Ichikawa Koji, Architectural historian, Assistant Professor, Tohoku University Beyond Borders: Architects Transcending Borders To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, Shenzhen’s cultural complex “Shenzhen Sea World Culture and Arts Center” hosted an exhibition of contemporary Japanese architecture titled “Beyond Borders: Architectures of Japan” (dates: 5 November 2022–19 February 2023). Let’s begin by talking about this exhibition. This exhibition, co-organized by the Japan Foundation and the Design Society in Shenzhen, is, as the title suggests, focused on Japanese architects’ “works that transcend national borders.” The exhibition consists of two main parts. The first includes models and installations by Maki Fumihiko and Isozaki Arata, who have been active since the 1960s, as well as Ando Tadao, Ito Toyo, Ban Shigeru, Kuma Kengo, Ishigami Junya, and Fujimoto Sou, eight architects active all around the world. Then there is ... ... [Read more]

  Sato Hirosuke, General Manager of the Registration Office, Tokyo National Museum The 150th Anniversary Special Exhibition “Tokyo National Museum: Its History and National Treasures” held at the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) from October 18 to December 18, 2022, put 89 national treasures from the museum’s collection on display (objects on display change during the exhibition period). Nineteen national treasure swords were displayed throughout the entire exhibition period, the first time that they had been shown together. I myself had never seen all of them side by side, so this was a rare opportunity. As of 2022, there are 122 swords throughout Japan designated as national treasures. It was possible to see almost 20% of them in this exhibition. Among the swords were those counted among the “Tenka-Goken” (the greatest five swords of Japan), namely the Blade for a Long Sword (Tachi), Named “Meibutsu ... ... [Read more]

  Tabuchi Kumiko, Professor, Waseda University Towards Zero is a masterpiece mystery novel by Agatha Christie. The time has now come to look back to the “zero times” of the Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets), as well. The Hyakunin Isshu is one of the most well-known anthologies of waka (Japanese poems) from Japanese classical literature, and it is generally believed that the editor of this anthology was Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241). However, there are many puzzling questions and contradictions when attributing the editing of the Hyakunin Isshu to Teika. Without answering these questions, a variety of hypotheses have appeared, and it has become almost universally accepted that the Hyakunin Isshu was “selected by Teika.” However, on further examination of each of the questions, it becomes clear that this was not the case. About 70 years ago, the Hyakunin Shuka, an ... ... [Read more]

Shorin zu byobu (Pine Trees) by Hasegawa Tohaku (1539–1610) Source: ColBase (https://colbase.nich.go.jp/)   How do national treasures become national treasures? What 89 masterpieces can teach us. Kobayashi Tadashi, Art Historian From October to December 2022, a special exhibition titled “Tokyo National Museum: Its History and National Treasures,” is being held at the Tokyo National Museum. All 89 national treasures in the museum’s collection will be exhibited together. I am currently the director of the Okada Museum of Art in Kanagawa Prefecture. Previously, I was the director of the Chiba City Museum of Art. I have taught at universities, including Gakushuin University, and I once worked at the Tokyo National Museum. As a graduate student, I became a part-time researcher at the Tokyo National Museum, and in 1969 became a curator of painting there. For a while I left for Nagoya University, but returned to ... ... [Read more]

  Takashina Shuji, Director of the Ohara Museum of Art and President of the Western Art Foundation From late January to March 2022, a special exhibition titled “Celebrating the Enthronement Ceremonies of His Majesty the Emperor”: The Reproduction of Shosoin Treasures—Encountering Tenpyo Craftsmanship through the Recreation of 8th Century Works” was held at the Suntory Museum of Art in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo. The exhibition literature includes a rather unfamiliar phrase that translates as “Reproduction-imitation.” What on earth does this term mean? The Shosoin[1] Treasures include items linked to Emperor Shomu, as well as related documents and craft objects of value. The Shosoin treasure house was built as a store for these treasures. The management and storage of the treasures was strict, requiring imperial sanction before items could leave the store, and this imperial seal system continues today. In hot and humid Japan, “airing out” ... ... [Read more]

  Yoda Toru, Chief, Curators Division, Toyama Memorial Museum Bonsai is a culture in which a potted plant is cultivated to remain small, requiring a lot of time and effort to shape. At minimum, bonsai needs care, such as watering, every day, and it also needs pruning, wiring, and sometimes removing bark with a tool. It is a process of creating a living landscape with a small tree in a shallow pot. Therefore, bonsai can be considered a garden. With limited living space in urban areas, we sometimes see people enjoying and treating bonsai as their garden in places such as the balcony of an apartment. A style called bonsan preceded bonsai in the Kamakura period (1185–1333). It was a kind of miniature garden composed of trees and stones that let people enjoy the view and experience the garden as if they were on the same ... ... [Read more]

  Hase Masato, Professor, Waseda University   I believe curling’s charm lies in how we can sense traditional “culture” in it. Of course, as a television viewer, my pleasure in watching curling undoubtedly comes from its aspect as a “game,” in which a contest of high skill determines victor and vanquished. Helped along by the commentators, I can appreciate the refreshing feeling when multiple of the opponents’ stones are repelled in a double takeout; the ingenuity of trained muscles executing a sweep to control the speed and direction of a draw; and the complexity of a strategy that attempts to places guards in a way to create an advantage. This understanding allows me to enjoy curling as a sports game. Of course, in the case of the recent Beijing Olympics, as I cheered, “Come on, Loco Solare!” I also certainly watched curling with the ... ... [Read more]

  “I like Japan, but I don’t.” Disconnecting from the Familiar and Heading Out into the World. Sorita Kyohei, pianist The performance I had dreamt about since I was 12, felt like it lasted but for a moment. It was the final round of the International Chopin Piano Competition [in 2021]. The 40 minutes I spent playing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1, my most favorite piece in the entire the world, was also a passage of time where I realized my dream had come true after 15 years longing so deeply. I placed second. I am the first Japanese person to achieve this since Uchida Mitsuko, 51 years ago [1970]. After winning second place, the perspective in front of me began to rapidly change right before my eyes. The goals and hurdles that had only seemed vague and muddy prior to this, came clearly ... ... [Read more]

  What does it mean for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be beyond human power? We looked into the deep relationship between life and intelligence from the front lines of research. Interview by Yamamoto Takamitsu and Yoshikawa Hiromitsu “Intelligence” Has Not Been Defined Yamamoto Takamitsu: For this special feature of the monthly literary magazine Bungakukai, Yoshikawa and I spoke with someone on “The future of AI and literature.” The current AI boom, called the Third Wave, has seen the term “AI” used widely, but it has become difficult to understand the nature of this buzzword.   Yoshikawa Hiromitsu: There is also a fear of a “singularity” occurring, where AI gains an intelligence that far surpasses humanity. A sense of anxiety is understandable, as there are a variety of fields where AI can show its power, such as in the board games of go and shogi ... ... [Read more]

Manga enjoys international recognition as a Japanese popular cultural form. The Japan International Manga Award was launched 15 years ago to promote cultural diplomacy through manga. Manga artist Satonaka Machiko is a prominent figure in the world of manga and has been involved in the Award since its inception. Here, she speaks about the significance of the Award and her vision for its future.   Satonaka Machiko, manga artist Interview by Nakamura Kiichiro, editor-in-chief, Gaiko (Diplomacy)   –– FY2021 marked the fifteenth anniversary of the International Manga Award, established in 2007 and renamed the Japan International Manga Award in 2016. Satonaka has been a member of the Selection Committee of the Award since its inception and has served as Chairperson since 2009.   Satonaka Machiko: The Award originated in a statement in 2006 by then Foreign Minister Aso Taro expressing a desire to create an ... ... [Read more]