“The Foreign Kaleidoscope of Edo”

Miho Museum

This event has ended.

This exhibition examines the various goods imported into Japan during the Edo period and traces how they were used and loved. Although the Edo period seems characterized as a period of closure to the outside world, in fact through restricted routes a whole array of products made their way into the country. From Indian prints to European glass and ceramics, the culture produce of foreign countries made their way into the culture of Japan. Prints were incorporated into clothing and accessories, while craftspeople also began to produce their own interpretations of the imported glass and ceramics, making the foreign one’s own. Over 8 sections this exhibition showcases over 200 artifacts which reveal the diverse influences of these times, just like a kaleidoscope.