Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Hall: Display of 'Horse Racing Screens and the Art of Horses' (Nara Television Broadcasting)
The Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Hall is displaying the 'Horse Racing Screens' and other art related to horses.Summary
The Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Hall in Nara City is hosting an exhibition featuring the 'Horse Racing Screens' (Kurabeuma-zu Byobu), which have been recommended for designation as Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese Cultural Affairs Council. This screen, created during the Muromachi period, is the oldest surviving screen depicting horse racing and was recommended for designation in March 2026. The exhibition commemorates this event and displays a powerful set of six-panel screens decorated with mother-of-pearl, gold leaf, and silver sand. The screens, measuring approximately 1.7 meters in height and 6 meters in width, capture scenes of the racing and the joy of the winners. Additionally, in honor of 2026 being the Year of the Horse, paintings and crafts related to horses, which play a significant role in the Kasuga Matsuri and Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri festivals, are also on display. Furthermore, the venue features displays showing the connection between Kasuga Taisha and the Toyotomi clan, including records from 1586 to 1590 that detail Hideyoshi's involvement in the shrine's periodic rebuilding and the procurement of timber from Yoshino. The exhibition also includes valuable materials, such as records and diagrams stating that the 'Oshukusho' (main hall) of the On-matsuri was built by order of Hideyoshi. The exhibition runs until July 12.
(Source：Yahoo!ニュース)