at the Tokyo National Museum presents Buddhist statues treasured by Kofukuji temple. Located in the ancient capital of Heijo-kyo in present day Nara Prefecture, Kofukuji temple has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and celebrates its 1,300th anniversary in 2010. Coinciding with a reconstruction project for the temple's Chukondo (Central Golden Hall), the exhibition showcases 70 items, including wooden sculptures from the seventh century, as well as artifacts excavated from the Chukondo site. Among the highlights is Ashura, a statue of the Buddhist deity of war that has been designated a National Treasure. Ashura statues normally express anger, but the statue at Kofukuji temple is a slender and lovely young boy. The 14 surviving statues from a set of the Devas of the Eight Classes and the Ten Great Disciples of Buddha will be on display together outside the temple for the first time; till June 7.

Tokyo National Museum, Heiseikan, (03) 5777-8600 (Hello Dial), 13-9 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku; in Ueno Park, 10-min. walk from Koen Exit, JR Ueno Station. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (Fri., Sat., Sun., holidays, till 8 p.m.) ¥1,500. Closed Mon., May 7; open May 4. www.asahi.com/ashura/