| Period | July 1, 2020 (Wed) - July 2, 2020 (Thu) |
|---|---|
| Place | Hyokeikan, Tokyo National Museum |
| Hours | 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1; 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 *Reservations are now closed (July 1, 2020). *Online reservation required *Approx. 5-min. video shown on a loop |
| Fee | Free |
| Organizer | National Center for the Promotion of Cultural Properties |
| Content Production (Entrance Exhibit) | National Center for the Promotion of Cultural Properties; PROTOTYPE INC. |
| Reservations | Timed-entry reservations are required (via the online reservation form). Three groups per thirty minutes (up to two members per group) on a first-come-first-served basis *Reservations are now closed (July 1, 2020). *Please refer to “Reservation Method” on this page for details. |
| Eligibility | Those who are able to take part in an online survey after the experience |
| Reservation Deadline | Two days prior to the experience |
Although the exhibition was unfortunately canceled to prevent Covid-19 infections, this exhibit will be made available on a limited basis to solicit feedback on the experience.
Exhibition Highlights
A high-resolution reproduction of the seventeenth-century National Treasure Amusements under the Blossoms, which depicts dances performed under cherry blossoms in full bloom, will be on display with projection mapping to create a fantastical space.
Bright scenes of finely dressed noblewomen holding a party amid cherry and aronia trees blossoming in full glory are brought to life so that you, too, can experience this dreamy world.
The exhibit
National Treasure Amusements under the Blossoms by Kano Naganobu
Color on paper Edo period, 17th century Tokyo National Museum
The National Treasure Amusements under the Blossoms is a valuable work that depicts the Kabuki Odori dance, the origin of kabuki drama. However, the center of the right-hand screen was lost in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. The reproduction on display was produced as a collaboration by the National Center for the Promotion of Cultural Properties and Canon Inc. with the lost portion restored based on glass plate images, the only record of its original form.
[High-resolution reproduction] National Treasure Amusements under the Blossoms (right-hand screen)
Printed on washi paper Produced in 2018 (Completed in 2020) Tokyo National Museum
A glass plate showing the now-lost portion
Restoration based on glass plates
The right-hand screen depicts noblewomen having a drinking party under cherry blossoms in full bloom, while the left-hand screen shows figures watching a performance of the stylish Furyu Odori dance in front of an octagonal building. The dancers are dressed in the latest fashions of the day inspired by the popularity of the Kabuki Odori dance, which began in the early years of the Keicho era (1596–1615). While these outfits are gorgeously depicted with gold paint, background elements such as trees and rocks are represented mainly with ink wash, which makes the human figures stand out even more.
The women dancing with swords are thought to be performing a fashionable dance known as Okuni Kabuki.
The depiction of dancers garbed in beautiful robes and bent at the waist is striking.