South Korean envoy pays courtesy call

On December 20, Minister Lee Youngjo of the Republic of Korea Embassy and his wife paid a courtesy call on the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. They were welcomed by TFAM Director Akira Gokita, who acted as a docent for the exhibitions currently on display, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière’” and “From the Renaissance to the 20th Century—500 Years of Western Paintings.”

PHOTO CAPTION: South Korean Embassy Minister Lee (center) and his wife

TFAM, local junior high host Tokyo art appreciation event

On December 6, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum and the Hachioji Daigo Junior High School hosted an art appreciation course for junior high school students in the local community. TFAM held a special program for 30 students from the Yui Junior High School in which printed material containing a photograph of a painting from the museum’s collection was distributed to participants at school prior to their visit. They were asked to look over the piece to create their own unique story regarding the art and write it down. They then came to see the actual work in person and share their stories with their peers.

PHOTO CAPTION: Above: Yui Junior High students at TFAM; Below: Students attending a museum education lecture

Local school kids view TFAM’s artworks

On November 26, some 60 fourth-grade students from the Hachioji Municipal Ongata Daiichi Elementary School took part in a field trip to the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum’s Permanent Gallery. After viewing the works, they attended a lecture provided by a volunteer curator who teaches a Museum Education course at nearby Soka University, at which the kids were asked questions (“How is the painting different from a photo of the same scene?”) to stipulate their powers of observation and unique perspectives.

PHOTO CAPTION: Above: Ongata Elementary School kids examining TFAM Permanent Gallery artwork; Below: Soka University lecturer showing students new ways to enjoy paintings

Dunhuang institute executive visits TFAM

On November 21, Vice-Director Luo Huaqing of the Dunhuang Academy visited the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. TFAM Director Akira Gokita and Executive Director Akira Kaneko were on hand to welcome him. They discussed the two institutions’ longstanding relationship, sharing episodes from the 1985 TFAM exhibition, “Treasures from Dunhuang, China.”

Following their talk, they viewed the exhibitions, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière’” and “From the Renaissance to the 20th Century—500 Years of Western Paintings.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Dunhuang Academy Vice-Director Luo (second from left) visited TFAM on Nov. 21

Colombian ambassador visits museum

On November 8, His Excellency Ambassador Santiago Pardo of the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia paid a courtesy call on the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. TFAM Director Akira Gokita welcomed the ambassador, who toured the exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière.’”

PHOTO CAPTION: Colombian Ambassador Pardo visited TFAM on Nov. 8

Uzbekistan university officials pay goodwill visit

On October 31, National University of Uzbekistan Rector Avazjon Marakhimov Rakhimovich, his wife Zamira Marakhimova and other university officials paid a courtesy call on the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. The two were welcomed by TFAM Executive Director Akira Kaneko, who served as their docent in viewing the exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière.’”

PHOTO CAPTION: The National University of Uzbekistan Rector Marakhimov (center) led a university delegation to TFAM on Oct. 31

Kyushu museum to host TFAM exhibition

On October 30, the Kyushu National Museum announced that it will be hosting the “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière’” exhibition organized by the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum from February 4 to March 29 in 2020. The exhibition will be held with the sponsorship of such organizations as the Nishinippon Shimbun newspaper, Mainichi Shimbun newspaper and Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting TV network.

PHOTO CAPTION: Kyushu National Museum officials announce the holding of TFAM’s “The Splendor of Frenching Paintings” exhibition in 2020

Commemorative lecture on TFAM exhibition held

On October 26, Prof. Yoshiki Ono, art historian at Aoyama Gakuin Women’s Junior College and senior academic advisor to the museum, gave a lecture commemorating the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière.’”

In his slide presentation, Prof. Ono covered some two centuries of French painters, beginning from the Classicists of the 17th century to the neo-Classicists and to the Romanticists, introducing their respective traits and traditions.

PHOTO CAPTION: Prof. Yoshiki Ono gave a commemorative lecture at TFAM on Oct. 26

Museum opens French painting exhibition

On October 3, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum held the opening ceremony of the special cultural exchange exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière.’” The exhibit was organized in homage to René Huyghe, who was instrumental in holding TFAM’s premiere exhibition on Western paintings for its grand public opening in 1983.

The event drew numerous guests and dignitaries, with TFAM honorary director Minoru Harada and Prof. Yoshiki Ono, art historian at Aoyama Gakuin Women’s Junior College and senior academic advisor to the museum, delivering speeches. Also submitting an address for the occasion on behalf of his father was Francois-Bernard Huyghe.

The exhibition features 67 representative oil paintings by French artists, along with 12 priceless sketches.

PHOTO CAPTION: Tape-cutting ceremony by TFAM officials and dignitaries, including Francois-Bernard Huyghe (third from left)

Museum hosts women’s college seminar

On September 16, Soka Women’s College held a Student Life Support (SLS) seminar at the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. Some 60 junior college students took part in the seminar, which aimed to teach participants in the display and presentation of works by using those shown in the exhibition, “The World of Yamamoto Nizo, Master of Japanese Animation Art Director.”

PHOTO CAPTION: TFAM hosted a Soka Women’s College SLS seminar