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The Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Arts Council, Tokyo National Museum, and the Yomiuri Shimbun are pleased to announce the “Japanese Architecture: Traditional Skills and Natural Materials”. The exhibition will be supported by the Japanese Government as part of Japan Cultural Expo, and will be held at the Hyokeikan gallery of Tokyo National Museum from Thursday, December 24, 2020, to Sunday, February 21, 2021. The special theme for the exhibition at this museum will be, “The Evolution of Japanese Architecture from the Ancient to the Early Modern Period”.

Prior to the opening of this exhibition, selected guests are invited to attend a private view. We are delighted to invite you to experience the exhibition ahead of its opening to the public.

The exhibition is centrally themed around Japanese architecture developed using a wide range of natural materials such as timber, grass, earth, and stone, into exquisite buildings. Casting a spotlight on architectural materials, including architectural models that epitomize the advanced processing technology of Japanese architecture, the exhibition will showcase leading architectural masterpieces from the ancient to modern period.

The “Japanese Architecture: Traditional Skills and Natural Materials” exhibition will be held at three venues: the Tokyo National Museum; the National Museum of Nature and Science; and the National Archives of Modern Architecture, Agency for Cultural Affairs. The exhibition opening on Thursday, December 24, at the Tokyo National Museum will be themed around “The Evolution of Japanese Architecture from the Ancient to the Early Modern Period”, and will showcase 19 pieces, including architectural models, drawings, and building materials, related to Japanese architecture and styles mainly from the ancient to early modern period. It would be a great pleasure if this exhibition would be an opportunity for many to learn about Japanese architecture and discover its appeals.

<Details of the special preview for press>
- Date: 10:00AM-12:00PM* on Wednesday, December 23, 2020
*Doors will close 30 minutes prior to the end of the preview, so please arrive in good time.
- Venue: Hyokeikan, Tokyo National Museum
(Address: 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
- Access: 10 mins. walk from JR Ueno Station (Park Exit) and JR Uguisudani Station (South Exit); 15 mins. walk from Tokyo Metro’s Ueno Station and Nezu Station; 15 mins. Walk from Keisei Ueno Station
- Entrance: Please arrive at the West Gate of the Tokyo National Museum.
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If you would like to attend the private view please reply to tatemono@ypcpr.com by 5PM on Monday, December 21, with the following details:

- Company/Media outlet name:
- Your name*:
*Number of attendees is limited to two per media. Please include the name and email address of all attendees.
- Contact details (address, phone, FAX, and email):
- Device(s) to be used for video/photography (please select from below):
Still camera / shoulder mount ENG camcorder / handheld camcorder / smartphone

Please note:
- Please note that the details of the private view may change without notice due to various circumstances.
- Please follow the guidance on filming/photography, which will be handed out at the venue. Should you require details in advance, please feel free to contact the PR office.
- Please refrain from visiting by car.
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<Details of the exhibition>
- Period: Thursday, December 24, 2020 – Sunday, February 21, 2021
- Venue: Hyokeikan, Tokyo National Museum (located inside Ueno Park)
- Closed on: Mondays*, Saturday, December 26, 2020 to Friday (and national holiday), January 1, 2021, and Tuesday, January 12, 2021
*Except Monday (and national holiday), January 11, 2021
- This exhibition requires pre-online booking (tickets with day/time assignment). Please check the exhibition’s official website for details.
- Opening hours: 9:30AM – 5:00PM* (*9:00PM on Friday and Saturday)
- Hosted by: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Arts Council, Tokyo National Museum, and The Yomiuri Shimbun
- Special sponsors: Canon Inc., JR East Japan Railway Company, JAPAN TOBACCO INC., Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., MITSUBISHI ESTATE Co., Ltd., Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.
- Sponsors: SHIMIZU CORPORATION, Takashimaya, Takenaka Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation
- Cooperation: National Museum of Japanese History, Kanazawa Institute of Technology
- Enquiry: 03-5777-8600 (Japanese only)
- Official website: https://tsumugu.yomiuri.co.jp/tatemono/

<Requirements for Media Attendance>
- Number of attendees is limited to two per media outlet.
- Advance register is required, with a maximum number of 100 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry will not be allowed without advanced registration.
- Registration may close before the deadline if the number of attendees reach capacity.
- A confirmation form will be sent to you from Japanese Architecture’s PR Office upon registration. Please present this form at the venue on the day.
- Doors will be closed at 11:30AM for the private view, and no entry will be permitted after this time. The private view will be closed at 12:00AM. We therefore recommend everyone to arrive in good time.
- If the venue is crowded, you may be asked to wait to enter the exhibition room.
- If you require additional lighting for video recording, please do not light the artwork directly. Please also use heat-absorbing and UV filters, and limit to 20 seconds when using lighting. Strobe lighting is permitted.
- Please mind the exhibits, exhibition cases, and other visitors when using tripods and footstools, and follow the instructions of the staff.
- Please use pencils inside the exhibition room in order to protect the artworks. Mechanical pencils are prohibited.
- There will be no curators nor audio guides to explain the exhibits. Please contact the PR Office if you wish to interview a curator.
- There will be no private view at the opening ceremony and post-ceremony.

<Precautions on Measures for COVID-19>
- Please do not visit if you have symptoms such as fever and cough.
- Please do not visit if you have traveled to countries and regions in the past two weeks where the virus has been spreading.
- Body temperature will be measured upon your arrival. You may be asked not to enter if temperature of 37.5C and above is confirmed.
- Face coverings are required for all visitors and staff.
- Please wash your hands and use alcohol-based sanitizers regularly.
- In the exhibition room, please cooperate with each other for viewing.
- Please refrain from talking inside the exhibition room.
- Please do not touch the exhibits, exhibition cases, other equipment, and walls.
- If the venue is busy, you may be asked to leave in the order that you arrived. This is to avoid the “Three Cs” (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings) at the exhibition room.

Information will be updated on the official website of Tokyo National Museum if any cases of COVID-19 are confirmed at the museum. Please check the website regularly and contact your local government if appropriate.

Information on the “Japanese Architecture: Traditional Skills and Natural Materials” exhibition at other venues:
Official website: https://tsumugu.yomiuri.co.jp/tatemono/

National Museum of Nature and Science / Special Theme: “Modern Japan – Diversification of Styles and Techniques”
<Venue> Exhibition Hall on 1F at Japan Gallery, the National Museum of Nature and Science
<Schedule> Tuesday, December 8, 2020 – Monday (and national holiday), January 11, 2021

National Archives of Modern Architecture, Agency for Cultural Affairs / Special Theme: “Artisans and Modernization – Passing on and Developing Carpentry Technique”
<Venue> National Archives of Modern Architecture, Agency for Cultural Affairs
<Schedule> Thursday, December 10, 2020 – Sunday, February 21, 2021

Please note: For information on opening hours, closed days, prices, and access etc., please see official websites of each museum.

[Contacts]
For further details please contact Ms. Hirano and Ms. Ikebukuro at the Japanese Architecture’s PR Office.
TEL:03-3406-3419 (Japanese Only)/ E-mail: tatemono@ypcpr.com
Office hours: 9:30AM – 5:30PM (except weekends and national holidays)