New exhibits and new merchandise at the Tokyo exhibition!
Starting tomorrow, Saturday, September 20th, the first experiential exhibition of Shosoin Treasures, "Shosoin Treasures THE SHOW – Feel the Miracles Here and Now," will open at the Ueno Royal Museum (Taito Ward, Tokyo).
At the press briefing and preview held prior to the opening of the exhibition, designer and artist Tomoe Shinohara, one of the collaborative artists for the exhibition, made an appearance.
For this exhibition, Shinohara created a dress with a motif based on one of the Shosoin treasures, a Persian-style water bottle with a lid shaped like a bird's head, called a "lacquer urushi bottle." She spoke of the year-long project, from the beginning of the concept to the discoveries, hardships, and attention to detail that occurred during the production stage, and said, "This exhibition marks a new challenge for us, allowing us to experience the Shosoin treasures as art. I would be extremely happy if this exhibition could help people to sense the charm of the Shosoin treasures, the value of handiwork, and the passion of our ancestors who have inherited them. I hope everyone will come and take a look at the treasures. See you at Shosoin THE SHOW."
[Tomoe Shinohara Profile]
Born in Tokyo in 1979. Graduated from Bunka Women's University Junior College, Department of Fashion.
She made her debut as a singer in 1995. Currently, she is active in various fields as a designer. In 2020, she founded "STUDEO" with her husband, art director Tatsuki Ikezawa, and in 2022, the leather kimono she designed won two awards at the New York ADC Awards, generating a great deal of buzz.
Four contemporary artists come together for the first time!
This exhibition features four collaborating artists, including Shinohara. These contemporary artists, active in a wide range of genres such as fashion, music, photography, and ceramics, will be showcasing new works inspired by the Shosoin treasures. For the first time, all four artists gathered at the venue to share their thoughts.
From left: Kamee, Shinohara, Kameda, and Takimoto
Music x Shosoin Instruments
Comment from Seiji Kameda (music producer and bassist)
"I've been interested in shrines and temples since I was in elementary school, and even wanted to become a Buddhist monk in the future. The dignified appearance of Shosoin made a lasting impression on me even as a child, and when I heard that music would be created using these treasures, I was so moved that I felt glad to be alive. I hope that everyone will realize that with the keyword Shosoin in mind, digital and analog can come together, and that it will give them hope for the future."
[Kameda Seiji Profile]
Born in New York, USA in 1964. He has produced and arranged for many artists, including GLAY, Shiina Ringo, Spitz, Hirai Ken, and Ikimonogakari.
He won the Japan Record Award for Best Arrangement in 2007 and 2015, and the Japan Academy Award for Excellence in Music for the film "Ito" in 2021.
Since 2019, he has been conveying the charm of music in various ways, including serving as the executive committee chairman of the Hibiya Music Festival, a free event that allows people to experience music across genres.
Photo × Shosoin Shosoin
Comment from Mikiya Takimoto (photographer)
"Since 2020, I have been visiting around 200 temples and other places in Kyoto, taking photos as my own work. I never imagined that I would be able to photograph Shosoin at this exact timing, with the full cooperation of the Imperial Household Agency's Shosoin Office, so I was extremely happy. I hope that viewers will be able to sense the weight of history that has been passed down from person to person for 1,300 years, and that Shosoin is a place filled with people's thoughts."
[Profile of Mikiya Takimoto]
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1974. His unique perspective on a variety of subjects, including portraits and still lifes, has earned him acclaim both in Japan and abroad for his work, which he captures with a unique perspective, based on his experience and skills. His representative works include "LUMIÈRE," "PRIÈRE," and "LAND SPACE," and he served as cinematographer for Hirokazu Koreeda's films "Like Father, Like Son," "Our Little Sister," and the Netflix series "Like Ashura."
Ceramics × Beautiful Patterns
Comment from Michiko Kamee (ceramist and painter)
"When I heard about this project, I was excited about the opportunity to try something new with the theme of Shosoin Treasures, but at the same time I felt a sense of pressure. I believe that the Shosoin treasures were brought across the sea long ago and have been carefully protected for 1,300 years, even containing the memories of the emperors and empresses. I hope that everyone will use all five senses to enjoy the exhibit."
[Michiko Kamee Profile]
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1978, he studied at the Kyoto College of Traditional Crafts, and after graduating he moved to Europe and Asia, where he honed his miniature painting skills. He creates works that meticulously depict natural flowers, using the techniques of Kyoto Satsuma ware, which emphasizes precise lines and color usage.
He has held solo exhibitions at Nihonbashi Takashimaya, and has participated in exhibitions and art fairs at Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore, Asia Hotel Art Fair Hong Kong, KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa, and more. He has also worked on cover designs for Paperblanks.
New exhibits will also be available at the Tokyo exhibition!
STAGE01 "National Treasure Book" Area
This exhibition opened at the Osaka Museum of History in June. New exhibits have been added to the Tokyo exhibition. Beyond the "Kasen" carpet reproduction is the "National Treasure Book," a catalog of the items used by Emperor Shomu during his lifetime that were donated to the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple. Over 660 treasures have been listed, and the entire book, measuring over 14 meters in length, can be viewed in full size.
STAGE03 "Avenue of Beauty"
The final section of Stage 03 is the "Avenue of Beauty," where you can experience the patterns of the Shosoin treasures in detail. The patterns are arranged in a colorful array, each measuring 45cm in length and width.
The world's most famous fragrance, "Ranjatai," which was also a hot topic at the Osaka exhibition, has been scientifically analyzed and recreated, and the fragrance will be on display for the first time. The fragrance will be enclosed in a glass container at the venue, allowing visitors to enjoy the scent for themselves.
New merchandise also available!
Rainbow Ramune 648 yen (tax included)
Rainbow Ramune, a popular product from Ikoma Confectionery Honpo in Nara, will be available in original packaging for this exhibition!
Price: 648 yen (tax included)
Sales period: Saturday, September 20th to Sunday, November 9th *Sales will end when stock runs out
Sales location: "Shosoin THE SHOW" Tokyo venue special goods shop (Ueno Royal Museum)
*Only one item may be purchased per person.
*A viewing ticket is required to enter the shop.
*The image is for illustrative purposes only. The actual product color, shape, and design may differ.
*We will not exchange products for any reason other than defective products.
In addition, new goods with a "Ranjatai" motif will be available, including capsule machines and envelopes in collaboration with "Kind Wolf-kun"! Please come and enjoy them at the venue.
What is "Shosoin THE SHOW"?
Shosoin is a "treasure house of miracles" that has protected and handed down 9,000 treasures above ground for nearly 1,300 years.
This exhibition, supervised by the Shosoin Office of the Imperial Household Agency, is the first immersive exhibition to allow visitors to fully experience the beauty of the treasures and the history of Shosoin spanning over a thousand years. The exhibition space combines ultra-high definition images projected on a giant screen with replicas that recreate the appearance of the Shosoin treasures at the time of their creation, providing an experience of being immersed in the beauty of the treasures.
Furthermore, you can experience the miracle of 1,300 years with your whole body through the exhibition of the legendary fragrance "Ranjatai," recreated for the first time in history, and newly composed music using the sounds of treasures such as the "Raden Shitan Gogen Biwa."
*The actual Shosoin treasures will not be on display.
■Tokyo Exhibition Overview
Exhibition title: Shosoin THE SHOW – Feel the miracle that exists here and now –
Venue: Ueno Royal Museum (Taito-ku, Tokyo)
Dates: Saturday, September 20th, 2025 to Sunday, November 9th, 2025 *Open every day during the event
Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission fee (same-day ticket): Adults 2,300 yen, High school and university students 1,700 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 1,100 yen
*All prices include tax
*Free admission for preschool children
*Students must present their student ID when entering the building.
*Persons with disabilities and one caregiver will receive half the same-day fare. Please purchase tickets at the ticket counter on the day.
When purchasing, please present your disability certificate (Physical Disability Certificate, Love Certificate, Rehabilitation Certificate, Mental Disability Health and Welfare Certificate, Atomic Bomb Survivor Health Certificate) or the disability certificate app "Mirairo ID."
*No advance reservations are required for this exhibition. You may have to wait to enter if the exhibition is crowded.
*For ticket details, please see the official website .
Organized by: Ueno Royal Museum, "Shosoin THE SHOW" Executive Committee
(Yomiuri Television, Yomiuri Shimbun, TOPPAN, Kadokawa Media House), Nippon Television Network, BS Nippon Television
Supervised by: Shosoin Office of the Imperial Household Agency
Sponsor: Takemoto Piano
Technical cooperation: Epson Sales
Cooperation: Takasago International Corporation
Sponsored by: TOKYO MX, J-WAVE
Inquiries: 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial, all day, 9:00-20:00)
Official website: https://shosoin-the-show.jp/tokyo/
