Change in Lecture Programming:
The Brian Clark Lecture scheduled for 23 February (Tues.) has been canceled. Libby Horner's lecture will proceed as scheduled. 2010.2.4

Regarding the Brian Clark Lecture scheduled for 23 February (Tues.) in conjunction with Exhibition of Frank Brangwyn, unfortunately Mr. Clark's plans have changed and he will not be traveling to Japan at this time. We greatly regret any inconvenience caused by this cancellation. The lecture scheduled for 23 February (Tues.) Libby Horner will begin at 13:00. The lecture is scheduled to end at 14:30.

For further information about "Lectures/Symposium", please click here.

Temporary closure due to investigations related to the NMWA’s nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status2009.12.13

Entire Museum
The entire museum will be closed to the public for the following periods due to investigations related to the NMWA’s nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Monday 4 January 2010 through Friday 8 January 2010
Monday 15 February 2010 through Friday 19 February 2010

Permanent Collection Galleries
The Permanent Collection Galleries located in the Main Building will be closed during the following period due to investigations related to the NMWA’s nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Permanent Collection Galleries located in the New Wing will be open during this period.

Saturday 9 January 2010 through Sunday 14 February 2010

Please forgive any inconvenience caused by this closure. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.

Notice: Admission will be free of charge from January 9 through February 14, 2010, both in appreciation of the public support of the activities involved in the registration of the NMWA Main Building on the UNESCO World Heritage list and in commemoration of the museum’s 50th Anniversary.

Advance tickets for the “Exhibition of Frank Brangwyn” are now available2009.12.1

“Exhibition of Frank Brangwyn” will be held from February 23 through May 30. The advanced tickets are available (started selling at the Museum’s Information Desk).

For further information about tickets, please visit Exhibitions Site　 http://fb2010.jp (in Japanese)

Temporary Closures due to UNESCO World Heritage-Related Investigations2009.10.21

Entire Museum
The entire museum will be closed to the public for the following periods due to UNESCO World Heritage-related investigations.

Monday 4 January 2010 through Friday 8 January 2010
Monday 15 February 2010 through Friday 19 February 2010

Permanent Collection Galleries
Permanent Collection Galleries in the Main Building will be closed during the following time period due to UNESCO World Heritage-related investigations. Permanent Collection Galleries in the New Wing will be open during this period.

Saturday 9 January 2010 through Sunday 14 February 2010

Please forgive any inconvenience caused by this closure. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.

Announcement of Teacher's Program2009.8.31

Plese see here for further details.

Announcement of temporary closure2009.6.25

Due to preparation of exhibition and interior maintenance, The entire museum is closed during the following period of time:
Monday 31 August 2009 through Thursday 3 September 2009
Friday 18 September 2009

Your understanding of this matter would be appreciated.

Calendar

Advance tickets for the “L’eredità dell’Impero romano” exhibition are now available2009.6.25

“L’eredità dell’Impero romano”exhibition will be held from September 19 through December13. The advanced tickets are available (started selling at the Museum’s Information Desk).

For further information about tickets, please visit　Exhibitions Site　 http://roma2009.jp (in Japanese)

Lecture cancellation notice: The Saturday 13 June lecture by Kazuyo Sejima has been canceled.2009.6.11

The Saturday 13 June lecture by Kazuyo Sejima, related to the exibition "Le Corbusier and the National Museum of Western Art," has been canceled due to the lecturer's circumstances."

Louvre Museum exhibition: extended hours during Golden Week holiday period and final days of the exhibition2009.4.24

Due to the exhibition’s popularity, the museum will extend its hours as follows:

Tuesday 28 April to Sunday 10 May
Closes at 19:00 (No admission after 18:30)
Friday 1 May and Friday 8 May closes at 20:00 (No admission after 19:30)
The museum will be open throughout the above period.

Thursday 4 June to Sunday 14 June
Closes at 19:00 (No admission after 18:30)
Friday 5 June and Friday 12 June closes at 20:00 (No admission after 19:30)
The museum closes all day on Monday 8 June

Announcement of Teachers' Program2009.2.16

Please see here for further details.

A preliminary and limited offer of TOUCH THE MUSEUM^β -viewing of the permanent collection aided by images and sound 2009.1.30

TOUCH THE MUSEUM is an audio and visual guide using iPod Touch devices to enjoy the permanent collection of the National Museum of Western Art. Prior to the official start of TOUCH THE MUSEUM in the next fiscal year. the museum will run the program for a limited period of six days from 10 February 2009 through 15 February 2009.

Please see here for further details. (PDF File 600KB) (in Japanese)

Announcement of temporary closure2009.1.15

The entire museum will be closed on February 27, 2009 (Friday) for exhibition preparation and building inspections.

The museum will open on Jan. 2 (Fri.) 20092008.12.19

For this coming New Year holiday period, the museum will be closed from Dec. 28 (Sun.) through Jan. 1 (Thurs.) and open from Jan. 2 (Fri.) (Hours on Jan. 2 will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

We will provide New Year gifts for some of the first to arrive. Please come and enjoy our exhibitions.

Announcement of TV broadcasting2008.12.19

A TV program focusing on the museum’s core collection, the Matsukata Collection, and the collector Kojiro Matsukata will be featured.

“Jonetsujin (passionate person) Kojiro Matsukata, the man who collected the world's masterpieces”
Jan. 18 (Sun.), 2009
15:00-16:25
Production by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (NTV network nationwide)
In Japanese language

2008 X'mas Lunch menu is available from café Suiren.2008.12.9

For further details, please click here. (PDF File370KB)

Advance tickets for the “LES REVOLUTIONS DE L’AGE CLASSIQUE : LA PEINTURE EUROPEENNE DU XVIIeme SIECLE DANS LES COLLECTIONS DU MUSEE DU LOUVRE” exhibition are now available2008.12.3

“LES REVOLUTIONS DE L’AGE CLASSIQUE : LA PEINTURE EUROPEENNE DU XVIIeme SIECLE DANS LES COLLECTIONS DU MUSEE DU LOUVRE”exhibition will be held from February28 through June14. The advanced tickets are available (started selling at the Museum’s Information Desk on Wednesday, December3).

For further information about tickets, please visit　Exhibitions Site　www.ntv.co.jp/louvre (in Japanese)

Announcement of closure of permanent exhibition galleries2008.11.21

Due to renovation of the New Wing and interior maintenance, the permanent collection galleries are closed during the following period of time:

New Wing closed from September 2007 through May 10 (Sun.) 2009.

All Permanent Collection Galleries closed from May 11 (Mon.) through June 3 (Weds) 2009.

Your understanding of this matter would be appreciated.

Calendar

NMWA Collection Database launched2008.8.18

NMWA have launched an online catalogue of the collection on the web site. The database covers the paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, decorative arts and books in the collection, including some "on deposit" items. Works of art can be searched by keyword, artist name, object title and collection number.
Displayed works can also be traced from their position in the gallery as noted on the Permanent Collection map of the galleries.

Announcing a new column, "MOTTO SIRITAI! The Museum of Western Art." 2008.6.9

<bijutsukann.com> Web site is featuring a new regular column, "MOTTO SIRITAI! The Museum of Western Art." (The site is all in Japanese.). Click here to go to the site.

Information on Lecture-Concert "Corot's Musical Tastes"2008.5.8

For further details, please click here.

Announcement of temporary closure2008.4.18

The entire museum will be closed on June 13, 2008 (Friday) for exhibition preparation and building inspections.

OPEN museum official partner EPSON inaugurated OPEN museum site2008.3.13

EPSON, the official partner of the National Museum of Western Art inaugurated OPEN museum site in EPSON site.
Please visit the new site.

Advance tickets for the “Corot” exhibition are now available2008.3.13

"Corot souvenirs et variations" exhibition will be held from June 14 through August 31. The advanced tickets are available (started selling on Monday, March 10). In addition, valuable pair tickets are also available.

For further information about tickets, please visit http://www.corot2008.jp/ (in Japanese)

"Le Corbusier's architecture and urban planning" as a UNESCO World Heritage site2008.1.17

The Japanese government announced on Monday, January 7, 2008, its decision to nominate the main building of the National Museum of Western Art for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The nomination for the building, designed by French architect Le Corbusier, is part of a nomination made by the governments of France and other countries for a number of Le Corbusier's architectural assets. Japan's nomination is based on the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will decide whether to inscribe the museum building on the World Heritage List through its sessions and investigations after it receives the nomination.

Background

French government is the main force behind the nomination of "Le Corbusier's architecture and urban planning." All of the nominated works, which are located throughout the world, would be registered as a single entry. Le Corbusier (1887-1965) is known as a master of modern architecture.

Future events

• The French government plans to submit its nominating form of seven participating countries to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre by February 1, 2008.
• The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will conduct a field survey during summer and autumn 2008.
• The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will decide whether to inscribe the museum building on the World Heritage List at its 33rd session to be held around July 2009.

The museum's "Main Building" designated as an Important National Property.2007.12.26

For further details, please click here. (PDF file about160KB)(Japanese only).

The museum’s “Main Building” registered on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage2007.9.14

The French Government and The Foundation Le Corbusier are working together to register architectural works by Le Corbusier as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
We are very happy that the main building of the National Museum of Western Art has been included in the tentative World Heritage list. There will still be difficult times ahead until an official nomination is issue, followed by the World Heritage registration. We appreciate the efforts of all people who continue to love and support the museum. We will continue to work hard to make the museum available not just to the public in Japan but also to people throughout the world.

Masanori Aoyagi,
Director
The National Museum of Western Art

For further details on the Main Building, please click here.

Announcement of partially closure of permanent collection galleries 2007.8.22

The permanent collection galleries are partially closed through March 2009 (scheduled) due to renovation work for the new wing. The main building will remain open.
We apologize for the inconvenience.

First national museum that collaborates with private corporations2007.7.25

The National Museum of Western Art (Director: Masanori Aoki) has decided to implement "OPEN museum" project. The museum received a three-year sponsorship from Seiko Epson Corporation (President: Seiji Hanaoka) and Epson Sales Japan Corporation (President: Seiichi Hirano). Press release (PDF format)

Information on permanent collection programs2007.6.7

The National Museum of Western Art showcases artwork of a particular theme each time that it holds for "Fun with Collection". From children to adults, the museum offers opportunities to appreciate artwork in various ways. The aim is for visitors to enjoy and understand artwork that's much accessible to everyone. (For further details of the programs, please check here)

Information on family program "Saturday Arts"2007.5.14

Saturday Arts (Doyo Bijutsu) is an experimental program in which participants can enjoy appreciating paintings and sculptures of the museum. Advanced booking is required. For further information, please check here.

Information from Prints Study Room2005.10.25

For academic research and study of Western art history, the museum allows the viewing of prints and drawing works in its Prints Study Room for the following people:

• Staff members of museums and art museums
• Personnel of universities or research institutes
• Postgraduate students
• Those approved by the museum director

Viewing hours are 1 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Friday of every month.
Viewing is free of charge but only by advance reservation.
Those who would like to use the facility, please make reservations one day in advance via e-mail or by phone at 03-3828-5131. Your personal ID will be required to enter the room.