Nara Prefectural Museum: Special Exhibition "Discovering Traditional Japanese Culture - Swords and Bachiru" Announcement
The Nara Prefectural Museum will hold a special exhibition "Discovering Traditional Japanese Culture - Swords and Bachiru" in the spring of Reiwa 8 (2026). Through sword culture and the bachiru works of Living National Treasure Fumiyuki Yoshida, the exhibition will introduce the charm of Nara's traditional culture and convey the importance of its preservation and succession.
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## Overview
The Nara Prefectural Museum has been introducing the traditional culture of Nara and Japan, primarily through its collections, and disseminating its appeal as part of the "Discovering Traditional Japanese Culture" exhibition series since Reiwa 6 (2024). As part of this series, the special exhibition in the spring of Reiwa 8 (2026) will feature two fields: swords and bachiru.
In the sword section, titled "Touching the Expressions of Swords - From the Nara Prefectural Museum Collection - ", the exhibition will primarily feature swords and related cultural artifacts from the museum's collection and those entrusted to it. Nara, a capital since ancient times and home to numerous shrines and temples, has a history where swords were crafted and dedicated to meet the demands of nobles, shrines, and temples. Furthermore, in addition to preserving swords passed down to the present day, various individuals, including master swordsmiths and polishers, continue their activities to preserve sword culture. This exhibition will be an opportunity to introduce the culture of swords that has thrived from ancient times to the present day, through the history of swords in Nara and the appeal of the works.
In the bachiru section, titled "From Tenpyo to the Universe - Bachiru by Living National Treasure Fumiyuki Yoshida - ", the exhibition will introduce Fumiyuki Yoshida (1915-2004), the only Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property) in the field of bachiru, who pursued and developed creative activities in the bachiru technique. Bachiru is a technique of dyeing ivory in colors such as red and navy, and then carving delicate patterns into it. This exhibition will showcase two works by Fumiyuki Yoshida donated to the museum in Reiwa 6 (2024), as well as works located outside the museum, introducing his wide range of work, from cultural property replicas to original creations. Please enjoy the delicate expressions unique to the bachiru technique, which involves carving patterns into dyed ivory. Additionally, the exhibition will touch upon Nara's modern and contemporary traditional crafts, focusing on lacquerware and woodworking, by introducing artisans who were active around the same period as Yoshida.
Furthermore, through various related programs, such as events introducing contemporary preservation efforts by experts and art lectures by curators, this will be an opportunity to learn how traditional culture, which may feel somewhat distant from modern life, is still being protected and passed down, and to rediscover its appeal.
It is a common challenge for traditional cultures: how to evaluate, protect, and pass on cultures and techniques that once flourished to the present day is an important issue for museums that transmit valuable cultural assets to the future. This exhibition aims to make visitors feel the charm of regionally rooted culture and ensure its value connects to the future, by showing how two fields with the commonality of having woven history in Nara—swords and bachiru—are alive today.
## Admission Fees
One
The Nara Prefectural Museum has been introducing the traditional culture of Nara and Japan, primarily through its collections, and disseminating its appeal as part of the "Discovering Traditional Japanese Culture" exhibition series since Reiwa 6 (2024). As part of this series, the special exhibition in the spring of Reiwa 8 (2026) will feature two fields: swords and bachiru.
In the sword section, titled "Touching the Expressions of Swords - From the Nara Prefectural Museum Collection - ", the exhibition will primarily feature swords and related cultural artifacts from the museum's collection and those entrusted to it. Nara, a capital since ancient times and home to numerous shrines and temples, has a history where swords were crafted and dedicated to meet the demands of nobles, shrines, and temples. Furthermore, in addition to preserving swords passed down to the present day, various individuals, including master swordsmiths and polishers, continue their activities to preserve sword culture. This exhibition will be an opportunity to introduce the culture of swords that has thrived from ancient times to the present day, through the history of swords in Nara and the appeal of the works.
In the bachiru section, titled "From Tenpyo to the Universe - Bachiru by Living National Treasure Fumiyuki Yoshida - ", the exhibition will introduce Fumiyuki Yoshida (1915-2004), the only Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property) in the field of bachiru, who pursued and developed creative activities in the bachiru technique. Bachiru is a technique of dyeing ivory in colors such as red and navy, and then carving delicate patterns into it. This exhibition will showcase two works by Fumiyuki Yoshida donated to the museum in Reiwa 6 (2024), as well as works located outside the museum, introducing his wide range of work, from cultural property replicas to original creations. Please enjoy the delicate expressions unique to the bachiru technique, which involves carving patterns into dyed ivory. Additionally, the exhibition will touch upon Nara's modern and contemporary traditional crafts, focusing on lacquerware and woodworking, by introducing artisans who were active around the same period as Yoshida.
Furthermore, through various related programs, such as events introducing contemporary preservation efforts by experts and art lectures by curators, this will be an opportunity to learn how traditional culture, which may feel somewhat distant from modern life, is still being protected and passed down, and to rediscover its appeal.
It is a common challenge for traditional cultures: how to evaluate, protect, and pass on cultures and techniques that once flourished to the present day is an important issue for museums that transmit valuable cultural assets to the future. This exhibition aims to make visitors feel the charm of regionally rooted culture and ensure its value connects to the future, by showing how two fields with the commonality of having woven history in Nara—swords and bachiru—are alive today.
## Admission Fees
One