Research Projects

With the cooperation of registered museums and equivalent institutions across Japan, we are conducting a survey to collect and integrate information on artworks held in art museums nationwide—such as artists, titles, years of creation, provenance, and holding institutions. The results of this project are published on the research portal Art Platform Japan (APJ) as the National Art Museum Collection Search "SHŪZŌ", providing resources that support research and practical use.

We are conducting a survey to collect and consolidate various types of information on Japanese artists, including basic biographical data, alternative name spellings, exhibition histories, references, and descriptive notes. The results of this project are published on the research portal Art Platform Japan (APJ) as the Dictionary of Artists in Japan (DAJ), providing resources that support research and practical use.

Scientific Investigation in Conservation and Restoration

To support improvements in the preservation environment, handling practices, and the formulation of conservation and restoration policies, we conduct scientific investigations analyzing the techniques and condition of artworks held by the National Museums of Art. Approximately one scientific investigation is carried out each year, and the results are made publicly available.

• Scientific Investigation of Posters by Sugiura Hisui

  
  Mar. 5, 2025

• Cleaning of Nihon-ga (Japanese-style painting) with enzyme

  
  Sep. 28, 2024

Joint Research Project with the Art Archive Center, Tama Art University

Since 2023, NCAR and Tama Art University Art Archives Center (AAC) have been conducting a three-year joint project focusing on Marcel Duchamp's (1887–1968) seminal work The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (commonly known as The Large Glass) (1915–23, Philadelphia Museum of Art). The project centers on The Large Glass-Tokyo Version (LGTV) (1980, Komaba Museum, University of Tokyo), as well as the preparatory studies produced in preparation for the LGTV (Tama Art University). The aim of this project was to archive these preparatory studies as a collection of AAC and explore their use as educational resources with relevant materials.

• [Archived Video] NCAR Symposium 004/The 7th Tama Art University Art Archives Center Symposium "Replicas and more: Marcel Duchamp The Large Glass — Stockholm, London, Tokyo, and Paris" (Held on March 1, 2025)

  
  Oct. 3, 2025

• Symposium "Replicas and more: Marcel Duchamp The Large Glass——Stockholm, London, Tokyo, and Paris."

  
  Mar. 1, 2025

Art appreciation experiences using digital technology.

We promotes production support initiatives focused on using digital techniques to enhance the art-viewing experience, including 3DCG, VR, and video content at institutions run by the National Museum of Art. In parallel with these activities, NCAR conducts research into the demand for digital content at museums and advances the research and development of new digital content utilizing emerging technologies such as AI. Examples of past projects can be seen at below.

• Digital Creative Project Report: Video Production Support for “Voices from Manuscripts ” at the National Museum of Western Art

  
  Mar. 25, 2026

• Digital Creative Project Report: Video Production Support for the Rodin 3D Model Encyclopedia at the National Museum of Western Art

  
  Feb. 17, 2026

• MOMAT Collection Special Feature – Playback: The Abstraction and Fantasy Exhibition (1953–1954) (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)

  
  Sep. 28, 2023

Museum　Awareness Surveys

We are publishing part of the results from the online survey conducted by the National Museums since 2015.The purpose of this survey is to gain a broad understanding of public awareness and perceptions related to museums.It includes questions on topics such as frequency of museum visits, motivations for visiting, and expenditures at museums.We hope the data will be useful for various considerations and analyses concerning museums.

Survey of Young People's Attitudes Toward Art Museums and the Arts in General

To understand the attitudes of young people toward museums and art in general, we conducted an online survey (questionnaire-based) targeting 1,800 men and women aged 15 to 25 living in the Kanto and Kansai regions.We are releasing part of the survey results so that they may be useful for various considerations and analyses related to museums and art.

DEAI Research Lab

DEAI is an acronym comprising the first letters of the following four words: Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion. At the DEAI Research Lab, we research the global DEAI trends and investigate specific methods and requirements for improving museums' accessibility.

aa-tomo

Art & Wellbeing "aa-tomo" (hereafter aa-tomo) is a joint project being developed by the National Center for Art Research and Tokyo University of the Arts, focused on the theme of art and wellbeing . In collaboration with local governments, the project aims to advance practical initiatives in the field of cultural prescribing, a movement to improve mental and physical health through art and cultural resources, by making use of museums and other cultural hubs.