On January 24, 2024, a high-resolution facsimile of the “Maple leaves on a stream (front); mountain views (reverse) ” by Ikeda Koson (original owned by the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Asian Art), produced as the 16th entry in the Tsuzuri Project, was donated to the city of Agano in Niigata Prefecture.

“Maple leaves on a stream (front); mountain views (reverse) ” is a representative work of Ikeda Koson, who was active as an Edo Rinpa artist toward the end of the Edo period. On the front are golden clouds and vibrant autumn leaves reflected on a stream, and on the back is a vast mountain and water landscape in ink wash. This is considered to be Koson's masterpiece, showing the brilliance of his technique in superbly differentiating between entirely different styles.

The original cultural property cannot be taken outside the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Asian Art, where it is held, in accordance with the will of the founder. Thus, this work cannot be viewed without visiting the museum itself. Ikeda Koson's hometown is believed to be near Suibara in Echigo Province (currently Agano in Niigata Prefecture), and by donating a high-resolution facsimile through the Tsuzuri Project, we have realized a return of this work to the land connected to Ikeda Koson.

Moving forward, with the cooperation of the city of Niigata, which is adjacent to Agano, there are plans to display this donated work for general viewing within the cities of Agano and Niigata, as well as to use it at sites of school learning and the like.

Further, to commemorate this donation, from January 25 (Thursday) to March 1 (Friday) of 2024, the donated work was displayed at four facilities within Agano, where residents enjoyed it being exhibited without a glass case. Those who visited offered highly favorable comments such as: “I am so glad I was able to see this wonderful work locally” and “This allowed me to see the work close-up.”

On April 25, 2024, a high-resolution facsimile of the “Waves at Matsushima,” by Ogata Kōrin was donated to Kyoto City University of Arts. The original is part of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston collection, and the high-resolution facsimile was created during Stage 15 of the Tsuzuri Project.

Ogata Kōrin, who was active in the mid-Edo Period, is known as the master of the Rinpa school. He had a deep admiration for Tawaraya Sōtatsu, one of the founders of the Rinpa school who was active in the early Edo Period, and left behind several pieces which referenced works by Sōtatsu including this piece. Based on the right-hand screen of Sōtatsu’s “Waves at Matsushima1,” but blended with Kōrin’s unique interpretation, it features even more dynamic expressions as demonstrated by the movement of the waves. The original folding screen was purchased by American art historian Ernest Fenollosa during his visit to Japan and has resided at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston since 1911.

The Tsuzuri Project will donate this piece to Kyoto City University of Arts in the hopes that the many students studying the arts there will play major roles on the world stage much like Ogata Kōrin, who was born and raised in Kyoto and went on to become an internationally recognized painter. The facsimile will be displayed in an area of the university that is open to the public ※1, which will allow many people from both Japan and overseas including local residents to appreciate the artwork up-close and free from a glass case. Lending the artwork to education-related facilities and utilization in the field of education and community collaboration are also being considered.

※1Available for viewing in front of the library at the Research Institute for Japanese Traditional Music, Building A, 1st floor, Mon.-Fri. from 8:30AM to 5:15PM (viewings unavailable Sat., Sun. and public holidays and when artwork is on loan)

On November 27, 2023, a high-resolution facsimile of the “Screen with Scattered Fans,” by Tawaraya Sotatsu was donated to Kanazawa College of Art. The original is part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art collection, and the high-resolution facsimile was created during Stage 16 of the Tsuzuri Project.

Located in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is famed for being a treasure house of Japanese art. In accordance with the will of the founder Charles Lang Freer, the collection is not allowed to be lent outside the museum, meaning that the artworks it houses can only be seen by visitors to the museum. For this reason, the Tsuzuri Project has created high-resolution facsimiles of numerous masterpieces owned by the museum, to enable them to be viewed in their homeland.

Before it was purchased by Freer, the Smithsonian’s records indicate that “Screen with Scattered Fans” was located in Kaga, Ishikawa. The Tsuzuri Project donated the facsimile to Kanazawa College of Art out of a desire for the artwork to be appreciated by as many people as possible, and because Tawaraya Sotatsu is thought to be buried in Kanazawa.

To commemorate the donation, from Monday, November 27 to Friday, December 1, 2023, Canon and Kyoto Culture Association held an exhibition open to the general public entitled “Masterpieces of Japanese Art: Painters Associated with Ishikawa Prefecture.” Included among the six high-resolution facsimiles of works by painters associated with Ishikawa Prefecture was the “Pine Forest” by Hasegawa Tohaku,.

News Release “Tsuzuri Project donates to Kanazawa College of Art a high-resolution facsimile of Sotatsu's "Screen with Scattered Fans," to be displayed to the public with five previous works”

On November 5, 2021, a high-resolution facsimile of the National Treasure “The Wind and Thunder Gods” that was produced in Stage 14 of the Tsuzuri Project was donated to Kennin-ji Temple, which is the main temple of the Rinzai Sect in Kyoto Prefecture.

The National Treasure “The Wind and Thunder Gods” acquired by Kennin-ji Temple is considered to be a masterpiece by Tawaraya Sotatsu, a patriarch of the Rimpa school, and is a cultural asset that represents Japan. To protect this work of art, the original is currently entrusted to the Kyoto National Museum, and opportunities for its public viewing are limited.

Reproduction work of this piece of art was also performed during Stage 4 of the Tsuzuri Project; in Stage 14, however, the latest technology that had evolved over the 10 years since Stage 4 was used to newly produce a high-resolution facsimile that depicts the original cultural asset even more faithfully. To reproduce it, the original cultural asset was photographed using the high-performance, full-sized mirrorless lens camera “EOS R5”, and high-resolution data with total pixels of approximately 4.2 billion pixels was obtained. By fusing Canon’s latest digital imaging technology with the master craftsmanship of traditional Kyoto artisans, the original work is reproduced faithfully, down to the details such as the dark clouds formed by shades of ink against a gold background, pigment particles and fine lines.

The donated high-resolution facsimile is exhibited at Kennin-ji Temple, where visitors can view it at any time (separate admission fee required).

News Release “High-resolution Facsimile of National Treasure ‘The Wind and Thunder Gods’ Donated to Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto Prefecture through “Tsuzuri Project”, in which Japanese Culture is Handed Over to the Future”

On Monday, June 21, 2021 at the Tokyo National Museum, high resolution facsimiles of "Kujaku Myo'o" (Mahamayuri) (hanging scroll) that were produced in Stage 14 of the Tsuzuri Project were donated to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage.

The national treasure "Kujaku Myo'o" (hanging scroll) is a large (approximately 150 cm x 100 cm) silk work depicting a peaceful Kujaku Myo'o in soft, delicate colors and wearing clothing decorated with kirikane*1 metal foil. It is believed to be the only surviving work from Japan's Heian period (794-1185 CE) that features the Kujaku Myo'o, and was created using colors and artistic techniques that flourished during the Insei (cloistered rule) period, making it a highly valuable artifact. In addition, it is the oldest original work that the Tsuzuri Project has handled to date.

In order to minimize the wear on the original work during the high-resolution facsimile creation process, Canon's latest digital imaging technologies and the skills of traditional Kyoto artisans, or takumi, were utilized to produce a facsimile that is highly faithful to the original—including coloring and kirikane that is accurate to within 0.2 mm. Thanks to this donation, the original works can be preserved in more ideal environments while the high-resolution facsimiles can be widely used for public display, allowing more people the opportunity to experience the works in person.

The donated work will be displayed from June 22, 2021 to March 31,2022 at the Tokyo National Museum*2 as part of the new experiential permanent exhibit "The Door to Japanese Art."

*1 Kirikane is a technique employed in Buddhist artwork and sculpture that involves the use of thinly sliced gold or silver leaf to create detailed and lavish designs.
*2 In order to enter the Tokyo National Museum, visitors must register online in advance. For more information, please refer to the museum's homepage.

News Release ” Tsuzuri Project to donate a high-resolution facsimile of the national treasure Kujaku Myo'o (hanging scroll) to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage for display at the Tokyo National Museum's "The Door to Japanese Art" exhibit”

On Monday, October 26, 2020 at the Tokyo National Museum, high resolution facsimiles of “Pine Trees”, “Cooling Off”, “Kabuki Theater”, “Autumn Grasses” and “Namban Ships and Chinese Junks” that were produced in Stage 13 of the Tsuzuri Project were donated to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage.

The National Treasure “Pine Trees” (drawn by Hasegawa Tohaku) is a work that is considered a masterpiece among modern ink and wash paintings that expresses in an emotionally rich manner the everyday scenery of a pine forest in varying levels of visibility to illustrate haziness. A high resolution facsimile of the same work was produced and donated in Stage 1 of the Tsuzuri Project (in 2007), but thanks to innovation of the shooting system and improvement of printing technology, high-resolution data with total pixels of approximately 5,400 mega pixels was acquired in this stage, realizing the production of a high resolution facsimile that is truer to the original.

At the Family Gallery: TNM and Art Tunes! Present: “Becoming Japanese Art – Round Two!” that will be held at the Tokyo National Museum from October 27 to December 6, 2020, high resolution facsimiles of “Pine Trees” that was donated through the Tsuzuri Project and of “The Wind and Thunder Gods / Flowering Plants of Summer and Autumn” that were produced in a joint research project with the CPCP will be exhibited. This event provides a new art experience made possible by high resolution facsimiles, such as projection mapping of movies onto the high resolution facsimiles.

At the Kujokan located in the north garden of the Tokyo National Museum, “Cooling Off” (October 27 to November 8), “Autumn Grasses” (November 10 to 23) and “Kabuki Theater” (November 25 to December 6) will be exhibited. There will be no exhibitions on days where use of the Kujokan is planned.

News Release ” Tsuzuri Project to donate high-resolution facsimiles of works including "Pine Trees" by Hasegawa Tohaku, to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage for display at the Tokyo National Museum”

On June 24, 2019, the opening ceremony for “The Tsuzuri Project: The Art of Hokusai, reproduced from the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution”exhibition was held at the Sumida Hokusai Museum in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, And the project donated 13 high-resolution facsimiles of works by Katsushika Hokusai the originals of which reside in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution Freer Gallery of Art (Freer Gallery), as part of the project's Stage 12.

The Freer Gallery of Art, which is known as a treasure house of Japanese art, but gallery policy forbids any of the works in the collection from leaving the premises, As such, the only way to view these works thus far has been to visit the gallery in person.

Of the 12,700 pieces of Japanese art in the Freer Gallery's collection, the Tsuzuri Project has chosen to produce high-resolution facsimiles of these 13 works by Hokusai and donate them to Tokyo's Sumida Ward—where Hokusai spent much of his life—allowing these famed works of Japanese art to make a symbolic return home.

The donated works are on display from June 25 to August 25, 2019 in an exhibition entitled “The Tsuzuri Project: The Art of Hokusai, reproduced from the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution” was held at the Sumida Hokusai Museum.

On October 29, the National Center for the Promotion of Cultural Properties (NCPCP) , part of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH), and Canon Inc. (Canon) announced that the two organizations will collaborate on the creation of high-resolution facsimiles of important Japanese works of art using technology employed by the Tsuzuri Project (officially, the Cultural Inheritance Project) jointly administered by Canon and the non-profit Kyoto Culture Association, and will cooperate on research and testing to develop new applications for such technology.

To commemorate the project's launch, a high-resolution facsimile of "Battles of Ichi-no-Tani and Yashima, from Tales of the Heike" part of the Tsuzuri Project's Stage 11, was donated to the NICH. Created during the early Edo period (17th to 19th centuries), the work comprises two folding screens, each of which depict one of two battles that led to the demise of the Taira Clan, also known as the "Heike." The original work is currently owned by the British Museum, so this dedication represents a “homecoming” of a Japanese painting masterpiece.

The donated facsimile was displayed at the Tokyo National Museum from October 23 to December 2, 2018.

News Release “National Center for the Promotion of Cultural Properties and Canon Inc. commence joint research project regarding the creation and use of high-resolution facsimiles of cultural properties”

On Tuesday, July 3, 2018, a high resolution facsimile of “River Festival at Tsushima Shrine” that was produced as part of Stage 11 of the Tsuzuri Project was donated to Tsushima City and Aisai City at the Tsushima City Tourism Exchange Center in Aichi Prefecture.

“River Festival at Tsushima Shrine” is a work from the Edo period, and depicts scenes of the Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival, which has been continuing for almost 600 years as a festival of Tsushima Shrine. The original work is currently owned by the British Museum. The donation of its facsimile to Tsushima City and Aisai City, where this festival is held, represents a “homecoming” of a Japanese painting masterpiece.

The facsimile of “River Festival at Tsushima Shrine” was exhibited at select locations in Tsushima City and Aisai City until July 29, 2018, the day of the Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival.

On Thursday, June 28, 2018, a high resolution facsimile of “Birds and Flowers of Autumn and Winter” that was produced as part of Stage 11 of the Tsuzuri Project was dedicated to Tanzan Shrine in Nara Prefecture.

“Birds and Flowers of Autumn and Winter” is a work from the Edo period, and consists of sliding-door panels depicting scenes from autumn and winter, including wild geese, ducks, white camellia and Japanese Sarcandra. The original work is currently owned by the British Museum. It was originally located in Tanzan Shrine, which is known for being the site of talks during the Taika Reforms, so this dedication represents a “homecoming” of a Japanese painting masterpiece.

The facsimile of “Birds and Flowers of Autumn and Winter” is planned to be permanently exhibited in Tanzan Shrine’s pagoda, which is an Important Cultural Property.

The high resolution facsimiles of the folding screens, “Landscape of the Four Seasons” and “Tatars Playing Polo and Hunting” produced in the tenth stage of the Tsuzuri Project, were donated to Kyoto National Museum at a ceremony held at the museum on June 30 (Fri.), 2017.

Painted by Shikibu Terutada in the Muromachi era, “Landscape of the Four Seasons” is a pair of six-panel folding screens with a continuous design from right to left across the two sets, which symbolizes the four seasons through the images of plum trees, waterfall, autumn leaves, and snow-covered mountains. Including these screens, there are only a few known examples of such large pieces by Shikibu Terutada.

“Tatars Playing Polo and Hunting” is said to have been created by Kano Soshu in the Momoyama era. This piece is a pair of six-panel folding screens that employ rich colors on gold leaf to depict Tatars, nomadic tribes living in the highlands of Mongolia, hunting and playing a ball game similar to modern day polo.

The originals of both pieces are currently in the possession of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, US. By donating these high resolution facsimiles to the Kyoto National Museum, we have succeeded in bringing these masterpieces “back home” to Japan.

The high resolution facsimiles of “Landscape of the Four Seasons” and “Tatars Playing Polo and Hunting” will be on special display in the Grand Lobby of the Heisei Chishinkan Wing of Kyoto National Museum until September 3 (excluding July 28 to August 2).

On April 11, 2016, as part of Stage 9 of the Tsuzuri Project, we produced high-resolution facsimiles of the 22 sliding door paintings located in the Abbot's Chambers of Tenkyuin temple. These facsimiles were donated to Tenkyuin temple, a subtemple of Myoshinji Temple in Kyoto.

Over a five-year period beginning in 2012, the Tsuzuri Project was involved in the reproduction of kinpeki-ga (landscape paintings made with gold-foil-pressed paper) in the Abbot's Chambers of Tenkyuin. The facsimile project came to a conclusion with the reproduction of a total of 56 paintings on sliding doors that decorate the Morning Glory Room, the Tiger Room, and the Plum Room of the Abbot's Chambers of Tenkyuin. These included Frolicking Birds in Plum and Willow Trees, a work originally created by the artists Kano Sanraku and Sansetsu and donated as the final contribution of this project. Following the donation of the facsimiles, the original cultural assets were entrusted to the Kyoto National Museum for safekeeping in a controlled environment.

Tenkyuin is normally closed to the public, but it is scheduled to open on special occasions in spring and autumn when the facsimiles are displayed in place of the original artworks.

As part of Stage 9 of the Tsuzuri Project, Scenes from The Tale of Genji were reproduced and the facsimiles were donated to Byodoin Temple in Kyoto on March 18, 2016.

The Tale of Genji comprises 54 chapters; these screens depict scenes from the chapters titled Sekiya, Miyuki and Ukifune. It is believed that these screens were part of the original sliding doors that enclosed the room. The original art is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the U.S.A. In cooperation with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Tsuzuri Project produced high-resolution facsimiles of Scenes from The Tale of Genji. These reproductions were donated to Byodoin Temple, Uji, Kyoto as a symbolic homecoming to the setting of The Tale of Genji.

The high-resolution facsimiles of a pair of four-fold screens depicting Scenes from The Tale of Genji were installed at Byodoin Museum Hoshokan and displayed to the public in a special exhibition open until April 24.

As part of the "Tsuzuri Project," we created high-definition facsimiles of the masterpiece "Dragon and Tiger" in cooperation with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and donated it to the new Oita Prefectural Art Museum, which opened on April 24.

On April 23, a press conference was held before the opening of the museum, where the facsimile screens of the "Tsuzuri Project" were introduced. These screens will be exhibited in the museum as well as used in the art appreciation education event to which all 60,000 elementary school students in Oita Prefecture are invited through "The First Museum Experience for Elementary School Students" project.

The epic "Dragon and Tiger," painted by Hasegawa Tohaku in his later years, is currently owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in the United States.

As part of Stage 8 of the Tsuzuri Project, high-resolution facsimiles of the "Dragon and Clouds" panels were donated to Kyoto's Tenryuji Temple on March 13, 2015.

"Dragon and Clouds," a series of panels by Soga Shohaku, a painter of the Edo period, is a work believed to have been designed for use as sliding doors. This work is now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, U.S.A., which generously consented to the creation of high-resolution facsimiles of this work as part of Stage 8 of the Tsuzuri Project. The reproduction was donated to Tenryuji Temple, which is itself named after a dragon. The work can once again be seen in Kyoto, the birthplace of Soga Shohaku.

The high-resolution facsimiles of all eight panels of "Dragon and Clouds" will be displayed in the Dragon Room in the large abbot's chamber facing Sogen Pond Garden, a beautiful setting designated by the Japanese Government as a Site of Special Historic and Scenic Importance. This reproduction is scheduled to be displayed to the public for about 90 days every year as part of a special exhibition.