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Oriental Museum
Lunar New Year 2023 celebration at the Oriental Museum, showing red lanterns with gold tassels

Japan

This gallery has been created in direct response to visitor interest in beauty and diversity of Japanese art and culture. Thanks to generous funding by the Art Fund, the Museum has been able to acquire a range of contemporary Japanese art, fashion and domestic goods that complement our historic Japanese collections.

Japanese art is heavily influenced by the changing seasons.  To reflect this we update the gallery regularly with thematic displays.  Until June 2024, immerse yourself in blossom.  Enjoy a range of works from kimono to ceramics that feature plum blossom and cherry blossom. 

You can also enjoy:  

  • The monumental Buddha head dating back to the Kamakura Period (1192-1333 CE) 
  • Edo Period (1603-1868 CE) wood block prints alongside cells from anime movies 
  • Centuries old ceramics alongside pieces by 20th and 21st century masters
  • Historic weapons alongside contemporary samurai armour, made for the movies.

view through a museum display case with a kimono hanging in it to displays behindBlossom themed displays

 

A man and a boy in a wheelchair look at displays of Japanese samurai weapons and armour, to the sides are displays of Buddhist art and objects relating to the tea ceremony.Arms and armour displays