The Imperial Palace Sannomaru Shozokan Grand Opens on November 3: Exhibition Area Becomes 8 Times Larger, Bringing Together All 30 Pieces of Itō Jakuchū's "Colorful Realm of Living Beings"
The Imperial Palace Sannomaru Shozokan reopens after a major renovation on November 3, with its exhibition area expanded eightfold, including the first complete showing of all 30 paintings from Itō Jakuchū's "Colorful Realm of Living Beings."Summary
The Imperial Palace Sannomaru Shozokan, located near the Ote-mon gate of the Imperial Palace, is set for a grand reopening on November 3, 2025, after completing a new facility project that began in 2019. The museum originated from treasures donated to the nation by Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko in 1989 and now houses approximately 6,300 items, including 10 National Treasures and 13 Important Cultural Properties. The renovation has dramatically expanded the exhibition space from the old 160 square meters, allowing for the comprehensive display of masterpieces like the National Treasure "Colorful Realm of Living Beings" by Itō Jakuchū (all 30 scroll paintings together for the first time), Wang Xizhi's "Sang Luan Tie," and Kano Eitoku's "Chinese Lions. " Managed by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it has been transferred to the independent administrative institution National Institutes for Cultural Heritage and becomes the fifth national facility under its operation. The total construction cost of approximately 15.5 billion yen was covered by the International Tourist Tax.
(Source：美術手帖)