Exhibition Outlines

In this exhibition, we will introduce pieces that are not only rare, but those that have a legend behind them in its creation or transmission to the present day.

First, the Mongol Invasion that greatly shook our country in the Kamakura period, was depicted in the scroll painting, Moko Shurai Ekotoba (Illustrated scrolls of the Mongol Invasion). This pair of scrolls went through complicated circumstances until it was assembled in to the present state, and is a valuable piece that visually shows this event.

Next, are pieces that historically famous people were involved in their transmission, such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Set of stationery stand and inkstone box with narrow ivy road design in makie, which has a legend that Toyotomi Hideyoshi reproduced it from a piece within the Imperial Court, is magnificent work of gold and silver makie, and is well known as a masterpiece of makie showing Momoyama characteristics. Our museum collection now has three sets of the same design. Gold weights that were Toyotomi Hideyoshi's stock of money in the Osaka Castle, were passed on to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and offered to the Imperial Household in 1900 by the Owari Tokugawa family.

During the long term of peace during the Edo period, many craft works with intricate craftsmanship were created. Among them, we introduce the netsuke called “Shotsui” which is created with superior carving technique. Many towers are carved in the ivory, where 880 people, along with birds and animals are also carved within this small netsuke.

Another scroll painting depicting the event in 1853, when the Russian admiral Putyatin arrived at Nagasaki as a diplomat, and also medals presented by President Buchanan to the embassy that visited the United States of America for the first time in 1860, are also exhibited.

We hope it will be an occasion for our visitors to enjoy and direct their attentions to the various stories behind these objects, in their creation and transmission over the years.