Kyoto Cultural Association and Canon donate a high-resolution facsimile of the Shijo Kawahara Folding Screen from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to the National Organization for Cultural Heritage Donated works on display at the Tokyo National Museum “Japan Art Collection”

High-resolution reproduction of “Shijo Kawahara Folding Screen” Photograph © 2023 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Reproduced with permission.

1.  Produced and donated a high-resolution copy of the “Shijo Kawahara Folding Screen” from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

“Shijo Kawahara Folding Screen” is a work that depicts the bustling red-light district of Kyoto in the Edo period in detail. It is luxuriously decorated with gold, such as the ground drawn with gold mud (*1) and clouds expressed by sand (* 2). The original cultural property is housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA, and is a valuable work that has very few opportunities to be viewed in Japan.

In the production of high-resolution facsimiles, Canon’s EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera is used to photograph original cultural properties, image processing is performed using a proprietary color matching system, and then output to a large-format inkjet printer equipped with 12 colors of pigment ink. In addition, traditional craftsmen in Kyoto process gold and tailor it to the wind, so that the original cultural properties are reproduced as faithfully as possible.

In addition, we will donate the high-resolution facsimile products to the National Organization for Cultural Heritage and make them widely available to the public, creating opportunities for many people to become familiar with the cultural properties of the Japan.

※1. Kintai: A paint made by powdering pure gold or similar gold and melting it with a glue liquid that serves as an adhesive.

※2. Sunago: A technique of Japan painting in which gold and silver foil is powdered to decorate the area.

2. Donated works will be exhibited in the interactive exhibition space “Japan Art Doors” at the Tokyo National Museum

The donated works will be exhibited from Tuesday, June 6 to Sunday, August 27, 2023 at the interactive exhibition space “Japan Art Room” (Special Room 3 of the Main Building) of the Tokyo National Museum, which is operated by the National Heritage Organization. It is difficult to exhibit without a glass case, which is difficult with original cultural properties, and you can appreciate the works up close.

<Outline of the “Tobira of Japan Art” where donated works are exhibited>

・Dates: June 6 (Tue.) ~ August 27 (Sun.), 2023

・Venue: Tokyo National Museum (13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo) Main Building, Special Room 3

・Opening Hours: 9:30~17:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)

・Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday or holiday, open and closed on the following weekday)

In addition, there are temporary closures and temporary openings.

・Admission: Tokyo National Museum General Culture Exhibition Admission Fee (Adults 1,000 yen, University Students 500 yen)

*The above information is subject to change. For the latest information, please check the website of the Tokyo National Museum.  https://www.tnm.jp

• About the Tsuzuri Project

The Tsuzuri Project is a social contribution activity jointly promoted by the Kyoto Cultural Association and Canon. Many of the valuable cultural properties of Japan ancient times have limited opportunities to appreciate, such as works that have traveled overseas in history and works that are carefully preserved as national treasures. The Tsuzuri Project combines Canon’s advanced digital technology from input, image processing, and output with the skills of traditional Kyoto craftsmen to produce high-resolution reproductions of original cultural properties. The high-resolution facsimile products are donated to shrines, temples, local governments, museums, etc. related to cultural properties, and are used in various situations, such as at the public exhibition at the donation destination and at the site of school education. So far, we have produced and donated high-resolution facsimifications of a total of 57 works, including works by Katsushika Hokusai, Tawaraya Sotatsu, and Ogata Korin.

For details, please refer to the “Tsuzuri Project” website. https://global.canon/ja/tsuzuri/