Book review: The Art Lover's Guide to Japanese Museums, by Sophie Richard

by Sophie Richard
Japan Society
4 stars
Julian Ryall

Japan has some of the world's most fabulously stocked museums, many dating from the heady days of the nation's postwar economic miracle, when powerful companies and wealthy philanthropists wanted to share the works of international artists with the Japanese public.

Those days may be over for many of Japan's companies, but the art remains to be enjoyed. And it is more than complemented by works by world-famous Japanese artists.

For the foreign visitor, the twin hurdles of the language barrier and simply not knowing that some of the gems exist has long been a problem. But that is far less of a concern with the release of The Art Lover's Guide to Japanese Museums, by London-based art historian Sophie Richard.

Of the more than 5,600 museums that dot the country - including such unique institutions as those dedicated to noodles, handbags, Santa Claus, manga and even "sewage science" - one-fifth focuses on art and Richard has selected 50 of her favourites. While the over-arching theme of the book is art, she has stretched that definition to include museums dedicated to photography, traditional costumes, objects used in the tea ceremony, and even a garden that houses a number of buildings designated as important cultural properties.

Cleverly designed and laid out, the book - which is divided into five geographical regions - has a section that explains the basics of getting the most out of Japanese art, whether it be scrolls of calligraphy, sculptures of religious subjects, fans, ukiyo-e woodblock prints, folk craft or the modern art movement of artists such as Yayoi Kusama.