June 2-July 16
Lacquerware has long held a place of prominence in the world of Japanese arts and crafts. Since ancient times, the process has been a way to inject color into everyday life through gold and silver lacquer work, mother-of-pearl inlay and raden, mother-of-pearl work that shines with the colors of the rainbow.
Selected from the Sumitomo collection, this exhibition highlights Japanese, Ryukyu, Korean and Chinese lacquerware — mainly comprising utensils, vessels and other tools — that was highly valued in traditional activities such as tea and incense ceremonies and theatrical noh performances.
Sen-oku Hakuko Kan; 1-5-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Roppongi-Itchome Stn. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥800. Closed Mon. 03-5777-8600; www.sen-oku.or.jp/tokyo.