Research Notes

A Cultural History of Tobacco as Seen from the Tobacco and Salt Museum

Starting from the Tobacco and Salt Museum in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, this tour traces the origins of tobacco, the Age of Discovery and slavery, Japan's monopoly system, advertising and packaging, cigars, and tobacco trays. It interprets world history and design history through a familiar luxury item.

Design sourceResearch NotesStrolling around Tokyo

From "viewing" national treasures to "creating" them: Learning from Nonomura Ninsei and Ogata Kenzan about the design of polychrome tea bowls.

This book compares Nonomura Ninsei's national treasure, the "Polychrome Pheasant Incense Burner," which I saw in Kanazawa, with works by Ninsei and Ogata Kenzan that I saw at the Nezu Museum. It analyzes the polychrome enamel, form, patterns, and negative space of Kyoto ware, and introduces how this was applied to the actual production of polychrome tea bowls, along with photographs of the production process.

Ceramics and artworkCeramic Production NotesResearch NotesexhibitionTravelogue of JapanTea ceremony