Research Resources on Art in Japan
We are engaged in administering Art Platform Japan, a comprehensive research portal that deals with Japanese artists and works, in order to support research activities on art in Japan and enhancing the presence of Japan in the global art field. We compile and comprehensively transmit information on the collections of museums throughout Japan.
The following is a selection of several useful resources for researching modern and contemporary art in Japan that are drawn from Art Platform Japan and information resources from each of the National Museums of Art.
We are engaged in administering Art Platform Japan, a comprehensive research portal that deals with Japanese artists and works, in order to support research activities on art in Japan and enhancing the presence of Japan in the global art field. We compile and comprehensively transmit information on the collections of museums throughout Japan.
The following is a selection of several useful resources for researching modern and contemporary art in Japan that are drawn from Art Platform Japan and information resources from each of the National Museums of Art.
Research Guides
and Guidelines
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Japanese Art Research Guides
This is a compilation of guides for research on modern and contemporary Japanese art and artists. It presents a variety of tools, ranging from printed catalogues and encyclopedias to the latest online resources, organized by subject to be of assistance for research.
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Introductory Readings on Contemporary Japanese Art
This is a list of introductory readings for students learning about Japanese contemporary art and individuals seeking to acquire core knowledge. In English only.
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Research Center Directory
This is a directory of art libraries that serve as research hubs for modern and contemporary Japanese art and works located in the country. To use any of the listed libraries, please check their usage guidelines, hours, and other relevant information.
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Art Platform Japan「Style Guide」English Translation Style Guide
This style guide is specially tailored to English translation of art literature. It is based on the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition), published by the University of Chicago, and was created and released in March 2021 by Art Platform Japan, a project initiated by Bunka-cho (the Agency of Cultural Affairs). This style guide aims to enhance translation quality and ensure style consistency. Its use is recommended for private-sector, grant-funded translation projects, etc.
Please visit the Art Platform Japan and Research Guides webpages as well.
For inquiries about Research Guides and Guidelines,
click here.
Department in charge:
Research Resources Group
Inquiry Form
Search for Artists
and Works
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Japanese Artists
This is a comprehensive online encyclopedia of modern and contemporary Japanese artists that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the arts in Japan. Its scope extends from artists active during the Meiji era (1868-1912) and thereafter to contemporary artists born no later than 1995. In addition to basic information such as artists’ names (including variations), years and places of birth and death, and bibliographic references, some entries also include descriptions of artists, major exhibitions, major museum holdings, and reference information. The number of artists covered is approximately 5,200（as of March 2025）.
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Art Platform Japan SHŪZŌ: Japanese Museum Collections SearchWorks in the Collections of Japanese Museums
This is a database of modern and contemporary artworks in the collections of art museums and other museums nationwide. Based on information provided by each institution, the database contains listings of artists’ names, titles of works, year of production, materials and techniques, dimensions or duration, and collection in which they are held. In addition to this, assignation of controlled vocabulary for artist names and museum names enables searches using both Japanese and English names of artists and museums. The number of listed works is approximately 440,000（as of March 2025）.
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Media Arts DatabaseJapanese Manga, Anime, Games, and Media Art
This database of Japanese manga, animation, games, and media art contains information about works in each of these fields, collections in which works are held, and related events. The number of entries is approximately 1000,000（as of March 2024）.
Please visit the Art Platform Japan and Research Guides webpages as well.
For inquiries about Search for Artists and Works, click here.Department in charge: Research Resources Group
Inquiry Form
Search for Exhibitions,
Museums, and Galleries
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Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibitions
This database contains records of exhibitions of Japanese contemporary art held at museums and institutions both in Japan and overseas. It covers exhibitions held since World War II, excluding solo and two-person shows. Information includes exhibition titles, dates, venues, organizers, participating artists, and exhibition catalogues. The database allows searches using both Japanese and English names of exhibitions and participating artists. The number of listed exhibitions is approximately 2,000（as of February 2023）.
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ART PLATFORM JAPAN MuseumsJapanese Museums
This is a list of art museums and other museums included in SHŪZŌ: Japanese Museum Collections Search. It lists information such as the name, location, and website of each institution. Each museum’s data is linked to the SHŪZŌ record of works, allowing users to access some of the modern and contemporary artworks held by each museum (limited to the works included in SHŪZŌ). The number of listed museums is 212（as of March 2025）.
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Japanese Art Galleries
This is a database of art galleries that have played significant roles as platforms for presenting art in Japan, and have become important hubs in international networks. The database covers galleries that have been active since World War II, listing information such as gallery names, years of establishment, locations, owners / founders, and periods of activity. The number of listed galleries is approximately 2,500（as of December 2024）.
Please visit the Art Platform Japan and Research Guides webpages as well.
For inquiries about Search for Exhibitions, Museums, and Galleries, click here.
Department in charge: Research Resources Group
Inquiry Form
Literature and Documentation
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Literature on Japanese Contemporary Art
This is a list of recommended Japanese literature (monographs, reviews, academic essays, catalogue texts, etc.) on postwar Japanese art. Some of these documents are available in English translation and can be viewed and downloaded in full. The number of publicly accessible texts is approximately 70 (as of July 2024).
Please visit the Art Platform Japan and Reading Lists webpages as well.
For inquiries about Literature and Documentation, click here.
Department in charge: Research Resources Group
Inquiry Form
The National Museums of Art Collection and Resources
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National Museum of Art Collection Search (beta version)Comprehensive Search of National Museums of Art Research Resources
This is a website that allows users to comprehensively search the collections and information resources of the National Museums of Art (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; National Crafts Museum; National Film Archive of Japan; The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto; The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo; The National Museum of Art, Osaka; The National Art Center, Tokyo). It enables users to search across multiple databases, including databases of works of art, film archives, library catalogues, research results, and the “art commons” (a database of information on exhibitions in Japan). The site covers a total of 12 databases.
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Union Catalog of the Collections of the National Art Museums, JapanArtworks in the Collections of the National Museums of Art
This is a catalogue database of works in the collections of five National Museums of Art (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; National Crafts Museum; The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto; The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo; and The National Museum of Art, Osaka). The database includes basic information such as artist names, work titles, years of production, techniques, materials and supports, signatures and dates, years of acquisition, and names of museums possessing the works. Historical information such as provenance, exhibition history, and references are also included for some artworks. The number of listed works is approximately 47,000（as of March 2024）.
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NFAJ Film Collection SearchJapanese Fictional Films in the National Film Archive of Japan (in Japanese only)
This is a database of Japanese fictional films in the National Film Archive of Japan. It covers prints for theatrical release. The database contains details such as film titles, production companies, years of production, formats, distribution, generation, color vs. black-and-white, sound, footage length, and time duration. It also includes information about casts and staff members. Users can search films based on titles, staff, cast, and more. The number of listed films is approximately 7,000.
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Research Resources of each of the National Museums of Art
This is a list of information resources jointly created by the National Center for Art Research and individual National Museums of Art.
Please visit the website of the Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art as well.
For inquiries about the National Museums of Art Collection and Resources,
click here.
Department in charge: Research Resources Group
Inquiry Form
What We Do
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Museum Collections
To enable many people
to enjoy art in museums,
now and in the future -
Artist
To gather information
on art in Japan and offer support
to deepen research -
Global Networking
To connect Japanese art, artists,
and specialists to global networks -
Learning
To activate the value of museums,
and support expansion and
enrichment of diverse learning -
D&I
To ensure everyone feels
welcome at museums and enjoys
art to their hearts’ content -
Social Cooperation
To engage with broader society,
industry and the economy
beyond the boundaries of museums