The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, located within the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, celebrated its grand opening on November 3, 2026. To mark the occasion, the museum is presenting Beauty Through the Ages: Treasures of the Imperial Collections, a special exhibition running through January 24, 2027.

The exhibition brings together 187 works spanning centuries of Japanese art and craftsmanship, including National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, the Shōsōin Treasures, and the Hōryūji Treasures. Presented across three successive rotations, with a complete change of exhibits between each period, the exhibition reveals the remarkable diversity of Japan's artistic heritage.

Exterior view of the building | Courtesy of The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
A particular highlight is the first-ever presentation of the Shōsōin Treasures within the Imperial Palace grounds. From ancient times to the modern era, the exhibition offers an opportunity to encounter works of art preserved, supported, and passed down through generations of the Imperial Family.

*All exhibition photographs were taken during the press preview with permission from the organizers.

From the Imperial Collection to a Museum of Japanese Cultural Heritage

The history of the Museum of the Imperial Collections dates back to 1989, when a significant collection of paintings, calligraphy, decorative arts, historical documents, and other objects inherited by the Imperial Family was donated to the Japanese state.

Established to preserve, research, and make these cultural properties accessible to the public, the museum opened in 1993 as the Sannomaru Shozokan under the Imperial Household Agency. Its collection subsequently expanded through further donations from former branches of the Imperial Family.

The name Shōzō derives from the title of an official responsible for overseeing objects associated with the emperor under Japan's ancient ritsuryō administrative system. It reflects the idea of safeguarding and preserving objects of great importance.

In 2019, construction began on new facilities to expand the museum's storage and exhibition spaces. Management was transferred from the Imperial Household Agency to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage in 2023. Following a partial reopening in November of that year, the museum celebrated its full opening in November 2026.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

The collection has been assembled through a variety of historical circumstances. Alongside works passed down within the imperial court are objects presented to the Imperial Family by temples, shrines, and former feudal families, artworks acquired at exhibitions, and decorative arts commissioned by emperors and empresses.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

These different histories reveal that the Imperial Family's relationship with Japanese art has extended beyond collecting and preserving objects. Through acquisitions and commissions, successive generations have also played a role in supporting artistic and craft traditions and passing them on to the future.

The Shōsōin Treasures: Ancient Beauty and the Legacy of Cultural Exchange

The grand opening exhibition unfolds across three distinct periods. The first rotation, from November 3 to 23, presents the Shōsōin Treasures associated with Emperor Shōmu, marking their first exhibition within the Imperial Palace grounds.

Preserving the material culture of the Nara period, the Shōsōin Treasures offer a rare glimpse into the artistic sophistication of Japan's ancient imperial court. The collection includes objects made in Japan as well as works originating from Tang-dynasty China and elsewhere, reflecting the extensive cultural exchanges that connected East Asia during the eighth century.

Among the highlights is the eighth-century Red Sandalwood Biwa (Lute) with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay. The technique of raden involves cutting the iridescent inner layers of shells into thin pieces and inlaying them into wood or other surfaces. The luminous quality of the shell and the intricacy of the decoration speak to the exceptional craftsmanship of the period.

Also on display is the eighth-century Eight-Lobed Mirror with Mother-of Pearl Inlay. Its elaborate decoration demonstrates the technical refinement and aesthetic sensibilities of ancient decorative arts.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

The first rotation also includes Edo-period paintings, notably Phoenixes and the Rising Sun by Itō Jakuchū, alongside decorative objects inherited by the imperial court and masterpieces of modern Japanese art created by Imperial Household Artists during the Meiji period.

The Shōsōin Treasures will remain on view only until November 23, making this opening rotation a particularly significant opportunity for visitors.

187 Treasures Across Three Rotations: Japanese Art Through the Centuries

The second rotation, from November 26 to December 20, turns its attention to the Hōryūji Treasures associated with Prince Shōtoku. Originally presented to the Imperial Family by Hōryūji Temple in Nara, these cultural properties are invaluable to understanding the development of Buddhist art and craftsmanship in ancient Japan.

Through these objects, visitors can explore the artistic traditions of Buddhism, which played a formative role in shaping Japanese culture.

The third rotation, from December 23 through January 24, 2027, presents masterpieces of Japanese art from the medieval period to modern times. Among the highlights is Chinese Lions, a National Treasure comprising a right-hand screen by Kanō Eitoku and a left-hand screen by Kanō Tsunenobu.

From folding screens distinguished by powerful compositions and sumptuous decoration to works reflecting the techniques and aesthetic ideals of later periods, the exhibition traces the rich evolution of Japanese art.

The year 2026 also marks a century since the beginning of the Shōwa era in 1926. In recognition of this anniversary, the exhibition examines masterpieces of modern Japanese art that entered the Imperial Collections during the Meiji, Taishō, and Shōwa periods, revealing how artistic sensibilities evolved as Japan underwent modernization.

Because the entire selection changes between rotations, it is not possible to see all 187 works in a single visit. Each period offers a different perspective on the history of Japanese art.

Handscrolls, Folding Screens, Hanging Scrolls, and Decorative Arts: The Diversity of Japanese Artistic Expression

One of the most striking aspects of the press preview was the way the galleries changed in character according to the works on display.

Hanging scrolls line the walls, handscrolls are carefully unrolled within display cases, and folding screens reveal pictorial narratives across their articulated surfaces. Lacquerware, metalwork, and other decorative objects are presented in ways that reflect their individual forms and materials.

Folding screens, in particular, reveal the richness of spatial expression in Japanese art.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

A folding screen is both a painting and a functional object, historically used to divide and define interior spaces. Its hinged panels create a shifting visual experience, allowing landscapes and figures to appear differently depending on the viewer's position and angle.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

Handscrolls, meanwhile, have traditionally been experienced by gradually unrolling them, revealing a narrative section by section. This distinctive format allows the passage of time to unfold visually and represents one of the defining characteristics of Japanese pictorial culture.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

Decorative arts offer another perspective. Lacquer, metal, ceramics, and textiles have long played essential roles in Japanese daily life and court culture. The distinction between painting and craft, or between objects created for contemplation and those made for practical use, has not always been clearly defined.

Encountering these different forms within a single museum reveals how Japanese aesthetics have developed through an extraordinary range of materials, techniques, and artistic traditions.

Imperial Patronage, Japanese Craftsmanship, and the Origins of Modern Design

One of the defining characteristics of the Museum of the Imperial Collections is the close relationship between the Imperial Family and modern Japanese craftsmanship.

During the Meiji period, as Japan emerged as a modern nation, fine and decorative arts became an important means of presenting the country's cultural identity and technical achievements to the world.

The Imperial Family contributed to the development of these traditions not only by acquiring works by leading artists and craftspeople, but also through commissions that encouraged the creation of exceptional objects.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

Notable examples include Vase with Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons by Namikawa Yasuyuki and Cabinet with Chrysanthemums in Maki-e Lacquer and Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, designed by Rokkaku Shisui, with lacquerwork by Kawanobe Itchō and metal fittings by Unno Shōmin. Both exemplify the extraordinary technical accomplishments of Japanese decorative arts.

Techniques such as cloisonné enamel, maki-e lacquer decoration, and raden mother-of-pearl inlay depend not only on ornamental beauty, but also on a profound understanding of materials and skills refined over generations.

This commitment to material, technique, and beauty continues to resonate with contemporary fashion and product design, offering a connection between historical craftsmanship and the creative practices of today.

Bringing the Museum's Aesthetic Heritage Into Everyday Life

To celebrate its grand opening, the museum shop is offering a range of items inspired by the exhibition and the Imperial Collections.

The official exhibition catalogue is a 274-page, full-color publication featuring all 187 exhibited works. Alongside detailed artwork descriptions, it includes essays and commentaries by museum researchers, providing an opportunity to explore the exhibition in greater depth.

Museum shop (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

Other items include a plush mascot inspired by Chinese Lions, a clear bottle incorporating motifs from the Taishō-period decorative work Pair of Vases with Phoenixes, and tenugui hand towels featuring designs inspired by the Shōsōin Treasures, produced using traditional chūsen dyeing techniques.

Motifs drawn from artworks associated with the Imperial Family find new forms in objects for contemporary daily life, offering another way to extend the museum experience beyond the galleries.

Museum shop (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

The exhibition also offers an audio guide narrated by Japanese actor Anne Watanabe, providing further insights into the historical backgrounds and artistic significance of the works on display.

Encountering Japanese Art Within the Imperial Palace Grounds

The Museum of the Imperial Collections stands within the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, part of the former Edo Castle grounds.

Although located in the heart of Tokyo, the gardens retain historic structures and landscaped spaces that offer a tangible connection to Japan's past. Encountering artworks preserved by generations of the Imperial Family within this setting adds another dimension to the museum experience.

The Imperial Collections are far more than an assemblage of precious objects. They encompass works shaped by court culture, masterpieces created by leading artists of their time, and objects received through exchanges with other countries. Each carries its own history, contributing to the cultural traditions that continue to shape Japan today.

Exhibition view (photographed during the press preview with permission from the organizers) | Photo ©FASHION HEADLINE

With its grand opening, the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, enters a new chapter as an institution dedicated to preserving these cultural properties for future generations while sharing the richness of Japanese art and craftsmanship with audiences from Japan and around the world.

Beauty Through the Ages: Treasures of the Imperial Collections invites visitors to consider how Japanese aesthetics have emerged, evolved, and been passed down through centuries of artistic creation.