Travel

Celebrating 100 Years of Surrealism: Its Impact on Japanese Culture

TOKYO, Mar 03 (News On Japan) - As we mark the 100th anniversary of Andre Breton's "Surrealist Manifesto" in 1924, we reflect on the profound influence the art movement, born in France, had on poetry, thought, and painting—a fascination that extended to Japanese artists of the time.

In the late 1920s, pioneers like Harue Koga, Seiji Togo, and Ichiro Fukuzawa began experimenting with Surrealism. The 1930s saw a new generation of young painters and art students expanding their expressive range under the influence of Ernst and Dalí. This period also witnessed the creation of iconic works by Japanese Surrealists, including Ai-Mitsu and Noboru Kitawaki.

However, during the war years, Surrealism was monitored as a dangerous ideology, and some artists who were drawn to it perished in the conflict, making it a challenging time for the movement. Despite these difficulties, the influence of Surrealism persisted post-war. Artists like Kikuji Yamashita confronted a society in turmoil and continued to produce uniquely Japanese Surrealist works.

Surrealism spread not only in Tokyo but throughout Japan. During the tumultuous wartime and post-war eras, artists engaged with the avant-garde expression of Surrealism, confronting the times through their work. This legacy is examined through approximately 120 pieces of art and documents.

The exhibition is held at the Itabashi Art Museum in Tokyo, located at 5-34-27 Akatsuka, Itabashi-ku, from Saturday, March 2, 2024, to Sunday, April 14, 2024. Admission fees are as follows: General admission is 650 yen (450 yen for groups of 20 or more), high school and university students are 450 yen (300 yen for groups), and elementary and junior high school students are 200 yen (100 yen for groups). Group rates are indicated in parentheses. On Saturdays, admission is free for elementary, junior high, and high school students. Seniors aged 65 and over receive a 50% discount, and individuals with a disability pass receive a 50% discount, with free admission for one accompanying person. The museum is open on Mondays from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. For inquiries, please contact 03-3979-3251. This information is provided by the Itabashi Art Museum and the Tokyo Shimbun.

Source: artscape

Google Maps

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Early Rainy Season Chill Brings Heavy Rain Across Japan

After days of near-summer heat through May 20th, rain believed to mark the start of Japan's rainy season front swept across the country on May 21st, bringing sharp temperature drops, strong winds, and warnings for potentially heavy downpours.

How to Plan a Trip with a Best Friend Without Losing the Connection

More people are skipping the couple's getaway in favor of booking a flight with their closest friend. It's a shift that says something about how priorities have changed.

Cormorant Fishing Marks Arrival of Early Summer in Southern Japan

Traditional ukai cormorant fishing, a seasonal custom signaling the arrival of early summer, began on May 20th along the Chikugo River in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, following the opening of ayu sweetfish fishing on the river that flows through southern Fukuoka.

Historic Walk Through Miyama’s Thatched-Roof Village

Surrounded by mountains in Kyoto Prefecture, Miyama’s Kitamura district preserves one of Japan’s most iconic rural landscapes, where rows of traditional thatched-roof houses have been maintained for generations through strong community cooperation and deeply rooted village traditions.