The outlook for the economy may be brightening, but the glow is not apparent among museums. First to close was Seibu's museum in Ikebukuro, followed by the Roppongi Arts and Crafts Museum in 1998 and Mitsukoshi's Shinjuku museum which closed last year. Next will be Tobu's Ikebukuro museum, which will close next March. It is true that for the most part this reflects the dismal outlook for department stores, but it is disappointing that cutbacks usually affect cultural programs first. Over the years, department stores have sponsored many excellent exhibitions and it is sad to note their passing. While nothing can take their place, there are still many museums throughout the country. Watch for announcements of their shows and support them when you can. For example, the outstanding Art Tower Mito is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an exhibition called "Seeing, Wearing, Transcending -- Two Centuries Moved by Fashion" along with a special Hanae Mori display, "Meeting of East and West." Fashion shows with leading world designers are also being featured. Check www.arttowermito.or.jp/ for more information, or call (029) 227-8111. Mito, famous for plum blossoms, is a little over an hour from Ueno by JR limited express. If you want to know departure times, call JR's English-language information number, (03) 3423-0111.
A reader suggests another fashion venue, the Museum of World Folk Costumes at Tanaka Chiyo College in Shibuya. Tanaka, who died last year at the age of 92, traveled throughout the world from prewar days collecting some 5,000 costumes, some of which are on display at this museum. Now there is a Summit Collection of beautiful upper-class Okinawan clothing made of native fabrics, including banana cloth, ramie/linen, bingata designs and kasuri weaving, as well as a variety of hats and head coverings and impressive collections from France, Scandinavia and Latin America. There are large photographs showing scenes of the places where these treasures of traditional clothing were found. Our reader suggests that some visitors may be surprised to find similarities in other nations' dress to what they believe is unique to Japan. There were, for example, belts from Central America that resembled the ties worn over obi and patterns that were repeated in many different countries. The school is located about eight minutes from Shibuya going toward Harajuku Station, phone (03) 3400-9777 in Japanese for directions or a map.
Now I would like to tell you about Togo Fine Art, a new gallery recently opened near Hiroo Station. Over the past 10 years, art consultant Noriko Togo has been involved in planning and organizing exhibitions of works from foreign museums in Japan. Now, with the closing of so many venues, she has decided to open her own gallery. This she has accomplished with great style, providing a pleasing setting for works from many modern artists. Her first show, Small Formats, features mainly drawings and watercolors by 19th and 20th century masters such as Turner, Degas, Picasso, Dubuffet and Klee. The theme traces the interrelationship of the artists' creative spirit. The feeling one has is of visiting a connoisseur's private gallery. Hopefully, visitors will be able, in such harmonious surroundings, to better appreciate and enjoy the artists' works. Housed within the museum is an extensive collection of books on art and artists for viewers to study and enjoy. For more information and a map, phone (03) 3473-0409 or fax (03) 3473-2694. Those interested in attending future showings can ask to be included on the mailing list. There will be one surprise for collectors. They will not find the highly inflated prices people have come to expect at many galleries in Japan that exhibit foreign works.