Okay, I really want to hate the Mitsui Memorial Museum (because see below) but they keep putting on shows like this.
The idea behind “Amazing Craftsmanship!” is to pair mad Meiji-era woodwork, metalcraft and even (who knew?) embroidery with contemporary artists whose mindbending skillz rival those of the obsessed artists past.
But don’t take my word for it – go see this thing. You will not be disappoint.
I couldn’t include some of my other favorites here because I couldn’t find photos of them online, so if you can’t hop on a train and go see this RIGHT NOW, you’ll just have to take my word for it that the handbag that turns into a snake, the bucket made of carved toads, and the glow-in-the-dark embroidery were totally to die for.
This show is at the Mitsui Memorial Museum until December 3, 2017
Open: 10:00 – 17:00, closed Mondays
Admission: Adults ¥1300
*Ranty bit: So, I kind of understand why museums sometimes don’t allow patrons to take pictures of stuff in exhibitions – often there’s a thing in the art loan contracts that prohibit it (even though DUH they would get a boatload of free publicity when people post them all over the interwebs and say “go see this exhibit if you want to slay your friends with amazement and envy” but, whatever.) Not the museum’s fault. But the Mitsui Museum not only prohibits photo-taking, it forbids taking out your cellphone. WAT? Guards pounce at the first glimpse of a keypad, even if it’s obviously being used to take notes or look up something about the artist. Just thought I would warn you about this, so you can be spared a swift, authoritarian, Japanese knuckle-rapping.
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The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for
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“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 