TFAM opens “This Is Japan,” Da Vinci exhibitions

On September 1, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum opened its special autumn exhibition, “This Is Japan In Tokyo,” and the “Zokei Da Vinci Project: Realization of the Dreams of Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)—500th Memorial Exhibition.” TFAM had not held an exhibition for public viewing since March 2 this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The exhibition “This Is Japan In Tokyo” can be a culmination of the “Eternal Treasures of Japanese Art” exhibition series that has been held 24 times in 15 countries and one territory at the request of governments and cultural agencies worldwide. The exhibition features 93 paintings, ukiyo-e woodblock prints, lacquerware, katana swords and samurai armor, among others. Among the exhibition’s highlights is the use of virtual reality enabling viewers to “experience” specially selected items firsthand.

In the New Wing Permanent Galleries 6-8, the Da Vinci exhibition developed by the Tokyo Zokei University is on display, a uniquely fascinating project that attempts to complete 16 works left uncompleted by the Italian master while tracing the penetrating insights and transcendent creativity he possessed over a lifetime.

Both exhibitions will be held until November 29. Still and video photography will be permitted for all but selected “This Is Japan” items, although the use of flashes and tripods will not be allowed.

Viewers should also note that the Museum Theater, Library and Kids’ Rooms will be closed as TFAM will be strictly following pandemic safety protocols during the exhibitions’ showings. Please read “Notice and Request for Visitors” before visiting TFAM.

First showing of latest addition to TFAM’s paintings collection

The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum will be premiering “Ukrainian Woman,” an oil painting by Ilya Repin (1844-1930), a realist painter who is described as one of the most famous artists of 19th-century Russia. Formerly owned by a Japanese painter, the work is only the second Repin painting in the possession of a museum in Japan after “Russian Boy” possessed by the Yokohama Museum of Art. The work is considered to be his study that depicts a Ukrainian woman who appears in his masterpiece “Evening Party” (The State Tretyakov Gallery). While measuring just 18.4 x 9.8 cm, “Ukrainian Woman” captures a young woman, eyes set and dressed in folk attire, in the middle of a dance step.

Highlighted works from delayed “Flowers” exhibition

The showing of the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum exhibition “Flowers, Flowers and More Flowers: Exhibition of Flowers in Art from Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Collection” was originally slated to premiere on May 2 but regrettably has been postponed due to the pandemic. The exhibition introduces the finest representations of Nature’s floral majesty, including paintings, crafted objects and photographs, in our collection. The following are but a few of such examples:

• “Anemone,” a watercolor and gouache work by the multitalented French artist Raoul Dufy (1877-1953)
• “Cherry Blossoms in the Shin-Yoshiwara Courtesan’s District,” a color woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825)
• “White Tubular Cup with Design of Flowers” and “White Dish with Design of Flowers,” two 17th-century ceramic pieces created in Iznik, Turkey
• “Yugashima, Izu,” a color woodblock print by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)

Museum shares education award with local elementary school

An art appreciation application developed by the Hachioji Municipal Toyo Elementary School with the support of Tokyo Fuji Art Museum has won The Tokyo Shimbun newspaper’s annual educational award. The application draws on such high-tech tools as AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) to encourage both children and adults on ways they can enjoy art and culture in a game environment that includes entertaining quizzes and imitating poses of sculptures on display.

We took part in the development and organization as part of our community outreach initiative to promote ways people of all ages can appreciate art. The Tokyo Shimbun award honors educators who create novel and enjoyable programs as learning tools for students.

PHOTO CAPTION: Students and adults take part in an art appreciation program co-developed by the Hachioji Municipal Toyo Elementary School and TFAM

“Masterpieces of European Paintings” exhibition opens in Ibaraki

The opening ceremony of the exhibition, “Masterpieces of European Paintings from the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Collection,” was held on February 19 at The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki, where it will be shown until April 12. Those attending the ceremony was Ibaraki Prefectural Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa and TFAM Director Akira Gokita.

Grand opening of “Splendor of French Paintings” exhibit in Fukuoka

The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum exhibition “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the "Grande Manière” opened in grand fashion at the Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu, Fukuoka prefecture. The opening ceremony, which took place on February 3, drew some 1,400 people.

“The Splendor of French Paintings” was organized by TFAM in homage to the renowned French art historian René Huyghe, who was pivotal in holding the museum’s premiere exhibition on Western paintings for its grand public opening in 1983. The Kyushu venue was sponsored by the Kyushu National Museum, Kyushu Prefectural Government, Nishinippon Shimbun newspaper, Mainichi Newspapers Co., Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting TV network and TFAM.

Kyushu National Museum Director Hiroyuki Shimatani delivered the opening speech and the organizers participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

PHOTO CAPTION: The exhibition’s tape cutting ceremony was held in Fukuoka on Feb. 3

Egyptian Museum of Berlin executive visits TFAM

On January 27, TFAM Director Akira Gokita welcomed Egyptian Museum of Berlin Deputy Director Olivia Zorn to the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. The two discussed possible cultural exchanges in which the German and Japanese museums could cooperate, with the TFAM director leading his guest on a guided tour of the exhibitions currently on display at TFAM and its facilities.

PHOTO CAPTION: Gokita (right) welcomes Egyptian Museum of Berlin Deputy Director Olivia Zorn

Special lecture held on French painter Poussin

On January 10, Prof. Takao Ito at Soka University’s Faculty of Letters gave a lecture on legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, who later artistic greats such as Shakespeare and Beethoven featured in their works. Classical French Baroque style painter Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) also created a piece entitled “Coriolanus Pleaded with by His Wife and Mother.” The painting is one of the major pieces on display for the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum exhibition, “Through the Eyes of René Huyghe: The Splendor of French Paintings—Formation and Transformation of the ‘Grande Manière,’” currently on display.

PHOTO CAPTION: Prof. Ito (podium) held a lecture at TFAM on Jan. 10

Art appreciation for children: A year in review

As part of its outreach initiative, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum has conducted programs to promote the appreciation of art among people of all ages, with a special focus on children. One such program caters to elementary and junior high school students enrolled in the city of Hachioji, a major suburb community of Tokyo which TFAM serves.

Under the program, TFAM hosted 2,144 students from 28 local schools over the calendar year of 2019, up from 1,684 kids from 20 schools in 2018. The curators are volunteers, either lecturers of or students taking university-level museum education courses.

TFAM also aims to provide its collected works and the museum itself as a center of learning to kindle the imagination and excitement of creativity by holding workshops, concerts, seminars and special summer vacation events. And it remains committed to this outreach initiative in service of the Hachioji and other communities in the Tokyo area.

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