Kimonos, Fashion & Art
The Sompo Japan Museum of Art is currently exhibiting the Marubeni Collection. Marubeni is a Japanese trading company that started business as a Kimono merchant in the Edo Period. The company began collecting fashion related as research for product development but grew to trade in art as well. The Marubeni Collection offers a rare look at the history of modern dyeing technologies and trends in fashion dating back to the early 1900's.
Over the years Marubeni has amassed some great European artworks including La Bella Simonetta, the only painting by Botticelli that is owned in Japan today as well as works by Gainsborough, Corot, Courbet, and Buffet.
This special exhibition commemorates the 150th year of Marubeni's history and offers visitors an opportunity to view over 80 pieces which were especially selected from a large, rarely-seen collection of rare kimono masterpieces, design sketches, and both Japanese and Western paintings.
Event Details:
Dates: November 22 to December 28, 2008 (closed Mondays except November 24)
Location: Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art in Shinjuku (42nd Floor)
Hours: 10:00-18:00 Daily (Last Entry 17:30), Fridays 10:00-20:00 (Last Entry 19:30)
Admission: Adults:1,000yen, University & High School Students:600 yen, Senior Citizens (65 years and more): 800yen, Children of Junior High School or under: Free