The Tokyo National Museum is considered to be the oldest national museum in Japan, finding its origins in the Yushima Seidō exposition of 1872. As such, the various changes of the institution...Show moreThe Tokyo National Museum is considered to be the oldest national museum in Japan, finding its origins in the Yushima Seidō exposition of 1872. As such, the various changes of the institution throughout its history give an impression of the development of the Japanese concept of a museum. This Master thesis takes a closer look at several historical examples of traditional Japanese exposition practices, the advent of the modern museum in Japan, and various Western influences on Japanese culture during the 19th and 20th century. By presenting this overview, this thesis aims to present a better understanding of significant cultural differences between traditional methods of display in the West and in Japan. By observing the historical development of the Tokyo National Museum, as well as the more modern installations which were part of the exposition celebrating the museum’s 150th anniversary, the institution provides a case study illustrating the confluence of non-Western traditional display practices and the Western concept of a modern museum.Show less
This thesis discusses, through a literary survey and fieldwork in Tokyo and Osaka, the question to what extent there is an imperial legacy or discourse resonating in Japanese museums. In particular...Show moreThis thesis discusses, through a literary survey and fieldwork in Tokyo and Osaka, the question to what extent there is an imperial legacy or discourse resonating in Japanese museums. In particular, it focuses on the representation of the Ainu and Koreans between 1977 and 2017 in the Tokyo National Museum (Tohaku) and the National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku), located in Osaka. Research shows that an imperial discourse is present, particulary in the linguistic terminology and items put up on display. However, as the case study of the Ainu in Minpaku shows, there is room for change and balance.Show less
