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The Kyoto National Museum recently hosted a special exhibition titled “Commemorating Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai: Japan, an Artistic Melting Pot.” * On display was the battle surcoat (jinbaori) of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, now the property of Kōdaiji temple. It offers a glimpse of Persian influence on the artistic melting pot that is Japan. Originally, it was a rug from Safavid dynasty Persia, supposedly brought to Japan by Southern Barbarian ships. To transform a rug patterned with fighting animals into a battle surcoat is an interesting idea. But, of course, there are floats at the Gion Festival draped with rugs. To what sort of places, I wonder, will Kyoto transport me next?

I took up my post as assistant professor in the Uehiro Research Division for Global Japanese Studies in autumn 2024. My research focuses on the formation of perceptions of Persia in modern Japan, with a particular emphasis on the historiography of Persian art. I first learned about Nichibunken through reading Professor Inoue Shōichi’s book Hōryūji e no seishinshi (A spiritual history of Hōryūji) (Kōbundō, 1994), which I read as a graduate student. I never imagined that Nichibunken would one day become my own place of work. As I continue to develop my own research, I also hope to contribute to supporting the next generation of scholars. I look forward to working with you all!

Autumn at Nichibunken(Photo by Author)

* Commemorating Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai: Japan, an Artistic Melting Pot., held at The Kyoto National Museum (2025/4/19–2025/6/15)