Temporary Exhibition Schedule

2025-2026 Exhibition Lineup

Kamisaka Sekka: Inheriting the Timeless Rimpa Spirit

April 19 (Sat) – June 1 (Sun), 2025

Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) carried out his creative activities in Kyoto, taking the Rimpa school as a model. As a designer and painter, he engaged in a wide variety of arts, from dyeing, ceramics and lacquering to interior decoration and landscaping. In this exhibition, we trace the development of the aesthetic of Edo period Rimpa, which served as a model for Sekka, and introduce the diverse world of “modern Rimpa” Kamisaka Sekka, whose designs bring color to everyday life.

Ghosts, Demons and Yōkai in Ukiyo-e Masterpieces

July 5 (Sat) – August 24 (Sun), 2025

Yōkai are monsters created by the imagination of the people of the Edo period (1603-1868). A yōkai craze broke out towards the end of the Edo era, and its impact extended to ukiyo-e, the woodblock prints representative of the townspeople’s culture of the time. Ghosts that bear a grudge against this world. Wrathful spirits that cause natural disasters. Animals such as cats, raccoons, and foxes that trick humans… Thrilling, mysterious and humorous—bizarre monsters will gather here in Nagasaki, where townspeople’s culture once bloomed.

Pokémon × Kogei: Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft

September 12 (Fri) – December 7 (Sun), 2025

Pocket Monsters, Pokémon for short, are mysterious creatures filled with many secrets. They first appeared in the Game Boy games “Pokémon Red and Green”, released in Japan in 1996. The video games combine multiple elements, such as the “collection” aspect of capturing and evolving the Pokémon, and the “communication” aspect of trading and battling with friends. In addition, Pokémon has expanded into trading cards, animated series and movies, apps, and goods, and has attained global popularity. This exhibition showcases about 80 works by 20 Japanese artists, ranging from a Living National Treasure to emerging young creatives, who have taken on the challenge to create Pokémon-inspired artworks using a variety of materials and techniques. Enjoy the traditional crafts Japan is proud of and the enduring appeal of Pokémon.

Dreaming of Nagasaki

January 17 (Sat) – March 4 (Wed), 2026

During the Edo period (1603-1868), when relations with other countries were severely restricted, Nagasaki was the only place where it was possible to come into direct contact with international culture. For that reason, Japanese longed to visit it. Foreign culture was disseminated throughout Japan by those who had travelled to Nagasaki to study, and had a great impact on Japanese society, scholarship, and art. Through the phenomenon of “study trips” to Nagasaki, the exhibition explores the global knowledge network of the Edo period.