Tokyo National Museum's "Door to Japanese Art" Renewed and Reopened, Utilizing Researchers' Expertise and Approximately 120,000 Collection Items/Database, Uchida Yoko Group Realizes "Once-in-a-Lifetime" Viewing Experience

Uchida Yoko Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Noboru Okubo) was commissioned to produce the content for the renewed permanent interactive exhibition "Door to Japanese Art" (Note 1), which reopened on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in the Main Building of the Tokyo National Museum (Taito-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter referred to as TNM). This project was undertaken as part of the initiatives of the Center for Cultural Heritage, Agency for Cultural Affairs (Taito-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter referred to as the Center for Cultural Heritage).

By leveraging TNM's approximately 120,000 collection items, the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage's collection and database "ColBase" (Note 2), and the professional intellectual assets of its researchers, we have constructed the interactive content "Tohaku Wonder Wall <Ichigo Ichie>" which creates a unique encounter with cultural heritage for each visitor.

This content integrates a 14-meter wide large screen with interactive technology, using encounters with artworks viewable on that day as a starting point to guide visitors to the exhibition rooms. It aims to foster a new viewing experience unique to Japan's leading museum by not only conveying information about cultural heritage but also connecting it to the visitor's experience.

Note 1: "Door to Japanese Art" is a permanent interactive exhibition jointly operated by the Tokyo National Museum and the Center for Cultural Heritage.

"Tohaku Wonder Wall" (14m wide large-scale video content) installed within the permanent exhibition "Door to Japanese Art"

Note 2: ColBase: An integrated search system that allows cross-sectional searching of valuable cultural heritage items from the four National Museums of Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Kyushu, as well as the two Cultural Heritage Research Institutes in Tokyo and Nara, and the collection of the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, under the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. Operated by the Center for Cultural Heritage, it allows anyone to easily browse artworks online and utilize their appeal.

Designing Encounters with Cultural Heritage - An Exhibition Project Conceived from the Viewing Experience

TNM possesses a wealth of high-quality cultural heritage and the accumulated knowledge of experts who research them. On the other hand, for visitors, it is not easy to encounter works that lead to their own interests and discoveries amidst the vast number of exhibits and information.

Therefore, in this project, Uchida Yoko Group and the Center for Cultural Heritage began by designing the viewing experience itself that TNM wishes to deliver to visitors. First, with the theme of "Encounters with Cultural Heritage," we set concepts such as "How can we make visitors encounter the actual cultural heritage on display?" "How can we build anticipation for the exhibition rooms?" and "What kind of experience will remain in visitors' memories?" Based on these, the Uchida Yoko Group was responsible for everything from video production, interactive content development, music production, to database integration. This enhances anticipation even before viewing cultural heritage and leads to a richer experience in the exhibition rooms.

"Ichigo Ichie" Experience Design Co-created with TNM Researchers

TNM has over 50 researchers in diverse fields such as Japanese and Asian painting, archaeology, sculpture, swords, dyeing and weaving, and calligraphy, who are engaged in the survey and research of cultural heritage daily. In this project, we aimed to reflect the specialized knowledge of each researcher into the visitor experience by engaging in dialogue with researchers from the initial planning stages.

For example, in the depiction of "Kokin Wakashu (Gen'ei-bon)" appearing in the special video, a request was received from a researcher to "convey the beauty of the paper with shimmering gold and silver in the video as well." The production team carefully examined the texture of the artwork and the reflection of light, pursuing a presentation that emphasizes its beautiful sparkle. By leveraging the perspective of researchers who best understand the inherent appeal of cultural heritage, we aimed for expressions that lead to the audience's感動 (deep emotion) and produced with meticulous attention to detail.

Furthermore, in the interactive content, to convey the unique perspectives of experts to visitors, we planned a corner called "Encounter Your Favorite Piece Chosen by a Researcher!" This introduces visitors to cultural heritage that is not only designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties but also highlights techniques and historical backgrounds that only researchers would focus on.

Utilization of "ColBase" Cultural Heritage Data and a Digital Foundation that Transforms it into "Today's Encounter"

TNM undergoes exhibition changes throughout the year, and the works that can actually be viewed at the museum change daily. Based on information from approximately 120,000 collection items, the new content is centered around a system that links with TNM's exhibition schedule and the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage's collection search system "ColBase."

This enables the generation of content from various perspectives while reflecting real-time information on approximately 3,000 exhibition works that can be viewed on any given day.

By re-editing the vast cultural heritage data not merely as search targets but as "works that can be encountered today, at this place," we connect to a viewing experience that aligns with visitors' interests and actions. By combining the knowledge accumulated by TNM over many years with digital technology, we propose a new form of encounter with cultural heritage.

Special Video Work (Short Movie) Exploring 150 Years of History and Masterpieces

This is an approximately 2-minute special video that conveys the appeal of the museum as a whole and the artworks awaiting visitors in the subsequent exhibition rooms, serving as the "first encounter" upon visiting TNM. The video is projected onto a 14-meter wide large screen and features numerous masterpieces representing TNM, such as "Pine Trees" (Matsubayashi-zu Byobu), "Kokin Wakashu (Gen'ei-bon)," and "Shakōki Dogū," centered around the history from the 1872 Yushima Seido Exposition to the 150th anniversary in 2022. Through this video, visitors can feel the deep connection between Japanese art and Asian/world art, as well as the diversity of TNM's collection. Furthermore, it comprehensively introduces exhibition halls such as the Horyuji Treasures Hall and the Kuroda Memorial Hall, creating a composition that allows visitors to experience the joy of exploring the TNM grounds and the excitement of encountering new works from different countries, eras, and genres.

*This special video is shown every 15 minutes between interactive content segments.

Glittering Dynastic Elegance Comes to Life: "Kokin Wakashu (Gen'ei-bon)"

◆ You can check the main works appearing in the special movie here:

https://cpcp.nich.go.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=141

Six Themes for Interactive Experiential Content

The content unfolds as motion sensors installed on the screen read body movements. Even small children and wheelchair users can experience it.

This is an experiential digital content where visitors stand in front of the screen and operate it themselves to be presented with "one recommended piece to encounter today." The cultural heritage presented here is extracted from approximately 3,000 masterpieces that are guaranteed to be viewable on that day. It is selected and displayed in real-time in conjunction with TNM's web information and the artwork information from the collection database "ColBase."

There are 6 types of approaches, including a corner introducing "favorite masterpieces chosen by researchers" and a corner where visitors spin a lottery-style wheel (Garapon) to be presented with a unique masterpiece. Four of these are displayed randomly (※ For content details, see below). Since the exhibition hall and exhibition corner are also displayed along with the artwork, visitors can easily access the actual cultural heritage. It also supports four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, allowing many domestic and international visitors to enjoy it. The six content pieces on the screen switch after each showing of the special movie.

1 Encounter Your Favorite Piece Chosen by a Researcher! 2 Ichigo Ichie Garapon!

1 Encounter Your Favorite Piece Chosen by a Researcher!

"Favorite masterpieces chosen by TNM researchers" are displayed.

2 Ichigo Ichie Garapon!

Encounter "one piece you must see" by spinning the Garapon lottery wheel, like a lucky draw, for the day and time.

3 Encounter Treasures by Exploring TNM! 4 Encounter National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties!

3 Encounter Treasures by Exploring TNM!

Proposes masterpieces located in slightly more distant exhibition halls that can be encountered during a stroll.

4 Encounter National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties!

Picks up one item specifically from National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.

5 Encounter Japanese Treasures! 6 Encounter the World at the Museum!

5 Encounter Japanese Treasures!

Encounter exhibition works that evoke images of "Japan," such as samurai, classical performing arts, and kimonos.

6 Encounter the World at the Museum!

Introduces artworks by selecting one from the three themes: Japanese Art, Asian Art, and World Art.

Recommended Points from the Researchers Involved in Development

While you can choose the approach and theme yourself, the artwork that appears is a surprise each time. It's a content that balances "the joy of choosing for yourself" with "chance encounters." The system's linkage with TNM's website and the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage's integrated collection search system ColBase makes it possible to extract only the works currently on display from approximately 120,000 items.

(Chiori Fujita, Center for Cultural Heritage)

In addition to video and interactive content, we have also paid attention to acoustic design to create a comfortable spatial experience, enhancing the quality of the experience. By composing and recording original music and adding sound effects that respond to operations, we have created a space that naturally draws in visitors of all ages and nationalities, from children to adults, allowing them to enjoy encounters with cultural heritage.

Music Production

Composer: Fumihisa Tanaka, 1st Violin: Aiko Kamishikiryo, 2nd Violin: Satoko Koga, Viola: Asuka Magara, Cello: Michiko Kinoshita

About the Center for Cultural Heritage

The Center for Cultural Heritage (Bun-katsu) was established under the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage in 2018 as a national center for the utilization of cultural heritage. Its purpose is to maximize the value of cultural heritage and pass it on to future generations while balancing "preservation" and "utilization." Under the vision of "Creating a society where everyone thinks and participates to transmit cultural heritage to the future, 1000 and 2000 years from now," it is engaged in various activities to realize a society where more people can experience the appeal of cultural heritage and everyone becomes a bearer of cultural transmission.

Center for Cultural Heritage (https://cpcp.nich.go.jp/)

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Reconstructing Cultural Heritage into "Experiential" Video Production

Planning, video production, music production, and direction were handled by the Uchida Yoko Group (Power Place Co., Ltd., Uchida Yoko Co-creation System Design Team, Ubiquitous Library). The production team involved in this project has a track record of reconstructing the appeal of cultural heritage through video, including the production of reproduction videos for calligraphy works in TNM's "Calligraphy Master Wang Xizhi" exhibition in 2013 and the "Yan Zhenqing" exhibition in 2019, as well as the production and provision of a 3D video based on "Lantingji Xu (Yongle Edition)" for the Kyushu National Museum's 20th-anniversary special exhibition "National Treasures of Kyushu: Treasures of Kyuhaku" in 2025. In this project, in addition to the high completeness of the video, the expression that conveys the "newness" and "fun" that TNM currently communicates, and the introduction from diverse perspectives that serve as a trigger for encounters with masterpieces and treasure hunting were highly evaluated. Based on the technology and expressive power cultivated so far, this work aims to naturally draw out visitors' interest and understanding by reconstructing cultural heritage as content that can be "experienced" without compromising its charm. These initiatives bring out the appeal of "treasures" sleeping in various parts of Japan that are still unknown, as well as regional culture, nature, and spirituality.

Uchida Yoko Group will continue to take on technical challenges to convey the treasures of Japan and regional pride more deeply through spatial direction and educational content production in museums, libraries, and educational facilities.

Click here for the press release announced on May 15, 2026:

Uchida Yoko Proposes New Visitor Experience at Tokyo National Museum

Constructs Interactive Space Presenting "One Piece to Encounter Today"

https://www.uchida.co.jp/company/news/press/260515.html

Exhibition Information

Tokyo National Museum, Main Building 1st Floor Room B, "Door to Japanese Art"

Opening Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Venue: Tokyo National Museum, Main Building 1st Floor Room B (13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo)

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

*Open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays when the following Monday is a public holiday.

*Subject to TNM Collection Exhibition hours.

Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a public holiday or holiday, the museum will be open and closed the following weekday), Year-end and New Year holidays, and other temporary closures.

Admission Fees: (TNM Collection Exhibition) General ¥1,000, University Students ¥500, High School Students and below Free.

*Admission is included with the fee for the TNM Collection Exhibition or any special exhibition currently being held (on the day of visit).

Website: https://cpcp.nich.go.jp/modules/r_exhibition/index.php?controller=dtl&id=53

(From left) Noboru Okubo, President and Representative Director of Uchida Yoko; Makoto Fujiwara, Director of the Tokyo National Museum; Keisho Omami, Director of the Center for Cultural Heritage.