The Tokyo Traveler

Mitsuo Aida (1924-1991) was a traditional Japanese brush-and-ink calligrapher and poet who became well know for the simple and insightful way that he wrote about the challenges, pitfalls and joys that are part of daily life.   His artful presentation of his writings utilizing the calligraphy skills that he learned as a young man are on display to great effect at the Mitsuo Aida Museum in Tokyo.
The museum bills itself and “A place to spend two hours of your life” and encompasses five exhibition rooms, a store and a relaxation or meditative space where you are free to pause and …read more

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The cow-munity is made up of over 70 pieces of bovine art in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district and they aren’t just loafing around!  They are part of Cow Parade 2008. Fiberglass replicas of cows and calves have been decorated by local celebrities and the resulting bovine art won’t be put out to pasture after this unique art exhibit in downtown Tokyo, they will be auctioned off to support social welfare organizations.
I found eighteen cows as I walked along Marunouchi-Nakadori Avenue between Yurakucho and Tokyo Stations.  The artists created some surreal cows – some were subdued, many were very bright and a …read more

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The Tokyo Metropolitan Photography Museum specializes in still and moving images and is the first of its kind in Japan with a focus on collecting, displaying and restoring images of cultural importance to Japan and around the word.  The main gallery is used to exhibit works from the museum’s own collection as well as an array of works collected from around the world and Japan, while a secondary space is used to present independently organized and traveling exhibitions from different Japanese and international museums.
The museum also houses an Images and Technology Gallery which displays works that utilize computer graphics and …read more

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The Oedo Antique Market is held the first and third Sunday each month in the courtyard of the Tokyo International Forum.  The event started in 2003 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Edo Shogunate and has grown to include more than 250 licensed antique dealers in the ensuing years.
What will you find at the Oedo Antique Market?  The selection varies but you will likely find a selection of Japanese artwork, possibly some ukiyo-e (woodblock) prints and maybe some old Japanese signs that you could take home and display as a great souvenir from your trip. 
There are sure to be …read more

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In Tokyo you will find museums and galleries around every corner and it’s hard to keep up with everything that is going on in the Tokyo art scene.  Tokyo Art Beat is a great site that provides it’s readers with event listings and details for art & design related events around the city. This site covers 500 venues and is the most comprehensive online resource available in English.
Tokyo Art Beat has now taken it a step further and now offers the Tokyo Art Map at more than 200 locations around Tokyo.  In an effort to promote an even …read more

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The National Museum of Western Art in Ueno will be displaying works by the 19th century French painter Camille Corot (1796-1875) in an exhibition titled “Corot: Souvenirs et Variations“. The highlight of the exhibition will be his painting “The Woman with the Pearl” which is said to be his ‘Mona Lisa’.
The exhibition was put together with cooperation from the Musée du Louvre in Paris and will feature more than 110 paintings and prints by Corot, Renoir, Sisley, Braque and others who were influenced by Corot.
Event Details:
Location: The National Museum of Western Art
Dates: June 14th through August 31st, 2008
Hours: …read more

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The Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo Midtown exhibition, KAZARI: The Impulse to Decorate in Japan,  will be on display until July 13, 2003.
The Japanese have employed kazari (the act of adorning) for centuries and this exhibit highlights examples ranging from ceremonial clothing to ancient Jômon ceramics and offers insight and examples of how it is employed today in contemporary art.
The act of kazaru (adorning) momentarily lifted one’s spirits from the everyday realm and offered a tantalizing glimpse of the exotic pleasures that lay beyond those allowed by specified status and class. Efforts to adorn (kazaru) at times reveal …read more

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One of the most recognizable forms of Japanese arts are woodblock prints or ukiyo-e. The word ukiyo refers to the world of common people and e means picture. This art form originated in the late sixteenth century in the ancient capital of Kyoto and the first ukiyo-e were not woodblock prints at all but paintings of everyday life.
As ukiyo-e developed into popular art the subjects of the prints broadened. The equivalent of today’s movie poster were Yakusha-e or woodblock prints of kabuki actors in popular roles and Bijin-ga illustrated beautiful women of Edo. Landscapes came later and were used …read more

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Design Festa is the biggest art event in Asia, with approximately 2,600 booths and 7,000 exhibitors working in a variety of mediums. This art event is held twice a year at Tokyo Big Sight, the biggest event hall in Japan.

In addition to the shopping at the various booths be sure to check out the schedule of live events which include live performances by 20 bands, fashion shows, contemporary dancing and a Japanese drumming. It should be a lot of fun so check it out!
Event Details:
Dates & Times: May 17th & 18th, 2008 (10AM-5PM)
Venue: Tokyo International Exhibition Center “TOKYO …read more

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An exhibit titled “Renoir + Renoir” will be on display at the Bunkamura Museum of Art until May 6th. The exhibit focuses on two great masters — painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) and his son Jean Renoir (1894-1979).
Both men had a love of nature and depicted joyful scenes in their work. On display are 50 paintings by the elder Renoir, including “The Swing” (1876) and “The Country Dance” (1883), and still photographs from 15 films directed by the younger Renoir, including “A Day in the Country” (1936) and “Picnic on the Grass” (1959).
The Bunkamura Museum of Art describes the show …read more

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