Exhibiting Japan: Exploring how Japan is Curated and Presented in the UK

Date
Monday 19 May 2025

Time
6.45pm

Venue
The Swedenborg Society
20-21 Bloomsbury Way (Hall entrance on Barter St)
London WC1A 2TH
[Map]

Booking Details
Free- Booking essential

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How far back can we go to learn when UK started exhibiting Japanese art and culture? Even before the era of museum exhibitions, from the 17th century onwards, exported Japanese art was distributed and displayed in castles and historical houses across the country, and provided people with the opportunity to encounter Japanese culture. The Japanese objects have been preserved by the residents and collectors for centuries. Although these were more for personal prestige, the continued presence of Japanese art in different areas of the UK means that it has been loved by generations and cherished as part of their local history.

Professor Yoshi Miki has been working with museums and the National Trust to research Japanese collections outside of London and has exhibited them locally since 2011. The Project "Research and Use of Overseas Japanese Artefacts and Documents" was funded by the National Museum of Japanese History. His study of collections led him to visit Wales, Scotland, and Northeast England. The focus of his project is to share what he learned with residents and to raise the profile of the Japanese collections locally. He has not only studied the collections but also met and engaged in dialogue with people connected to them. In this lecture, he will share what he has learned from his journey.

In collaboration with:

Supported by the Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO)

Booking Info