In many ways, Renaissance artists taught us how to see.

They set new standards of beauty, accuracy and naturalism that profoundly influenced the development of Western art for 500 years.

So it is not surprising that "The Italian Renaissance" exhibition, opening the Italian festival in Japan, created a huge wave of interest at the National Museum of Western Art. Over 60 museums have loaned 180 works including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, manuscripts, jewelry, armor and instruments, by artists such as Botticelli, Raphael and Titian. For most, it is the first and probably the last time they will leave the country of their birth.