National Museum of Ethnology

National Museum of Ethnology, located in Osaka, Japan, is a renowned institution dedicated to the study and preservation of ethnology, with a focus on Japanese culture, Asian culture, and African culture. The museum was established in 1974, with the aim of promoting cross-cultural understanding and exchange, in collaboration with institutions such as the University of Oxford, Harvard University, and the Smithsonian Institution. The museum's founding was influenced by the work of notable anthropologists, including Claude Lévi-Strauss, Bronisław Malinowski, and Margaret Mead, who conducted research in Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Brazil. The museum's establishment was also supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, the Japan Foundation, and the Asian Cultural Council.

● History

The history of the National Museum of Ethnology dates back to the 1960s, when a group of scholars, including Tadao Umesao and Kunio Yanagita, proposed the idea of establishing a national museum of ethnology, inspired by institutions such as the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum's construction was completed in 1974, with the support of the Japanese government, the Osaka Prefectural Government, and the City of Osaka. The museum's first director, Toshio Yamanaka, played a crucial role in shaping the museum's collections and research focus, which includes the study of Japanese folklore, Korean culture, and Chinese culture, in collaboration with institutions such as the Korean National Museum, the National Museum of China, and the Taipei National Palace Museum. The museum has also collaborated with international organizations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and the World Heritage Centre.

● Collections

The National Museum of Ethnology has an extensive collection of over 340,000 objects, including textiles, ceramics, woodcarvings, and musical instruments, from Japan, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The museum's collections include significant holdings of Japanese art, Korean art, and Chinese art, as well as materials from India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, such as the Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayas, and the Amazon rainforest. The museum's collections also include a significant number of objects related to shamanism, animism, and folk religion, from cultures such as the Ainu people, the Inuit, and the Aboriginal Australians. The museum has also acquired collections from notable collectors, including Henry Walters, John D. Rockefeller, and Phyllis Ackerman, who donated materials from Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

● Exhibitions

The National Museum of Ethnology hosts a range of exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, showcasing the museum's collections and research, in collaboration with institutions such as the Tokyo National Museum, the Kyoto National Museum, and the National Museum of Korea. The museum's permanent exhibitions include galleries dedicated to Japanese culture, Asian culture, and African culture, featuring objects such as kimonos, saris, and dashikis, from countries such as Japan, China, Korea, and India. The museum has also hosted temporary exhibitions on topics such as Japanese folklore, Korean shamanism, and African textiles, in collaboration with institutions such as the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum's exhibitions have been curated by notable scholars, including James Clifford, George Marcus, and Sherry Ortner, who have conducted research in Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and South Africa.

● Research

The National Museum of Ethnology is a major center for research in ethnology, with a focus on Japanese culture, Asian culture, and African culture. The museum's research staff includes scholars from Japan, Asia, Africa, and Europe, who conduct research in collaboration with institutions such as the University of Tokyo, the University of Kyoto, and the University of Oxford. The museum's research focus includes topics such as cultural anthropology, social anthropology, and linguistic anthropology, with a particular emphasis on the study of Japanese language, Korean language, and Chinese language. The museum has also published numerous research monographs and journals, including the Japanese Journal of Ethnology and the Asian Ethnology, in collaboration with institutions such as the American Anthropological Association and the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences.

● Facilities

The National Museum of Ethnology is located in a purpose-built facility in Osaka, Japan, designed by the renowned architect Kenzō Tange. The museum's facilities include exhibition galleries, research laboratories, and storage facilities, as well as a library and archive containing over 100,000 volumes and documents, including materials from Japan, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The museum also has a range of educational facilities, including a lecture hall and seminar rooms, which host events and workshops in collaboration with institutions such as the Osaka University, the Kyoto University, and the Tokyo University of the Arts. The museum's facilities are also used by other institutions, including the Japanese Ministry of Education, the Japan Foundation, and the Asian Cultural Council, for events and conferences related to ethnology and cultural anthropology. Category:Museums in Japan