2025-2026 Thematic Exhibition Schedule
Thematic Exhibitions are mini temporary exhibitions centered around a variety of themes and featuring works from the Museum’s collection, such as paintings influenced by European and Chinese art, and precious historical materials.
Location: Thematic Exhibition Room (inside the 2F Historical and Cultural Zone)
Admission: included in the Permanent Exhibition admission fee
(adults 630 yen, elementary, junior high and high school students 310 yen. Free for elementary and
junior high school students in Nagasaki Prefecture, Rekibun Tomo no Kai, Campus Members)
The Gotō Islands in the Edo Period Dates: April 23 (Wed) – June 22 (Sun), 2025
In the Edo period (1603-1868), the Gotō archipelago was ruled by the three domains of Fukue, Tomie, and Hirado. Foreign vessels plied the waters surrounding the islands, and Fukue Domain was responsible of the defense against naval threats. In addition, fishing, and in particular whaling, became the main industry of all three domains, giving rise to disputes over fishing grounds. This exhibition delves into the early modern history of the so-called “Border Islands” of Gotō, surrounded by a fertile sea.
A Fantastic Exhibition Dates: July 1 (Tue) – August 31 (Sun), 2025
Seasonal motifs are often featured in Japanese ceramics, lacquerware, paintings, and other art forms. Not a few of them include folding fans, traditional accessorizes used in the summer season to create a cool breeze. This summer, we will showcase paintings, calligraphy works and crafts connected with Nagasaki that share the theme of fans. Enjoy the refreshing breeze coming from our “Fantastic Exhibition.”
391 Years of Kunchi Dates: September 3 (Wed) – October 13 (Mon), 2025
The grand autumn festival of Nagasaki’s Suwa Shrine, the Nagasaki Kunchi, began in 1634. During the Edo period (1603-1868), as Nagasaki flourished as an international trading port, the festival developed into a lavish event, which has been passed down to the present day. In this exhibition, we present the 391 years of history of the Nagasaki Kunchi, through artworks, postcards and photos depicting the festival, costumes that were actually used in the performances, and documents related to this year’s performing groups.
Rekibun Collection 20 Years Dates: October 22 (Wed) – December 14 (Sun), 2025
The Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture, affectionately nicknamed “Rekibun”, will celebrate its 20th anniversary on November 3rd, 2025. The Museum’s collection has evolved over the past 20 years: new items have been acquired, others were restored, and some have been loaned to other museums for exhibitions. In this thematic exhibit, we present a selection of masterpieces from our collection, and trace their journey in our Museum.
History of Nagasaki Studies Dates: December 18 (Thu), 2025 – February 15 (Sun), 2026
The branch of regional studies known as Nagasaki-gaku (the study of Nagasaki) has progressed to the present day through the work of its pioneers, who preserved and recorded historical documents, and accumulated research on Nagasaki’s history and culture. This exhibition will focus on the history of Nagasaki studies, which continues to this day, by introducing Koga Jūjirō and other prominent researchers, and the facilities housing the documents they preserved and handed down.
Nagasaki’s History and Culture Dates: February 21 (Sat) – April 19 (Sun), 2026
The Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture holds a large number of artworks, crafts, and historical materials related to the history of international exchange, and boasts one of the most prominent collections in Japan even among museums dedicated to the theme of foreign exchange. This exhibition showcases precious objects and documents from its vast collection.
