Tokyo National Museum

Saturday, November 10th was a rainy, dreary day. The perfect day to go to a museum! Should have known that half of Tokyo would think the same thing. The Tokyo National Museum is currently running a special exhibit, Legacy of the Tokugawa. Maybe some of you are thinking "Oh, this again?", but let me tell you something I haven't said before that will perhaps explain my fascination. During the reign of the Tokugawa clan, 1603 - 1868, almost all of the ports of trade were closed. There were few influences from outside Japan allowed into the country. The castle system, which ranked every person according to their job, was established. The more important your job was, the closer to the castle you lived. The samurai class with its own code of living was also established. It was a time of peace. And let me stress this, it was 260 years of uninterrupted peace. No other country in the world can boast such a record. The country developed their own distinct culture during this time. It was a time of brave samurai men and beautiful princesses. As such, it's easy to see why this era is highly romanticized and maybe why it captures me so much.

Honkan building, housing the Japanese Gallery.

The big girl with her own rain boots and umbrella.

Hyokeikan building, housing educational programs.
I wish we had been allowed to photograph the exhibit. It was full of samurai armor and swords, important documents, elegantly painted scrolls, portraits of the Shoguns, Noh (theater) masks, princess trousseaux, and many, many more things. It was a crowded day with an impatient toddler, but we enjoyed the exhibit just the same.

Here are a couple of items from the main museum that caught my eye.