Exhibition
2F Museum Facilities
sisak ikor tumpu
Special Exhibition Room (2F)
10th Special Exhibition: Ainu collection at the Vienna World Exposition of 1873
- Release Date:
Photograph of the Vienna World Exposition (partial view)
Collection of the Tokyo National Museum Image: TNM Image Archives
Exhibition Overview
In 1873, the Meiji government of Japan participated in its first international exposition, the Vienna Expo, in a bid to enhance national prestige. Japan made its international debut by showcasing regional products, with a particular focus on exquisite artworks and crafts unfamiliar to Western audiences. Among these, an Ainu collection was selected by the Hokkaido Development Commission and the Exposition Bureau to represent Hokkaido’s products. This exhibition presents an Ainu collection housed overseas in Berlin, Germany, returning to Hokkaido for the first time in approximately 150 years. It explores the origins of this collection, which began with the Vienna Expo—a symbol of Japan’s modernization and internationalization—while contextualizing its historical significance.
Highlights of the Exhibition
The greatest highlight of this exhibition is the reunion—after 150 years—of the Ainu Collection gathered for the Vienna World Exposition. The items that were sent overseas are now part of the collection of the Ethnologisches Museum in Berlin, while those that remained in Japan became foundational to later museum displays and are now housed at the Tokyo National Museum.
For the first time, these collections from the Berlin and Tokyo National Museums will be presented together on an unprecedented scale. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore Ainu life in the late 19th century, as Japan transitioned from the Edo to the Meiji era. Additionally, other items such as ceramic and lacquerware pieces exhibited at the Expo will be showcased, illustrating the excellence of traditional Japanese art and craftsmanship.
Highlights of the Exhibition
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / I A 4751
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / I A 4768
10th Special Exhibition “Ainu collection at the Vienna World Exposition of 1873”
Exhibition Periods
- First Period: Saturday, July 5, 2025 – Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Second Period: Saturday, September 13, 2025 – Sunday, November 16, 2025
- Closed on Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday)
- Open on Tuesday, August 12; Tuesday, September 16; and Monday, September 22
- Closed on Wednesday, September 24
Venue
National Ainu Museum, Special Exhibition Room
Opening Hours
- July 5 (Sat) – July 18 (Fri), September 16 (Tue) – September 19 (Fri), September 22 (Mon), and September 25 (Thu) – October 31 (Fri): 9:00 – 18:00
- July 19 (Sat) – August 31 (Sun), September 13 (Sat) – September 15 (Mon), September 20 (Sat), 21 (Sun), and 23 (Tue): Nighttime Hours – 9:00 – 20:00
- November 1 (Sat) – November 16 (Sun): 9:00 – 17:00
Last entry
- Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park): until one hour before closing
- Museum: until 30 minutes before closing
Organized by
National Ainu Museum
Collaboration with
Ainu Association of Hokkaido, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Embassy of the Republic of Austria
Special Collaboration with
Tokyo National Museum
Cooperation
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum
Others
Admission Fees
- Entry to the museum is included with admission to Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park.
- For more information see: Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park admission fees (Upopoy website)