Featured Events in Tokyo in April, 2025 (July Updated)

The tale of how the Heian-period warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu quelled the demon Shutendōji took shape before the fourteenth century. It then spread widely through paintings, Noh performances, and other genres. The Muromachi period Shutendōji picture scrolls by Kanō Motonobu (the “Suntory Scrolls”) are a famous ancient example copied hundreds of times during the Edo period. This exhibition will display all three of the recently restored Suntory Scrolls and will also introduce the richly varied Shutendōji picture scrolls that developed broadly from them.

When you think of pottery, you may imagine vessels used as tools, such as everyday pottery and tea ware. However, in contemporary pottery, there is a perspective that sees the form of the vessel as a three-dimensional form rather than a purpose or function, and there are also objets d'art works that capture elements related to pottery, such as materials, techniques, and traditions, from a unique perspective. The founder of this museum, Kikuchi Satoshi (1923-2016), was fascinated by the diverse productions of individual artists, their unknown thoughts, and aesthetic sense, and he actively collected Japanese ceramic works from the late 20th century onwards. In 1983, he held an exhibition of his own collection, "Japanese Ceramics Today," at the Thomas M. Evans Gallery of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington, USA). The exhibition, which mainly featured works by artists in their 40s and 50s at the time and introduced contemporary Japanese culture amid trade friction between Japan and the United States, was well received, and this experience became an opportunity for Kikuchi to focus on cultural projects.

The Ginza Art Aquarium Museum (located at Ginza Mitsukoshi) will hold a limited-time spring exhibition "Mecha Sakura 2025" from February 28 (Friday) to April 23 (Wednesday). The arrival of spring is something we can't wait for. An art space where you can enjoy early cherry blossoms has settled in Ginza! The Ginza Art Aquarium Museum is filled with beautiful aquarium artworks of goldfish swimming in the water. The dreamy interior space is themed around cherry blossoms, and it has been transformed into a unique "Sakura Space" with scents, lights, and music. The goldfish art surrounded by spring colors is perfect for taking amazing photos. Please enjoy this special performance that is only available now while feeling the arrival of spring.

Tokyo Gallery+BTAP is pleased to announce the exhibition "MYŌ" by Park MinJoon. Period: March 1 (Sat) - April 5 (Sat) Venue: Tokyo Gallery + BTAP | Tokyo Park is an artist who constructs unique fictional worlds through reinterpretations of classical paintings. His works, which are distinctive for their sense of theatrical fantasy, are philosophical variations on themes such as life and death, hope and failure, and dreams and reality. Even as he seeks out the potential and essential nature of Western painting techniques, Park seems to usher us towards a place where new mythologies are created by intermingling them with human figures defamiliarized through an East Asian sensibility. This exhibition will showcase a diverse range of works that delicately trace the boundaries between reality and unreality, using the sensation of myō (Oddities) as a guiding principle. A reception will be held on Friday, March 7 from 4pm with the artist, who will be visiting Japan. We look forward to your visit.

Perrotin Tokyo is currently presenting the solo exhibition Bath by artist Sarah Anstis, featuring paintings and works on paper, marking the artist’s first collaboration with Perrotin. Anstis’s work presents surreal scenes—the characters are mostly naked, communicating with each other and in the company of animals, presenting a dreamlike logic that can be revealed through a contextualized reading of art history. Her imaginary world is all-encompassing, echoing the tradition of Surrealism, drawing inspiration from figurative fragments of the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance, while incorporating elements and tones of Symbolism. The tones of the works are reminiscent of mid-20th century color theory and geometric abstraction, making them visually and thematically rich narratives that span time and space, profound and poetic.

This exhibition will focus on the theme of spring, and will feature selected works from the museum's collection, including paintings, prints and photographs depicting cherry blossoms and spring scenery. The most eye-catching of these is Kawai Gyokudo's "Late Spring Screen", which is exhibited once a year and presents a poetic scene of pink cherry blossoms scattered on the water amidst the green mountain scenery. In addition, Akechi Tamae's "Cherry Blossom Scroll", which depicts more than 40 species of cherry blossoms, including weeping cherry, yukin cherry, and Oshima cherry, is also a work that cherry blossom lovers cannot miss.

Kokan and Tazen were Western painters who created oil paintings and copperplate prints during the Edo period. Kokan was a scholar who loved elegance, while Tazen was obsessed with Western technology and was keen on manufacturing. Although the two artists' works have different characteristics, what they have in common is the "coolness" of their forms, which comes from a sincere sense of wonder about perspective. While exploring the charm of Western paintings, this exhibition also focuses on the differences in the characteristics of the two artists. This exhibition will present representative oil paintings such as "Round Window Tang Beauty Picture" and "Leather Worker Picture" by Sima Jianghan, and "Two Kingdoms Picture" and "Ink Bank Viewing Cherry Blossom Picture" by Yaoudo Tianshan, as well as their copperplate prints and ink paintings. The exhibition not only focuses on the creative characteristics of the two painters, but also explores their interpretation of oil painting techniques in different contexts, revealing the development process of oil painting in the Edo period.

Ukiyo-e was born in response to the trend of the times to transform the pain and suffering of this world into pleasure and to enjoy this world with joy. The form of the artwork is divided into hand-painted paintings and woodblock prints. This exhibition will feature hand-painted ukiyo-e such as Leisure under the Blossoms Screen, Kanbun Beauties, and Leisure Scroll (by Hishikawa Moronobu).The ceramics exhibit will feature celadon porcelain made in China.In addition, Asian Buddhist sculptures and works by Mokichi Okada will also be on display.We look forward to seeing you there.

The world is full of all kinds of poop - dog and cat poop, bird poop, insect poop. This science exhibition focuses on animal excrement, or "poop." Approximately 150 pieces of mostly "real" poop from many different animals are gathered together in one place and displayed to introduce the various roles that poop plays in nature and the rich diversity of living things. Welcome to the world of poop, which is not just "smelly and dirty!" You'll surely find yourself humming the words "No UNCHI, No LIFE!"

The exhibition brings together about 240 selected works, introducing the origin of Japanese prints, the changes of Ukiyo-e, the influence of Western art on prints, and the internationalization process of Japanese prints after the war. Exhibits include the "Immaculate Pure Light Great Dharani Sutra" from the Nara period, Utagawa Hiroshige's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido: Lake Hakone", Kawase Hasui's "Morning in the Mist (Yotsuya Mitsuko)", and Tokata Shiko's "Two Bodhisattvas and the Ten Great Disciples of Sakyamuni: The Fence of Purna", etc., leading the audience to explore the artistic charm of Japanese prints for thousands of years.

Visit the annual Freesia Festival on Hachijo Island, about 300km south of Tokyo. Just looking at the colorful freesias will soothe your soul with their fragrance. Relax and recharge at the Freesia Café, and try some local desserts. There is also a free picking area. There will also be a market where you can buy freesias and other specialty products from Hachijo Island.

Hamura Cherry Blossom Festival (Hamura Flower Water Festival: early period, late March to early April) Hamura Tulip Festival (Hamura Flower Water Festival: late period, early April to mid-April)

The former Merchandise Exhibition Hall, the predecessor of the Merchandise Department, focused on collecting traditional crafts in the latter half of the 1990s, aiming to systematically enrich the collection of traditional crafts by region and type. This article looks back on the special exhibitions held between 1996 and 2000 that reflected the results of these efforts.

Shigaraki ware (Shiga Prefecture) is known for its tea ware and raccoon dog ornaments from the Momoyama period, but it also has a tradition of constantly evolving to meet the needs of the times as a production center for practical items. We will analyze the characteristics and trends of the wide variety of modern Shigaraki ware products that reflect this history.

Shokoku-ji is an ancient Zen temple founded in 1382 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408), the third Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, and invited Muso Soseki (1275-1351), the founder of the Muso school, the largest school of the Five Mountains of Kyoto, as its founder, and his disciple Shun'ya Myoha (1311-1388) as its actual founder. It is still proud of its large appearance to the north of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, and is the head temple of the Rinzai Shokoku-ji school, which includes Rokuon-ji, commonly known as Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji, and Jisho-ji. With a history of over 640 years since its founding, Shokoku-ji has nurtured many artists throughout the ages and led to the creation of masterpieces. Josetsu and Shubun, the painter-monks of Shokoku-ji, were considered to be the official painters of the Muromachi Shogunate. Sesshu, known as a master of Muromachi ink painting. Kano Tan'yu, who was deeply involved in Shokokuji culture in the Edo period. And then there are the fantastical painters Ito Jakuchu, Hara Zaichu, Maruyama Okyo... The pursuit of beauty in the Shokokuji cultural sphere, which gained its model in the Middle Ages, has continued through the early modern, modern and contemporary periods, and artworks owned by Shokokuji, Rokuonji and Jishoji have been exhibited at the Jotenkaku Museum located within the Shokokuji temple grounds. This exhibition is being held to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Shokokuji Jotenkaku Museum. The exhibition will focus on masterpieces from the Shokokuji school, including over 40 national treasures and important cultural properties, and will offer a glimpse into the world of beauty at Shokokuji and entrust it to the future.

Shun Art Gallery Tokyo will be holding a solo exhibition by Guo Zheng entitled "Tranquil Scenery" at its Harajuku space from March 29th to May 7th. The exhibition will feature a total of 18 pieces, including works from the ink-wash series "Muted Landscape" and two felt works. Guo Zheng has evolved from his early romantic and beautiful works to works that focus on themes of gender and the living environment of women, posing deep questions to the viewer that go beyond the landscape. In the "Muted Landscape" series, Guo depicts the solid forms of sawtooth rocks and waterfalls in gray tones, while the soft curves of a woman's body hidden in the seemingly desolate landscape emerge. In addition, the vivid colors of the LGBT rainbow flag are deconstructed into the rock formations, and the confrontation of these opposing vivid colors forms a double metaphor. The cold tones suggest the encroachment of industrial civilization on the natural environment, and the exploding rainbow spectrum is depicted as a "light emerging from a chrysalis" symbolizing the self-awakening of minorities, constructing a visual declaration against mainstream narratives through the political code of color. In this way, Guo has challenged herself with tufted felt works in addition to traditional ink painting techniques, visually expressing the struggle for women's social status improvement. She continues to provide sharp insights and innovative expressions into social issues, encouraging deep reflection from the audience and sending out powerful messages as contemporary art. Please come and see for yourself.

Why are people so touched by the natural beauty of Mingei, born from nature? Naoto Fukasawa, product designer and museum director, will select everyday items from the museum's collection that have touched and inspired him, shedding light on the appeal of Mingei beauty, such as its "warmth," "intimacy," and "loveliness." The existence of Mingei, the crystallization of the beauty of everyday life, will serve as an important touchstone for ascertaining our "manufacturing" and "direction of life" for the future.

Perrotin Tokyo presents Cherries Bloom in April — the first solo exhibition in Japan by German artist Gregor Hildebrandt. The following is an essay authored by artist and curator Andreas Schlaegel on the occasion of this exhibition.

Perrotin Tokyo is pleased to announce Cherries Bloom in April — the first solo exhibition in Japan by German artist Gregor Hildebrandt. The following is an essay authored by artist and curator Andreas Schlaegel on the occasion of this exhibition. Hildebrandt’s passion for art, poetry, and music is as extensive as it is infectious. His ability to internalize and contextualize what he sees, reads, and hears informs the connections he draws in precise and distinct material form – poetic and open-ended, inviting viewers’ reflections.

126 highly acclaimed works from the Tokyo TDC Awards 2025, including award-winning and nominated works, will be exhibited on the 1st and B1st floors of the Ginza Graphic Gallery! You can also enjoy a screening of video works on the 2nd floor. This year's lineup is full of topical works. We look forward to seeing many of you there, just like last year.

Set during the French Revolution, the exhibition and sale will include the timeless masterpiece "The Rose of Versailles," which depicts the lives of the cross-dressing beauty Oscar and the Queen of France Marie Antoinette, as well as 30 prints of "The Window of Orpheus" (88 graphs). In addition, miscellaneous goods such as art tiles, mirrors, and glasses cleaning products will be on sale. Please enjoy the beautiful and splendid world depicted by Riyoko Ikeda.

SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR YOUNG CHINESE ARTISTS IN JAPAN

Smart Health Japan display products Carrier communication equipment manufacturers, health entertainment, telecommunications equipment and peripheral equipment & more. The exhibitors gathering here in the event will showcase a wide range of products and services like Peripherals and telecommunications equipment, Research and development, Telco services, Of network optimization, Consulting Services, telecom operators telecommunications equipment and many more. Information Source: UBM | expotobi

Medtec Japan will cover araes like Challenges in designing medical devices with communication functions, A robot in the catheter room, Infection and complication prevention drives the catheter peripheral equipment market, and New labelling solution corresponding to UDI. Profile for exhibit includes- Contract Manufacturing & Subcontracting, Component Fabrication, Tubing, Adhesives & Adhesive Products, Electronic Components, Production/Assembly, Packaging Equipment & Materials, Motors & Motion Control, Plastics, Testing Equipment & Services, Hardware & IV Components, Precision Metalworking, Tooling, and Machining. Information Source: UBM | expotobi

International exhibition of the modern fashion industry Fashion, Art & Lifestyle Exhibition (PLUG IN). Important representatives of leading international supermarkets, clothing stores, retailers, licensing agents are invited to the exhibition. The event opens up great opportunities for the textile and fashion-related industries, promotes branded products to the market, exchanges ideas, and attracts domestic and international buyers. Main profiles: women's, men's and children's clothing, evening dresses, sportswear, fashion accessories and garments. Along with the exposition, the program includes seminars, business dialogues, photo shoots, and shows. Information Source: SENKEN SHIMBUN Co, Ltd. | expotobi

MAKI Gallery is pleased to present Shadow of Others, a solo exhibition by Romanian artist Marius Bercea, at Omotesando, Tokyo. Bercea’s work merges contrasting perspectives, creating a space where fiction and reality, glamour and fragility, memory and oblivion intersect, posing questions that function both as a historical reflection and an autobiographical journey.

Odilon Redon (1840-1916) was a French symbolist painter, known for his dreamy style full of mysticism. In his early years, he focused on charcoal drawings and prints, calling his works depicting a fantasy world "black creations". In the 1890s, influenced by the Nabis painters, he gradually turned to pastels and oil paintings, using more colorful and bright colors and light and shadow to depict mythological, religious, human and floral themes.This exhibition is centered on the collection of the Gifu Prefectural Art Museum, and brings together approximately 110 works from art museums in Japan and abroad, covering charcoal drawings, prints, pastels and oil paintings, etc., to fully display the full picture of Odilon Redon's creation and explore how he developed his unique style between tradition and innovation.