{Inter} Cultural Japan

The Autumn Exhibition of the Miho Museum features art critic and book binder Aoyama Jiro (1901-1979). Aoyama was born with a silver spoon and collected antiques from his early teens. But the man who was in the envious position that he never had to work had a sharp and critical eye and was generally praised as a genius. He also joined the mingei movement led by Yanagi Soetsu, and formed the taste of many contemporaries, as collector and author Shirasu Masako. The exhibition includes Chinese, Japanese and Korean ceramics that caught the eye of Aoyama Jiro as well as a display of the book covers he designed.

[The Miho Museum at dusk]

Besides the special exhibition, you can also see the Miho’s antiquities from China and the Near East in a display that is none the less than mesmerizing. But above all, this is great chance to visit the Miho and enjoy the surrounding autumn scenery! Take your time to walk to the museum via the tunnel and bridge (as if approaching a hidden paradise) and enjoy the fantastic architecture by I.M. Pei. The museum is 50 min by bus from Ishiyama St near Kyoto and runs until Dec. 17. See the excellent Miho website for more details.