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The Japan Advertiser
B. W. FLEISHER, Publisher and Editor
WILFRED FLEISHER, Managing Editor

TOKYO OFFICE:
1. Itchomo, Uchi-Yamashita-cho, Kojimachi-ku
Central P. O. Box 144, 358.
Telephone: Ginza 5857, 5858, 5859.
Telegraphic Address: "Advertiser Tokyo."

BRANCH OFFICES:
YOKOHAMA, 51-B Yamashita-cho, Tel. Honkyoku (2) 1649.
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REPRESENTATIVES:
NEW YORK, Joshua B. Powers Inc., 220 East 42nd Street.
WASHINGTON, F. W. Wile, 862, Earle Bldg.
SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, SEATTLE, R. J. Bidwell Company.

Address all communications relating to the Editorial Department to the Editor, and all communications relating to subscriptions, advertising and general business matters to the Business Manager.
TOKYO, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1935

MUSEUMS IN JAPAN
There is one feature that always astonishes visitors in Japan and that is the paucity of museums in a country where art is so highly and universally appreciated. There is no scarcity of treasures in this country worthy of exhibit in museums but the most precious objects of art are to be found in private collections and are not open to public inspection.

This has arisen from the fact that from feudal days objects of value have been preserved as family heirlooms and, with few exceptions, have never passed into the possession of the State. The only notable collection which is now the property of the nation is that housed in the Shoso-In in Nara which dates back to the year 749 when the Empress Komyo dedicated all the Imperial treasures of the late Emperor Shomu to the Todaiji temple. This unique collection of "sacred treasures" which is preserved under the seal of the Emperor, had remained locked up for periods of from thirty to a hundred years at a time until the Meiji era. Now even, it is only open for a period of cleaning for two weeks during November each year when a very limited number of persons may gain admission to inspect the precious objects stored there.

There are several big museums in Tokyo the most notable of which is the Imperial Household Museum in Ueno Park but in comparison to the great museums in other countries, the exhibits of Tokyo museums are relatively poor. This is due to several reasons, namely, that as before stated, the greatest treasures (the Shoso-In excepted) continue to be held in private collections; that it has not been customary for prominent persons to will their collections to museums (as is often done abroad); and that the museums here have had little money with which to purchase expensive objects of art.

The Imperial House Museum in Tokyo has sponsored a number of exhibits in recent years, gathered from among private collections, which as residents here know, have afforded a rare treat. The exhibits on such occasions not only compare favorably with those in the museums abroad, but some of the specimens of oriental art (both Japanese and Chinese) surpass anything to be seen elsewhere. The exhibit of Chinese ceramics held two years ago at Ueno and several recent exhibits of Japanese paintings and screens have given the public opportunities to see some great masterpieces.

But unfortunately these occasions are rare and the objects ordinarily on exhibit in the museums here are far below the level of a good Japanese collection. The Okura Museum is an example, for instance, of the type of exhibit which leaves much to be desired in comparison with what is to be found in other world centers, such as in the British Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, or the Freer Art Gallery in Washington. No doubt the Okura Museum did contain a number of fine specimens in the pre-earthquake days, but the majority were broken and damaged by the earthquake and fire and the present exhibit contains mostly fragments salvaged from the fire which have little value other than attaches to the memory of the earthquake as a historic event in Japan.

It will probably take a long time to develop the museum idea among the Japanese public such as it exists abroad. Treasures are not lacking in this country but so long as they are kept in families and in family go-downs, the museums cannot be truly representative of the art of one of the most artistic countries and art loving people in the world.

Transcription Notes:
Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 19:42:57 MS -per previous SI feedback, fixed for readability -Koji-machi-ku to Kojimachi-ku, removed hanging "-" left in from document. -added Branch offices -fixed many typos back to review. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 15:49:21 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 19:42:57