News Release

Tsuzuri Project donates high-resolution facsimile of 17th-century folding screens to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, facsimile to be displayed at the Tokyo National Museum

TOKYO, June 5, 2023—Canon Inc. announced today that the Tsuzuri Project (officially, the Cultural Heritage Inheritance Project), a joint project organized by the Kyoto Culture Association (NPO) and Canon, donated a high-resolution facsimile of "Amusements at the Dry Riverbed, Shijô"—the original of which resides in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston—as part of the project's Stage 15. The facsimile was donated to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage and will be displayed at the Tokyo National Museum from Tuesday, June 6 to Sunday, August 27.

“Amusements at the Dry Riverbed, Shijô” depicts in exquisite detail the bustling pleasure district of Kyoto during the Edo period (17th century). Gold is lavishly used to decorate the scene through the use of gold paint¹ to depict the ground, and gold sand² to depict clouds. With the original “Amusements at the Dry Riverbed, Shijô” held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, there have been very few opportunities thus far to admire the work in Japan.

Canon’s EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera was used in the creation of the high-resolution facsimile. The camera was used to capture images of the original work, after which Canon applied its proprietary color matching system and image processing. The facsimile was then output using large-format inkjet printers with 12-color pigment ink. Finally, expert Kyoto craftsmen applied gold to the facsimile and mounted it on folding screen frames, completing an extremely accurate reproduction of the original work.

With the donation of this high-resolution facsimile to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, it can be put on display for the general public, creating opportunities to view and admire this priceless work of Japanese culture.

The donated high-resolution facsimile will be on display at the Tokyo National Museum hands-on space in the Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room T3, during the “The Door to Japanese Art” event to be held from Tuesday, June 6 to Sunday August 27. While many original cultural assets must be kept behind glass cases, this facsimile will be openly displayed, allowing visitors to admire the work up close.

• 1

  Gold paint (JPN: kindei) is a type of paint made from powdered pure or nearly pure gold mixed with an adhesive called nikawa.

• 2

  Gold sand (JPN: sunago) is a Japanese art technique in which powdered gold or silver leaf is used to decorate a scene.

Event details: The Door to Japanese Art

Date & Time	Tuesday, June 6 to Sunday August 27, 2023
Venue	Tokyo National Museum (13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo) Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room T3
Museum hours	9:30 – 17:00 (last entry: 16:30)
Museum closed on	Mondays (excluding holidays, in which case, the Museum will be open on Monday and closed the following day). Museum may be open or closed upon short notice depending on circumstances.
Admission	Tokyo National Museum General Cultural exhibit fee: General Admission: 1,000 yen / University Students: 500 yen.

The above information is subject to change. For up-to-date information, please refer to the Tokyo National Museum website: https://www.tnm.jp

About the Tsuzuri Project

The Tsuzuri Project is a joint social contribution initiative organized by the Kyoto Culture Association (NPO) and Canon. Many of Japan’s precious ancient cultural assets have limited viewing opportunities, often because they have been moved overseas or are preserved in storage as designated national treasures. Combining Canon’s technical expertise in imaging, processing and output with the master craftsmanship of traditional Kyoto artisans, the Project produces high-resolution facsimiles. High-resolution facsimiles are donated to related recipients such as shrines, temples, local governments and museums. These cultural assets are available for a variety of purposes including public display and tangible educational materials. Works from artists including Katsushika Hokusai, Tawaraya Sotatsu and Ogata Korin, have been selected since, with 57 facsimiles produced and donated to date.

For more information, please visit the official Tsuzuri Project website:
https://global.canon/en/tsuzuri/