September 7, 2023
Keio University
Maruzen-Yushodo Company, Limited
The "Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) Rare Books Exhibition" displays a selection of rare books from the Mita Media Center (Keio University Library)'s collection to the public, with each exhibition centered on a specific theme. Welcoming many visitors each year, this year marks the 35th installment.
This year, the 35th exhibition will feature magnificent picture books and scrolls known as "Nara ehon and emaki" from the Mita Media Center (Keio University Library)'s collection, dating from the late Muromachi to the early Edo period. Nara ehon and emaki are luxurious, handmade, and hand-colored picture books and scrolls produced from the late Muromachi to the mid-Edo period. They often depict animals, birds, and insects, but the style of depiction varies. Since these creatures converse in the story's text, they are sometimes anthropomorphized in the illustrations. The method of anthropomorphism differs from work to work, and a comparison reveals illustrations that connect to modern Japanese culture. Furthermore, the depictions of oni (demons) and tengu (long-nosed goblins) are also rich in variety. This exhibition will not only showcase many of these fascinating illustrations but also shed light on when, by whom, and how these works were created.
"The Princess Who Wore a Snake - Nonhuman and Grotesque Figures in Nara Ehon and Emaki -"
[Dates] Wednesday, October 4 - Tuesday, October 10, 2023
[Venue] Maruzen Marunouchi Main Store, 4th Floor Gallery
For the full press release, please see below.