Participation in a special tour of the “Gifts from Japan” collection hosted by the Glasgow Museum
2025/4/15
On 15 April, Deputy Consul General Minori Ishii took part in a special tour of the Japanese collection entitled “Gifts from Japan” organised by the Glasgow Museum.
On view was part of a collection of over 1,000 pieces, including samples of architecture, furniture, woodwork and lacquerware, musical instruments, ceramics, metal products, textiles, clothing, and Japanese paper. The artifacts were gifted from Japan at the request of the city of Glasgow during an exchange of goods between the city's museum and Japan's "museum" (now the Tokyo National Museum) that took place over a period of approximately one year starting in 1878. In return, Glasgow city sent several oil paintings from the Corporation Art Galleries’ (now the Mclellan Galleries) collection, along with samples of heavy chemical products manufactured in the west of Scotland (specimens illustrating the manufacture of alum, red and yellow potassium of potash, specimens illustrating the products of gas tar, illustrations of sugar refining, specimens illustrating the manufacture of fire-clay bricks, specimens illustrating the manufacture if bar and pig iron, specimens of steel manufacture, specimens of lucifer match manufacturing and match box making, etc.) and textile products (wool and linen).
During the tour, Deputy Consul General Ishii viewed the Glasgow Museum's Japanese collection with explanations from curator Dr. Yupin Chung. Many of the items on display appeared to be samples of so-called "Meiji crafts," which were crafts that the Meiji government positioned as important export items to acquire foreign currency. In fact, the item catalogue included the manufacturer and price, making it possible for people to order the items they liked. The event gave a glimpse into the popularity of Japanism in Europe, as well as Meiji era Japan's desire to learn about Western technology. It also showed evidence of the exchanges happening between Japan and Scotland at that time.
On view was part of a collection of over 1,000 pieces, including samples of architecture, furniture, woodwork and lacquerware, musical instruments, ceramics, metal products, textiles, clothing, and Japanese paper. The artifacts were gifted from Japan at the request of the city of Glasgow during an exchange of goods between the city's museum and Japan's "museum" (now the Tokyo National Museum) that took place over a period of approximately one year starting in 1878. In return, Glasgow city sent several oil paintings from the Corporation Art Galleries’ (now the Mclellan Galleries) collection, along with samples of heavy chemical products manufactured in the west of Scotland (specimens illustrating the manufacture of alum, red and yellow potassium of potash, specimens illustrating the products of gas tar, illustrations of sugar refining, specimens illustrating the manufacture of fire-clay bricks, specimens illustrating the manufacture if bar and pig iron, specimens of steel manufacture, specimens of lucifer match manufacturing and match box making, etc.) and textile products (wool and linen).
During the tour, Deputy Consul General Ishii viewed the Glasgow Museum's Japanese collection with explanations from curator Dr. Yupin Chung. Many of the items on display appeared to be samples of so-called "Meiji crafts," which were crafts that the Meiji government positioned as important export items to acquire foreign currency. In fact, the item catalogue included the manufacturer and price, making it possible for people to order the items they liked. The event gave a glimpse into the popularity of Japanism in Europe, as well as Meiji era Japan's desire to learn about Western technology. It also showed evidence of the exchanges happening between Japan and Scotland at that time.