The Ueno Royal Museum (Taito-ku, Tokyo) will be holding the first immersive exhibition, "Shosoin THE SHOW — Feel the miracle here and now," from Saturday, September 20th to Sunday, November 9th, where you can enjoy the 1,300-year history of Shosoin and the beauty of its treasures with your whole body.
Under the supervision of the Imperial Household Agency's Shoso-in Office, this exhibition will combine ultra-high definition images projected on a giant screen with replicas of the treasures from 1,300 years ago, providing an experience that will envelop you in the beauty of the treasures. In addition, you will be able to experience the miracle of the Shoso-in over the past 1,300 years with your whole body through the scent of the legendary fragrance "Ranjatai," which was so desired by Oda Nobunaga and others, which will be exhibited for the first time in history, and the sound of the actual treasures, such as the "Radenshitan Gogenbiwa."
In this release, we will reveal information about the Tokyo venue, as well as introduce some highlights.
■Tokyo Venue Event Overview
Exhibition title: Shosoin THE SHOW – Feel the miracle that is here now –
Venue: Ueno Royal Museum (Taito-ku, Tokyo)
Period: Saturday, September 20, 2025 to Sunday, November 9, 2025 *No closing days
Opening hours: 10:00am – 5:00pm (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Organizers: The Ueno Royal Museum, "Shosoin THE SHOW" Executive Committee (Yomiuri Television, Yomiuri Shimbun)
Company, TOPPAN, Kadokawa Media House), Nippon Television Network Corporation, BS Nippon Television Network Corporation
Supervised by: Shosoin Office of the Imperial Household Agency
Sponsor: Takemoto Piano
Technical cooperation: Epson Sales
Cooperation: Takasago International Corporation
Inquiries: 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)
*This exhibition will be held at the Osaka Museum of History from Saturday, June 14th to Sunday, August 24th.
■Tokyo venue ticket prices
|
Admission fee |
Advance tickets |
Same-day tickets |
|---|---|---|
|
general |
2,100 yen |
2,300 yen |
|
High school and university students |
1,500 yen |
1,700 yen |
|
Elementary and junior high school students |
900 yen |
1,100 yen |
*Free for preschool children.
*All prices include tax.
*People with a disability certificate and up to one caregiver will be charged half the same day rate.
*University, high school, and junior high school students must present their student ID.
* Advance tickets are scheduled to go on sale in early August. Details will be announced on the official website as soon as they are decided.
[Objective of the event]
Shosoin is a "miraculous treasure trove" that has protected and handed down 9,000 treasures for nearly 1,300 years. The treasures, which show ancient exchanges between the East and the West, mainly from the Nara period, have been preserved to this day thanks to the efforts of people who tried to protect the treasures, such as the "Imperial Seal" system, which could only be opened with the Emperor's permission, and continuous repairs and inspections. Due to its miraculous state of preservation, it is an irreplaceable existence that is unique in the world.
This exhibition will explore new charms of the treasures that cannot be seen simply by seeing them in person, by using replicas made using the same materials and techniques as the originals, as well as high-definition 3D digital data that accurately captures even the most minute details difficult to see with the naked eye.
Additionally, the scent of the legendary fragrant wood "Ranjatai," known to have been desired by the Sengoku warlord Oda Nobunaga, has been reproduced for the first time based on scientific research. Visitors to the venue will be able to experience the scent that captivated this great ruler of Japan.
Highlight 1: Ultra-high definition footage reveals the fine details of the treasures
All images are from the Osaka exhibition.
The latest technology is used to scan the treasures, and ultra-high definition images are then projected onto a giant screen. In this immersive space, you can fully enjoy the beautiful details and textures of the treasures' designs that cannot be seen with the naked eye, along with the "replicas" on display. In addition, you can experience the "story" of Shosoin through a story video about the Shosoin and its treasures.
Highlight 2: The first ever reproduction of the scent of Ranjatai
Exhibition view at Osaka venue
Through detailed scientific research, including component analysis, we will be exhibiting the scent of the world's most famous fragrance, "Ranjatai," recreated for the first time in history. Ranjatai's official name is "Oujukukou." It is a magnificent piece of fragrant wood measuring 156.0cm in length and weighing 11.6kg, and still bears traces of where it was cut by Oda Nobunaga and his men. This exhibition will finally reveal the mystery of its fragrance.
Highlight 3: Experience the brilliance and beauty of 1,300 years ago through the "Reproduction"
Imitation mother-of-pearl box (Exhibition scene at Osaka venue)
Imitation mother-of-pearl and rosewood five-stringed biwa (Exhibition scene at the Osaka venue)
These "reproductions" are made using the same materials and techniques as the actual treasures, recreating the original appearance of treasures from 1,300 years ago. Looking at these, you can see how the treasures of that time were made with such high level of skill and precision. This exhibition features reproductions of famous treasures such as the "Mother-of-pearl Shisango Biwa" and the "Mother-of-pearl Box." Along with the brilliance of the treasures of that time, images and commentary will reveal the beauty behind the scenes and the superb craftsmanship.
*The actual Shosoin treasures will not be on display.
Highlight 4: New creations by contemporary artists
Artists at the forefront of the fields of fashion, music, photography and ceramics have created works inspired by Shosoin and its treasures, which will be shown for the first time in this exhibition.
Collaborating Artists
[You can enjoy the smartphone audio guide for free]
