Special Exhibition "The Mirrors of Himiko - The Triangle-Rimmed Divine Beast Mirrors That Built the Yamato Court" to be Held at the Kyushu National Museum from October 31 (Sat)! Musical Actor Yoshio Inoue to Appear at Press Conference!

Yoshio Inoue at the press conference for the special exhibition "The Mirrors of Himiko - The Triangle-Rimmed Divine Beast Mirrors That Built the Yamato Court"

The special exhibition "The Mirrors of Himiko - The Triangle-Rimmed Divine Beast Mirrors That Built the Yamato Court," the largest-scale exhibition of mirrors to date, will be held at the Kyushu National Museum starting October 31 (Sat).

A press conference was held on July 2 (Thu) at the Tokyo National Museum in anticipation of the exhibition. Yoshio Inoue (musical actor), who is the Kyushu National Museum Goodwill Ambassador (hereinafter referred to as "Kyuhaku Goodwill Ambassador") and has a connection to the exhibits, appeared at the event.

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Yoshio Inoue has been actively working as a Goodwill Ambassador since his appointment as the 20th-anniversary ambassador for the Kyushu National Museum, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in October 2025. He is driven by a shared passion for "conveying and preserving culture," transcending the boundaries between performing arts and museums.

Upon attending the press conference for this exhibition as a Kyuhaku Goodwill Ambassador, Inoue mentioned his personal connection to some of the exhibits. When asked about this connection, he said, "I was surprised to learn that triangle-rimmed divine beast mirrors, which are linked to Yamatai-koku and Himiko, were excavated near the towns of Nishijin and Fujisaki in Fukuoka Prefecture, where I grew up. At the same time, I am happy that there is a clear connection between the place where I lived and grew up, and Yamatai-koku and Himiko. I feel it is important to realize that historical facts and our daily lives are actually connected."

Regarding "The Mirrors of Himiko," a highlight of the exhibition, he commented, "Just as the mirrors of Himiko did, people in every era have sought ways to express their power and wealth, and I found it fascinating that mirrors held such value. There were also mirrors depicting horses, which likely did not exist in Japan at the time, and I imagine how people back then must have felt. I believe that visitors will find something to resonate with from the various types of divine beast mirrors."

Finally, addressing potential visitors, he shared, "In my work as an actor, conveying the history of life, places, and people is inseparable. I believe the staff at the Kyushu National Museum are also conveying things through their works, albeit in a different form. The more I learn about Kyushu, a gateway to the world, the more I am amazed. I want to support the Kyushu National Museum with pride and the hope that it will continue to be so.

I hope that people, not just from the local area but from all over the country, will visit this exhibition, which can only be seen at the Kyushu National Museum, perhaps in conjunction with a visit to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine," he concluded.

[Yoshio Inoue Profile] Actor. Born July 6, 1979, in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Music, Department of Vocal Music. Debuted in 2000 as Crown Prince Rudolf in the musical "Elisabeth." Since then, he has starred in numerous musicals and stage productions with his high singing ability and presence. He has expanded his activities to include holding concerts, appearing on music and variety shows, and recently serving as an MC.

[Exhibition Overview]

Approximately 1800 years ago, at the end of the Yayoi period, Queen Himiko ruled the Japanese archipelago. Himiko sent envoys to Wei in China and was bestowed "one hundred bronze mirrors" along with the title "King of Wa allied with Wei" and various treasures. These are "The Mirrors of Himiko."

It is believed that "The Mirrors of Himiko" included "triangle-rimmed divine beast mirrors," bronze mirrors excavated from ancient tombs across the Japanese archipelago. Himiko, and the subsequent "Yamato Court," enhanced their authority by distributing treasures such as triangle-rimmed divine beast mirrors to rulers in various regions.

This exhibition explores how the triangle-rimmed divine beast mirrors were created and how deeply they were involved in the establishment of the Yamato Court, while also introducing the latest research findings.

Exhibition Title: Special Exhibition "The Mirrors of Himiko - The Triangle-Rimmed Divine Beast Mirrors That Built the Yamato Court"

Dates: October 31, 2026 (Sat) - January 11, 2027 (Mon, Holiday)

Venue: Kyushu National Museum (4-7-2 Ishizaka, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

Kyushu National Museum HP Exhibition Page: https://www.kyuhaku.jp/exhibition/exhibition_s78.html

Kyushu National Museum Official X/Instagram: @kyuhaku_koho