Upcoming Exhibitions

• Suntory Museum of Art 60th Anniversary Exhibition

  Unsettling Japanese Art

  July 14 to August 29, 2021

  Have you ever gone to an exhibition to see the works, worked hard at reading the captions, and ended up with no sense of the works themselves? That’s a classic “the eye is blind if the mind is absent” experience.
  In this exhibition, displays that stir and unsettle the heart will engage the eye, mind, and heart and boost the feeling of “I want to see this work!” For everyone standing on the starting line of the art appreciation experience, this exhibition offers a preliminary workout towards actively perceiving and
  understanding works, from famous works in the Suntory Museum of Art’s collection to rarities and hidden treasures.

  

  Onoe Kikugoro, Meiji period, ca.1875, Suntory Museum of Art

• Suntory Museum of Art 60th Anniversary Exhibition

  The sword: The soul of the warrior (TBD)

  September 15 to October 31, 2021

  In Japan, swordsmiths, from the Heian period to the present, have created a trove of famous swords. Each of these swords carries its deep history, forged in conflicts from the Gempei War to the power struggles between warlords. From the early modern period on, the sword also became prized as an accessory attesting to samurai status. This exhibition brings together swords forged and polished by the techniques and skills of master craftsmen. In addition, battle picture scrolls and illustrated tales also offer insight into the lifestyles of Japan’s warriors in a rare opportunity to experience their sophisticated culture.

  

  重要文化財　太刀　銘 □忠（名物膝丸・薄緑）　一口　鎌倉時代　13世紀　京都・大覚寺

• Suntory Museum of Art 60th Anniversary Exhibition

  Special Exhibition
  Prince Shotoku: In commemoration of his 1400th grand memorial

  November 17, 2021 to January 10, 2022

  Prince Shotoku (574-622), serving as Empress Suiko’s regent, laid the foundations of the Japanese state. He also deeply embraced Buddhism and is regarded as the founder of Japanese Buddhism, the person who launched its propagation in Japan. After his death, worship of Prince Shotoku developed, attracting widespread reverence for him, from distinguished, high-ranking priests of various Buddhist sects to noblemen and commoners. With the cooperation of the Shitenno-ji Temple in Osaka, this exhibition commemorates the 1400th anniversary of Prince Shotoku’s death, tracing his life and introducing masterworks related to the ongoing transmission and expansion of Buddhism and faith in Prince Shotoku himself.

  

  Mantra Chanting Prince Shotoku (Namubutsu Taishi),
  Northern and Southern Courts period,
  14th century, Shitenno-ji Temple, Osaka