Special Exhibitions

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Special Exhibition MIKOSHI - The Portable Shrine -

2024.06.29

Special Exhibitions

MIKOSHI - The Portable Shrine -

MIKOSHI  - The Portable Shrine -
Some of the explanations for this exhibit are in English.

Exhibition Overview
Mikoshi, or portable shrines, can be seen at festivals all over the Japan. In some regions, mikoshi carried along with vigorous shouts, are a sight that evokes the feeling of a certain season, like summer. Festivals utilizing mikoshi were established in the middle of the Heian period, and later spread to various regions. It can be said that these festivals, held all over the country, developed while reflecting their local environments and histories, and this can be considered to be evidence that they have been passed down from generation to generation. Festivals, which connect gods and people, also have the power to connect people with one another. Mikoshi can also be seen as symbolic of this. When relationships between people or regions have been in crisis due to things like epidemics and natural disasters, the power of festivals has at times helped people to recover and rebuild. In this exhibition, we will discover what mikoshi are, through folding screens, picture scrolls, and prints depicting festivals from the collection of Kokugakuin University, and consider the power of festivals as well.

*Flyer

 

Outline

Term Jun. 29 - Sep. 16, 2024
Closed day: Every Monday (except for Public holidays) and from Aug.10 to 21
Place Kokugakuin University Museum, Special Exhibition Space
Catalogue coming soon...
Admission Fee Free
Access Accessible on foot or by bus, 10-15 minutes from Shibuya, Omote-sandō, or Ebisu Station.
Directions to Kokugakuin University Museum
Hours 10:00 - 18:00 Last admission 17:30
EVENT The following events will be held. For more details, please click here.

An Evening of Kagura Dance and Gagaku Music
Dances and Performances by Student Circles

Lecture on Japanese Culture "Matsuri, Faith and Community" (only in Japanese)
Organized by TUAT Research and Development Promotion Organization

Carrying a mikoshi (portable shrine)!
Demonstration and explanation by a student mikoshi circle

Museum Talk "MIKOSHI and the Town (only in Japanese)