The delegation of Shanghai Art Collection Museum, led by president Hu Muqing, successfully concluded a 6-day visit to Japan from January 12 to 17, 2017, upon the invitation from Mr. Takahiro Shima, president of Japan’s DAS Designers Association. During the visit, the delegation visited many museums, art galleries, libraries and bookstores in Tokyo and Osaka and discussed with representatives from cultural institutions and organizations on the museum’s long-term cooperation with Japan.

On January 12, the delegation first visited Tokyo’s Kanda Bookstore Street known for it antique bookstores. With a history of more than 130 years, the Kanda Bookstore Street has a total of 176 antique bookstores with a wide variety of books. Mr. Hu discussed with several bookstore owners on the topic of establishing a museum library and purchased multiple specialized books needed for the museum.

On January 13, the delegation arrived at the National Diet Library in Tokyo in order to research for a specialized exhibition to be held early 2018 in memory of the 145th birth anniversary of Liang Qichao.

Famous late Qing philosopher and scholar Liang Qichao once fled to Japan after the Hundred-day Reform failed in 1898. During his time in Japan, Liang had made an enormous effort in advocating for China’s democratic reform.

As the only national library in Japan, the National Diet Library preserves a large number of books and images related to Liang Qichao. The delegation was also deeply impressed by the library’s advanced management system. 

On January 14, the delegation visited the Tokyo National Art Center. As one of the landmark art museums in Tokyo, the National Art Center attracts art lovers worldwide not only with high-quality exhibitions including Japan’s highest-level annual art exhibition “Nitten”, but also with the museum’s unique architecture designed by Kisho Kurokawa. The museum has become the location for many Japanese movies and dramas, including “Kimi no na wa (Your Name)”, Japan’s box office no.1 movie in 2016.

In the afternoon, the delegation met with 3 “Living National Treasures” (Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties) in their respected fields - Mr. Kazumi Murose, vice president of the Japan Kogei (Art and Craft) Association and artist of Makie (Japanese lacquer ware with decorative pictures of sprinkled gold powder), Mr. Houseki Okuyama of Tankin (metalwork made by hammering), and Mr. Morihito Katsura of Chokin (metalwork made by carving). Mr. Hu discussed with the 3 artists about holding exhibitions for works by Living National Treasures at the museum and it’s Takashimaya art space. The 3 artists also expressed their strong interest in promoting exchanges in culture and art with the museum.

Afterward, the delegation visited the 34th Japanese Traditional Lacquer Art Exhibition with the accompany of the 3 artists, who shared their experiences and feelings about artwork creation as well as their views on the development of traditional arts and crafts.

After Tokyo, the delegation arrived at Osaka, Shanghai’s sister city in Japan. In the Osaka Takashimaya department store, the delegation met Takashi Asuka, director of Fine Arts Division of Osaka Takashimaya and vice director Takeo Yasukawa. The two directors not only thoroughly introduced the mechanism of the Takashimaya Fine Arts Division, which has a history of over 110 years, but also expressed their strong hope to cooperate with the museum’s Shanghai Takashimaya Art Space, which will be opened in late February.

Later, the delegation visited the office of the DAS Designers Association, receiving the warm reception by its president Takahiro Shima.

The DAS Designers Association, with over 60 years of history, has over 200 individual and company members of all kinds of designing - graphic, industrial, environmental, jewelry, architectural etc. Its members have been responsible for many important design projects in Japan and have received multiple global awards every year.

Mr. Shima previously visited Shanghai Art Collection Museum last November in order to discuss on cooperation between the association and the museum. In this year’s return visit, both sides have reached further agreements on cooperation.

After the meeting, the delegation also visited the showroom of jewelry designer Aoko Yamazaki as well as the design workshop of Mr. Shima.

In the evening, the delegation was welcomed by Mr. Shima and the association with a welcome dinner, with the sincere wish for a prosperous new year of joy and friendship.