The is a private museum in the
Kaminoge district of
Setagaya
is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is also the name of a neighborhood and administrative district within the ward. The ward calls itself Setagaya City in English. Its official bird is the azure-winged magpie, its flower is the fringed orch ...
on the southwest periphery of
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...
. It was opened in 1960, displaying the private collection of
Keita Gotō, chairman of the
Tokyu Group
The is a railway keiretsu whose parent company is the Tokyu Corporation railway company, which links Tokyo and its suburbs. Many companies in the group are designed to enhance the value of the Tokyu rail network. In addition to the railroad syst ...
. Today's collection is centered on the original selection of classical Japanese and Chinese art such as paintings, writings, crafts and archaeological objects completed by a small selection of Korean arts.
It features several objects designated as
National Treasures or
Important Cultural Properties. The exhibition changes several times per year with special openings in spring and fall. A garden with a tea house, ponds and small Buddhist statues is attached to the museum.
Highlights of the Collection
Genji Monogatari Emaki
One of the most important items housed in the museum are sections of the oldest extant illustrated handscroll of ''
The Tale of Genji'' dating to the 12th century. This
Genji Monogatari Emaki
The , also called ''The Tale of Genji'' Scroll, is a famous illustrated handscroll of the Japanese literature classic '' The Tale of Genji'', produced during the 12th century, perhaps . The surviving sections, now broken up and mounted for co ...
used to be the property of the Hachisuka family. The fragments cover chapters 38 (), 39 () and 40 () of the novel.
*The Bell Cricket 1: one illustration (third princess with maid and hem of Genji's robe), two pages of text
*The Bell Cricket 2: one illustration (conversation between Reizei and Genji at an informal concert), two pages of text
*Evening Mist: one illustration (jealous Kumoi no kari is trying to snatch away a letter from her husband Yūgiri who is Genji's son), two pages of text
*Rites: one illustration (exchange of poems between Genji, the dying Murasaki and Empress Akashi, her adapted daughter), three pages of text
The fragments are very fragile and are listed as
National Treasure. They are displayed in the Gotoh Museum every year for about a week in April/May around the
Golden Week holidays. More scrolls are housed in the
Tokugawa Art Museum
The is a private art museum, located on the former '' Ōzone Shimoyashiki'' compound in Nagoya, central Japan. Its collection contains more than 12,000 items, including swords, armor, Noh costumes and masks, lacquer furniture, Chinese and Japan ...
in
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most po ...
.
Murasaki Shikibu Diary Emaki
Another important item and National Treasure of the museum collection are 13th century fragments of a
handscroll of the Murasaki Shikibu Diary with illustrations. Three illustrations and three pages of text are housed in the museum. The items are displayed in the Gotoh Museum every year for about a week in autumn. More fragments are housed in the
Fujita Art Museum
The is one of the largest private collections in the Kansai region. The collection was assembled by Fujita Denzaburō and his descendants. It was installed in a storehouse on the family property in Osaka.
Opened to the public in 1954, the coll ...
in
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...
.
See also
*
List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
The term " National Treasure" has been used in Japan to denote cultural properties since 1897.
The definition and the criteria have changed since the introduction of the term. These archaeological materials adhere to the current definition, and ...
*
List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
The term " National Treasure" has been used in Japan to denote cultural properties since 1897.
The definition and the criteria have changed since the inception of the term. These paintings adhere to the current definition, and were designated na ...
*
List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
Lists of National Treasures of Japan cover different types of National Treasure of Japan. They include buildings and fine arts and crafts.
Buildings and structures
* List of National Treasures of Japan (castles), for structures that are part of ...
References
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External links
{{Authority control
Art museums and galleries in Tokyo
Art museums established in 1960
1960 establishments in Japan