In response to the wish of the German organizers to broaden the knowledge of the people in Germany about Japanese art, which is often limited to ukiyo-e prints, the exhibition covered the Muromachi through the Edo period with 6 sections. We are pleased to report the exhibition was visited by about 100,000 people.

This homecoming exhibition shows major pieces from the exhibition in 2 installments: part I - Warriors, Art of Shoin, and Noh; part II - Creators of the Kyoto Culture, The Tea Ceremony, and Art of the Rimpa School. We hope that visitors will enjoy the essence of Japanese beauty.

Human-shaped vessels and jars with human faces on the mouths are variations of the Jômon dogû and were produced mainly in the eastern Japan. While dogû was limited to female figures, Yayoi human figures and faces included both male and female, as well as indistinguishable ones. These vessels were mortuary urns, and those figures are thought to be the presentation of ancestral spirits and gods.

Pictorial presentation, on the other hand, thrived around the western Japan. Rendered on dôtaku (bell-shaped bronze) and pottery, the subjects included deer hunters, waterside animals, thrashers, as well as storage and other buildings. It is noteworthy that similar motifs can be seen on pieces from various parts of this region. The fact seems to suggest that they present commonly known mythological stories that were created in the Yayoi culture.

The word sahô is defined in Buddhism as "manners to be observed in daily conducts and Buddhist ceremonies", indicating that it was considered important since early days. The Ogasawara style which emerged in the Muromachi period became the general manners for the warrior class in the Edo period. This style influenced the upper class commoners and became the basis of the modern sahô.

Before the World War II parents made sure that their children learned sahô well, but today the idea of manners has greatly changed. We take a look at sahô of Edo once again here, not as formalities but as people's wisdom accumulated through many ages.

Many kanazôshi, educational books and novels plainly written for the general public were published in the early Edo period. During the Genroku era (1688-1704) ukiyozôshi, genre novels matter-of-factly depicting social manners and human nature emerged. Ihara Saikaku was one of the best-selling authors. As Edo became the cultural center in the late Edo period, book publishing flourished. Akahon (red book), kurohon (black book), aohon (blue book), and kibyôshi (yellow cover book) with illustrations by ukiyo-e artists were among the popular publications. Depicting aspects of life, social manners, events and happenings realistically using trendy words and intended as humorous and witty entertainment, these books most prospered during the Tenmei era (1781-89). However, after the Tenpô reform writers had to change their styles.