May 23, 2013
Tokyo Area Exhibitions 2013 東京の美術展覧会
CHIBA CITY MUSEUM OF ART 千葉市美術館
2013年1月4日(金)〜2月11日(月・祝), 江戸から昭和のきもの Kimono Beauty ―シックでモダンなきものたち―
Beautiful Buddhist Sculptures from Boso Hanto (Chiba Pref.), 4/16-6/16「仏像半島—房総の美しき仏たち—」、2013年4月16日(火)〜6月16日(日)
Bird and Flower paintings of Rinpa and Jakuchu, 8/27-9/23「琳派・若冲と花鳥風月」、2013年8月27日(火)〜9月23日(月・祝)
Watanabe School of Shin-hanga Prints, 11/26-1/19「渡邊版—新版画の精華」、2013年11月26日(火)〜2014年1月19日(日)
Edo Culture and Ukiyoe Prints, 1/25-3/2, 2014「江戸の面影 浮世絵は何を描いてきたか」、2014年1月25日(土)〜3月2日(日)
Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://www.ccma-net.jp/exhibition_02.html
EDO-TOKYO MUSEUM 江戸東京博物館
Yae no SAKURA Her Life and Legacy, Mar 12, 2013 - May 6, 2013
The Flowering of Edo Period Painting:Japanese Masterworks From The Feinberg Collection, May 21, 2013 - Jul 15, 2013「ファインバーグ・コレクション展 ―江戸絵画の奇跡―」、
平成25年5月21日(火)〜7月15日(月・祝)
Flowers in Bloom: The Culture of Gardening in Edo, Jul 30, 2013 - Sep 1, 2013
Soul of Meiji Edward Sylvester Morse, his day by day with kindhearted people, Sep 14, 2013 - Dec 8, 2013
Ukiyo-e: A Journey Through the Floating World, Jan 2, 2014 - Mar 2, 2014
Edo and Kyo 〜The townscape in Asia〜, Mar 18, 2014 - May 11, 2014
Exhibition schedule (in Japanese) http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/
EISEI BUNKO 永青文庫
The Tea Culture of Hosokawa Sansai, 2013/3/30(土)〜6/23(日), 「細川三斎の茶」
Objects Presented to the Hosokawa Family, 2013/7/5(金)〜9/29(日), 「大名細川家への贈り物―信長、澤庵、大観から―」
Masterpieces of Ancient China, 2013/10/5(土)〜12/8(日), 「古代中国の名宝―細川護立と東洋学」
Chushingura (The 47 samurai) and the Hosokawa Family, 2013/12/14(土)〜2014/3/23(日)、「忠臣蔵と細川家」
Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese): http://www.eiseibunko.com/exhibition.html Access: http://www.eiseibunko.com/traffic.html
GEIDAI DAIGAKU BIJUTSUKAN 東京芸術大学大学美術館
Natsume Soseki and the Arts, May 14 (Tue) - Jul 7 (Sun), 2013 夏目漱石の美術世界展
"Materializing" Exhibition, Jun 8 (Sat) - Jun 23 (Sun), 2013
The National Treasure Butto (Buddha Head) of Yakushi Nyorai and Masterpieces from Kofukuji, Sep 3 (Tue) - Nov 24 (Sun), 2013
Exhibition schedule (in Japanese) http://www.geidai.ac.jp/museum/exhibit/current_exhibitions_ja.htm?blog_id=517729
THE GOTOH MUSEUM 五島美術館
Early Modern Nihonga Paintings, 5/11-6/16「近代の日本画展」、2013年5月11日[土]―6月16日[日]
Masterpieces of Japanese Calligraphy, 6/22-7/28
The Beauty of Zen, 9/13-10/20
The Rinpa Artist Koetsu's Arts, 10/26-12/1
Coordinating Tea Ceremony Objects, 12/7/2013-2/16/2014
Ceramics of China, 2/22-3/30, 2014
Exhibition schedule (in Japanese) http://www.gotoh-museum.or.jp/exhibition/schedule.html
HATAKEYAMA MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF FINE ART 畠山記念館
Japanese Ceramics: Ninsei, Kenzan, and Korin, 平成25年1月19日(土)〜3月20日(日), 冬季展 「春を祝う ―仁清・乾山・光琳―」
The Elegance of Japanese Lacquerware , 4/6-6/16
The Quest for Cooling Refreshment—Sokuo Hatakeyama's Morning Tea Ceremony, 8/3-9/16
The Beauty of Calligraphy, 10/5-12/15
The Tea Master Rikyu and His Lineage, 1/18-3/16, 2014
Exhibition Schedule in English* Exhibition Schedule in Japanese: http://www.ebara.co.jp/csr/hatakeyama/ex_sche.html
IDEMITSU MUSEUM OF ARTS 出光美術館
Tosa Mitsuyoshi's Depictions of the Tale of Genji and the Tales of Ise, 4/6-5/19 「土佐光吉没後400年記念源氏絵と伊勢絵 ―描かれた恋物語」、2013年4月6日(土)〜5月19日(日)
Japan Blue: Kosometsuke and Shonzui Ceramic Wares, 5/25-6/30「やきものに親しむX古染付と祥瑞 ―日本人の愛した〈青〉の茶陶」、2013年5月25日(土)〜6月30日(日)
* (The rest was too much trouble to translate, sorry. 〜AF)
Exhibition Schedule in Japanese
ITABASHI ART MUSEUM 板橋区美術館
Kobikicho Kano: The highest ranking of the Tokugawa official painters (Works from Itabashi Art Museum Collection), 7 April 2012 - 6 May 2012* (Otherwise, nothing of particular interest to AF)
Exhibition Scedule in English* Exhibition schedule in Japanese http://www.itabashiartmuseum.jp/
art/schedule/index.html
ACCESS: 15 min walk from Nishitakashimadaira Stn on the Mita subway line, 22 min walk from the Shimoakazuka Stn on the Tobu Tojo line, 25 min walk from the Eidan Akatuska Stn on the Yurakucho line, see MAP

JAPAN FOLK CRAFTS MUSEUM 日本民芸館
Ainu Crafts - Patterns with a Prayer, April 2nd (Tue) - June 2nd (Sun), 2013
Tsukishima Karukaya - The world of the naive art from picture scrolls and narrative paintings, June 11th -August 18th, 2013
The Eyes of Sori Yanagi, August 27th (Tue) - November 21st (Thu), 2013
New Works Competition and Exhibition 2013, December 8th (Sun) - 23rd (Mon), 2013
Tea and Beauty - Soetsu Yanagi and The way of Tea, January 10th (Fri) - March 23rd (Sun), 2014
Exhibition Schedule (in English): http://www.mingeikan.or.jp/english/exhibition/schedule.htmlACCESS: Komaba Todaimae stn on the Inokashira line from Shibuya
* MAP and ACCESS
KANAGAWA PREFECTURAL MUSEUM OF CULTURAL HISTORY 神奈川県立歴史博物館 (* AF's picks)
Travelling to Kanagawa in the Edo Period (Ukiyoe Prints), 4/27-6/23「江戸時代 かながわの旅−「道中記」の世界−」、 4月27日(土)〜 6月23日(日)
American Women's Travels to Meiji Period Japan, 3/15-4/13, 2014「アメリカ人女性が巡った明治の日本」、3月15日(土)〜4月13日(日)
Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://ch.kanagawa-museum.jp/tenji/nenkan/nenkan.html
KANAZAWA BUNKO MUSEUM 神奈川県立金沢文庫 (* Exhibitions are typically on Buddhist or Shinto Art)
Currrent Exhibition
Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://www.planet.pref.kanagawa.jp/city/kanazawa.htm
Access: 神奈川県立金沢文庫 * Click map to enlarge
Nearby Japanese Style Restaurant: ふみくら茶屋
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MITSUBISHI ICHIGOKAN MUSEUM 三菱一号館美術館
Exhibition Scedule (in English)* Access and Map (in English)
MITSUI MEMORIAL MUSEUM 三井記念美術館
Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://www.mitsui-museum.jp/exhibition/index2.html
NEZU INSTITUTE OF FINE ARTS 根津美術館
Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://www.nezu-muse.or.jp/jp/exhibition/index.html
OTA MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF ART 太田記念美術館
Exhibition Schedule (in English)http://www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp/index-E.html
* Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese)
http://www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp/H20schedule.html
SEIKADO BUNKO ART MUSEUM 静嘉堂文庫美術館
* Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://www.seikado.or.jp/sub0203.htm
SHIZUOKA PREFECTURAL MUSEUM OF ART 静岡県立美術館
* Exhibition Schedule 2010 (in Japanese)
http://www.spmoa.shizuoka.shizuoka.jp/japanese/exhibition/kikaku/2010/
Access: http://www.spmoa.shizuoka.shizuoka.jp/english/access/
SUNTORY MUSEUM OF ART サントリー美術館
Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://www.suntory.co.jp/sma/exhibition/index.html
* Exhibition Schedule (in English)
http://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/sma/exhibition/future.html
TOKYO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (Tobikan) 東京都美術館
* CLOSED FOR REMODELLING, 4/5/2010 ~ 2012
* More Info (in Japanese) http://www.tobikan.jp/outline/renewal/index.html
TOKYO METROPOLITAN TEIEN ART MUSEUM 東京都庭園美術館
Exhibition schedule (in English): http://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/exhibition/e_index.htmlAccess: http://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/info/e_access.html

TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM 東京国立博物館
* Exhibition schedule (in English): http://www.tnm.jp/en/exhibition/regular/en_one_year.html

UKIYO-e TOKYO 浮世絵美術館 (Formerly Riccar Museum)
* Exhibition schedule (in Japanese): http://www.ukiyoe-tokyo.or.jp/2010exhibition/schedule2010.html
Access: LaLaport Toyosu
YAMATANE MUSEUM 山種美術館
* Exhibition Schedule (in Japanese) http://www.yamatane-museum.or.jp/exh_schedule.html
* Exhibition Schedule (in English)
http://www.yamatane-museum.or.jp/english/index.html#menu4
New Location and Access
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* Kansai Area Museums: "Kansai Area Museums" Archives
* For access from your (Japanese) cellphone, email the link below to your cellphone, after opening the email on your cellphone, click on the link, and save it to your cellphone favorites.
http://blog.m.livedoor.jp/auberginefleur/index.cgi
*Click Blogmura logo below for other blogs (in Japanese) on Japanese Art
にほんブログ村
May 10, 2013
April 30, 2013
The Infamous Kimura Takuya CM: Tsukete-koi!
PLUS Gatsby Natural Bleach Color
April 22, 2013
2013 NHK Taiga Drama: "Yae's Sakura" March: Eps. 15 - Eps. 17

NHK World Premium > Schedules > Historical Drama "Yae's Sakura"
NHK: "The historical drama for 2013 is the life story of Yae Yamamoto, a woman born to a family belonging to the Aizu clan in Fukushima Prefecture in the late Edo Period, who later becomes known as Yae Niijima. Yae keeps exploring her potential all her life with the samurai spirits passed down in Aizu people, while bravely living through the age of turmoil, readied as a soldier armed with a gun."

Apr 14 (Sun) 20:00-20:44
Apr 15 (Mon) 3:00-3:44
Apr 20 (Sat) 13:05-13:49
In 1865, Shimeta Niijima, who stowed away on a ship from Hakodate, arrives in Boston. In Kyoto, Satsuma and Choshu secretly form cooperative ties, maneuvered by Ryoma Sakamoto. While Aizu is driven into a difficult position, the condition of Kakuma's eyes is also getting worse. In Aizu, Ura, who can no longer bear her loneliness not having Kakuma home for three years, goes hard on her daughter Mine. One day, a big fire breaks out in Aizu and Mine goes missing.

Apr 21 (Sun) 20:00-20:44
Apr 22 (Mon) 3:00-3:44
Apr 27 (Sat) 13:05-13:49
Saburo finds Mine. Ura, straying around the fire in search for Mine, is also saved by Shonosuke. Seeing Ura risking her life to find Mine, Yae learns the real reason why Ura has become strict with Mine. Ura has steeled herself to raise Mine as a successor of the Yamamoto family, in case something happens to Kakuma. Around the same time in Kyoto, Katamori is about to be relieved of his post as the military governor of Kyoto, which brings joy to the Aizu clan. However, the joy is short-lived as they receive tragic news shortly after.

Apr 28 (Sun) 20:00-20:44
Apr 29 (Mon) 3:00-3:44
May 4 (Sat) 13:05-13:49
Due to the sudden passing of Emperor Komei, the Aizu clan lost the opportunity to return to Aizu. Meanwhile in Nagasaki, Kakuma is informed by a Dutch doctor that he will soon lose his eyesight. Despite his devastation, Kakuma makes every effort to obtain new Western-style guns for Aizu. While many of foreign traders refuse to deal with Aizu, German merchant named Lehmann accepts Kakuma's request to buy tons of guns, moved by his passion. Lehmann also gives Kakuma a Spencer repeating rifle as a sign of friendship. Kakuma sends the rifle to Yae who has been eagerly waiting for his return.
LINKS:
NHK World Premium > Schedules > Historical Drama "Yae's Sakura" (in English)
NHK 大河ドラマ「八重の桜」Homepage: http://www9.nhk.or.jp/yaenosakura/
Character Chart 登場人物相関図: http://www9.nhk.or.jp/yaenosakura/cast/aizu.html
EXHIBITION:
"Yae's Sakura" Exhibition:* Edo-Tokyo Museum: 3/12 (Tue) 〜 5/6 (Sun)
* Fukushima Museum, 5/17 (Fri) 〜 7/3 (Wed)
* Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, April 21 〜 June 3
* The Museum of Kyoto (Kyoto Bunka Hakubutsukan), 7/13 (Sat) 〜 9/1 (Sun)
2013年NHK大河ドラマ特別展 八重の桜* 江戸東京博物館 2013年3月12日(火)〜5月6日(月・休)
* 福島県立博物館 2013年5月17日(金)〜7月3日(水)
* 京都文化博物館 2013年7月13日(土)〜9月1日(日)
*Click Blogmura logo for other blogs (in Japanese) on Taiga Drama and Jidai Geki (and increase my ranking there!)

April 03, 2013
2013 NHK Taiga Drama: "Yae's Sakura" March: Eps. 13 - Eps. 14

NHK World Premium > Schedules > Historical Drama "Yae's Sakura"
NHK: "The historical drama for 2013 is the life story of Yae Yamamoto, a woman born to a family belonging to the Aizu clan in Fukushima Prefecture in the late Edo Period, who later becomes known as Yae Niijima. Yae keeps exploring her potential all her life with the samurai spirits passed down in Aizu people, while bravely living through the age of turmoil, readied as a soldier armed with a gun."

Mar 31 (Sun) 20:00-20:44
Apr 1 (Mon) 3:00-3:44
Apr 6 (Sat) 13:05-13:49
Akizuki, who returned to Aizu from Kyoto, coveys Kakuma's message to Yae and Shonosuke which is to take back his recommendation for their marriage and urge Shonosuke to move to other clan. Shonosuke gets angry and Yae becomes deeply disturbed. A few days later, Shonosuke proposes to Yae and the two decide to marry. Meanwhile in Kyoto, a carefully-planned attack against Choshu is called off as Takamori Saigo of the Satsuma clan alters his decision. As a result, the Aizu clan is driven into isolation.

Apr 7 (Sun) 20:00-20:44
Apr 8 (Mon) 3:00-3:44
Apr 13 (Sat) 13:05-13:49
Yae dressed in a pure white kimono, enters the gate of her house, accompanied by Akizuki. Shonosuke is captivated by the beauty of his bride, Yae. At the wedding celebration, Shonosuke, who is a light drinker, gets heavily drunk and Yae carries him on her back to their new place. After putting him in bed, Yae finds a lipstick in a box sent by Kakuma from Kyoto. Shonosuke wakes up and gently puts the lipstick on Yae's lips with his finger.
LINKS:
NHK World Premium > Schedules > Historical Drama "Yae's Sakura" (in English)
NHK 大河ドラマ「八重の桜」Homepage: http://www9.nhk.or.jp/yaenosakura/
Character Chart 登場人物相関図: http://www9.nhk.or.jp/yaenosakura/cast/aizu.html
EXHIBITION:
"Yae's Sakura" Exhibition:* Edo-Tokyo Museum: 3/12 (Tue) 〜 5/6 (Sun)
* Fukushima Museum, 5/17 (Fri) 〜 7/3 (Wed)
* Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, April 21 〜 June 3
* The Museum of Kyoto (Kyoto Bunka Hakubutsukan), 7/13 (Sat) 〜 9/1 (Sun)
2013年NHK大河ドラマ特別展 八重の桜* 江戸東京博物館 2013年3月12日(火)〜5月6日(月・休)
* 福島県立博物館 2013年5月17日(金)〜7月3日(水)
* 京都文化博物館 2013年7月13日(土)〜9月1日(日)
*Click Blogmura logo for other blogs (in Japanese) on Taiga Drama and Jidai Geki (and increase my ranking there!)

March 25, 2013
UPDATED 3/25: Cherry Blossom Schedule Forecast in Japan 2013 桜開花スケジュール

March Update 3/25: CHERRY BLOSSOMS STARTED BLOOMING IN TOKYO ON 3/16
Due to the recent unseasonably warm weather around the eastern seaboard, the cherry blossoms have bloomed much earlier than expected in many places, but don’t worry, you can still catch the cherry blossom in many parts of Japan.
The private site Weathermap had the first cherry-blossom forecast up this year, but the most reliable site is the official Japan Weather Association’s tenki.jp and the Japanese WeatherNews’s weathernews.jp. Both of the latter have been updating their sites regularly to keep up with the recent rapid changes in weather.

Tokyo: 3/16日 (blossoms open), 3/22 (full bloom)
Osaka: 3/24 (blossoms open), 3/31 (full bloom)
Kyoto: 3/25 (blossoms open), 4/2 (full bloom)
Otherwise:
(Kyushu) Fukuoka: 3/13(blossoms open), 3/21 (full bloom)
Hiroshima: 3/21(blossoms open), 3/28 (full bloom)
Niigata: 4/9 (blossoms open), 4/13 (full bloom)
Nagano: 4/8 (blossoms open), 4/13 (full bloom)
Sendai: 4/8 (blossoms open), 4/14 (full bloom)
(Hokkaido) Sapporo: 5/4 (blossoms open), 5/8 (full bloom)
* The cherry blossoms should continue to bloom for five to six days after their peak (full bloom), depending on weather.
Several forecast maps are available online so you can keep up with the moving cherry blossom front. Cherry Blossom Flowering Date Maps:

Weather News Map (Current State Live)
http://weathernews.jp/sakura/
* At WeatherNews site, click button "Sakura Simulator" for forecast by date.
Mapple Net Map (Current State Live)
http://www.mapple.net/sp_sakura/
Run cursor over the area you are interested in.
JWA Forecast Map (Forecast Prediction)http://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation
Japan Weather Agency 気象庁の桜の開花予想
(Forecast Prediction)
http://www.hanazakura.jp/
sakura/skaika/kaika2.html
(Unfortunately ended as of 2009)
* See: http://hanazakura.jp/

Enjoy Tokyo Blossom Viewing
http://flower.enjoytokyo.jp/sakura/index.html
Walkerplus Famous Places in Tokyo
http://hanami.walkerplus.com/
Links:
* EnjoyTokyo Department Store Box Lunches for Blossom Viewing
デパ地下のお花見弁当
Tokyo Yokohama Information: Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots
Japan Guide: Popular Hanami Spots
All About: 江戸の名所で桜を愛でよう
* Japan Guide on Blossom Viewing in English
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
* See also Infoseek for more links (in Japanese):
http://senkuni.org/link/sakura/sakura_saku.html




















