The Japanese collection contains more than 2,000 works of art from the 7th century C.E. to the early 20th century.

Screens and Scrolls

The strength of the collection lies in its folding paper screens from the 16th to early 20th century. Paramount among the screens is the sublime pair Pine and Plum by Moonlight by Kaihō Yūshō and the elegant River Landscape with Fireflies by Shiokawa Bunrin. Hanging scrolls and illustrations supplement the collection: Tawaraya Sōtatsu’s Illustration from Tale of Ise and Ikeno Taiga’s Impressive View of the Go River show the breadth and versatility of the Rimpa and Nanga school masters.

Woodblock Prints

A portfolio of more than 500 color woodblock prints of the Edo period contains examples of all the famous ukiyoe masters, including Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Ceramics and Sculpture

An impressive array of ceramics is dominated by the spectacular 16th-century Echizen Water Jar whose monumentality is complemented by the bold natural ash glaze. Completely different in terms of scale and embellishment are the subtle tea bowls favored for the tea ceremony and a selection of Kutani and Nabeshima porcelains.

Sculpture features primarily Buddhist images in wood from the Heian (794-1185) and Kamakura (1185-1333) periods, while textiles include 18th and 19th century Nō robes and priests’ kesa.