To introduce some features of the museum’s exhibitions of works from the collection: First, its scale is one of the largest in Japan, displaying approximately 200 works each term from the museum’s holdings of approximately 14,000 works acquired since its opening in 1952. Also, it is one of the foremost exhibitions in Japan, tracing the arc of Japanese modern and contemporary art from the end of the 19th century to the present day through a series of 12 rooms, each with its own specific theme.

Some highlights of the current term are as follows. Nara Yoshitomo’s Harmless Kitty (1994), which had been on long-term loan overseas, has returned to the MOMAT Collection for the first time in about two years. It is now on view in the Highlights section on the fourth floor. Room 9 on the third floor features photographer Hosoe Eikoh’s early landmark series Ordeal by Roses. This exhibit serves both as a tribute to Hosoe, who died in 2024, and as a commemoration of the 100th anniversary (in 2025) of the birth of novelist Mishima Yukio, the subject of the series.

Many newly acquired works are also on view this term. Look for the “New Acquisition” markers next to each work.

We hope you enjoy this rich lineup of works from the MOMAT Collection, where longtime highlights are joined by fresh new faces.