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Since the Agency for Cultural Affairs held an exhibition of Japanese artwork in the United States in 1951 to commemorate the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace with Japan in San Francisco, it has continued to hold overseas exhibitions almost every year, for the purpose of deepening understanding of Japanese history and culture and to promote international cultural exchange (Table I-4-3).

There are other examples of such exhibitions. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of Japanese artwork exhibitions taking place as part of "Japan Festivals" that are held in various countries.

In 1992, an exhibition entitled "Ancient Japan" was held at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington D.C. in the United States, and another exhibition entitled "The Zen-Contemplating Patriarchs Seen in Painting, Sculpture and Calligraphy" was held at the Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland.

The 1992 exhibition " Ancient Japan " showed representative archaeological remains (a collection of 258 articles including three National Treasures and 83 Important Cultural Properties) ranging from the Palaeolithic Age (about 200.000 years ago) up through the Jomon Period, the Yayoi Period, the Kofun Period and the Asuka and Nara Period, all representative of their respective ages. Seven years of preparation were required to realize this exhibition of Japan s numerous and varied archaeological remains, the quantity of which is perhaps unsurpassed by any other country. This exhibition attracted a great amount of attention in the United States, with 91.243 people visiting the museum to view this exhibition from August 9 to November l, 1992.

"The Zen -Contemplating Patriarchs Seen in Painting, Sculpture and Calligraphy" was an exhibition held from March 7 to April 18, 1993 under the joint sponsorship of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Kyoto National Museum and the Museum Rietberg to celebrate the opening of the Japan Festival that was held under the auspices of the City of Zurich (Zurjch International June Festival). Made up of 74 articles, including two National Treasures and 40 Important Cultural Properties, this exhibition presented a comprehensive introduction of the spirit and culture of Zen, a meditative school of Buddhism, through portrait statues and paintings of Zen priests, india ink drawings, calligraphy, cassocks and so on.

Scheduled for 1993 is an exhibition highlighting the artistic and academic exchange that has taken place between Japan and Europe. Entitled "Japan and Europe 1543 - 1929". to be held from September 12 to December12 at the Martin Glopius House in Berlin. the Federal Republic of Germany.

Requests have -been increasing from foreign countries for overseas art exhibitions sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs; exhibitions which are large in scale and which include National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. In recognition of the fact that overseas art exhibitions are a vitally important form of cultural exchange which helps to build mutual trust and understanding between countries, the Agency intends to continue this type of activity. The "Overseas Exchange Exhibitions of Cultural Properties among Museums" is another project that began in 1993. Under this program, mainly Japanese artwork and Eastern art from the collections of participating foreign museums and art museums are exchanged and displayed, in order to enrich programs for introducing traditional Japanese culture abroad.

Table 1-4-3 Overseas Art Exhibitions