TOBUNKEN NEWS...mural paintings and polychrome statues were excavated in the process of finding out about the floor of the temple. Joint work with young local archaeologists is a very

of Research Programming have been integratedand the Department of Conservation Scienceand that of Restoration Techniques have beenintegrated to form the Center for ConservationScience and Restoration Techniques. Moreover,in the new Department of ResearchProgramming and the Center for ConservationScience and Restoration Techniques, by havingresearchers of the former hold concurrent posi-tions in the Tokyo National Museum andresearchers of the museums in the NationalInstitute for Cultural Heritage hold concurrentpositions in the latter, it will be possible toachieve closer communication between themuseums and institutes and to construct a sys-tem for conducting a more integral manage-ment.

The establishment of the Institutes forCultural Heritage means that the former organi-zation, National Research Institute for CulturalProperties in Tokyo and Nara, which was estab-lished in April 2001, was dissolved.Nevertheless, it is hoped that the system ofcooperation that the Institute in Tokyo andNara have nurtured during the past six yearswill continue in the new organization as we con-tinue to maintain the role of supporting the gov-ernment's administrative work in the protectionof cultural properties, paying special attention tothe conservation of wall paintings in tumuli andto international cooperation in the conservationof cultural heritage.

This year, we will continue the projects of the5-year plan that was started last year. Althoughsome of the names of the departments in this

1

As of April 1, 2007, I have been appointedDirector of the newly establishedIndependent Administrative Institution,

National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, inaddition to continuing my role as the DirectorGeneral of the National Research Institute forCultural Properties, Tokyo. The NationalInstitutes for Cultural Heritage was establishedby integrating two former IndependentAdministrative Institutions, National Museumand National Research Institute for CulturalProperties, in order to execute the work of con-serving and utilizing cultural properties, workthat is common to both institutions, more effec-tively and efficiently and to pursue further devel-opment of each institution.

With this change in organization, theNational Research Institute for CulturalProperties, Tokyo has also undergone somechanges: the Department of Fine Arts and that

TTOOBBUUNNKKEENNNational Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo13-43 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-8713 JAPAN http://www.tobunken.go.jp/

N E W S DIGESTno.2

ForewordBy Suzuki Norio, Director General, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo

Directors of the Institute

and state-of-the-art study of cultural properties,including their conservation and utilization inmuseums, with greater awareness and to pro-mote international cooperation.

We ask for your guidance and cooperation.

TOBUNKENNEWS DIGEST no.2

2

Institute have changed, the work that must bedone will not change greatly. We will take thisintegration as an opportunity to continue ourendeavors to conduct fundamental, practical

Organization of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo

The 30th International Symposium on the Conservation and Restoration ofCultural Property

By Miyata Shigeyuki, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage

The 30th International Symposium on theConservation and Restoration of CulturalProperty for the fiscal year 2006 was held at theSeminar Room of the Institute for three daysfrom February 14. The theme for thisSymposium was “Safeguarding of IntangibleCultural Heritage: International Cooperationand the Role of Japan”.

Awareness for the need to protect intangiblecultural heritage has increased throughout theworld since UNESCO's “Proclamation ofMasterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritageof Humanity” of 2001. The framework for pro-tection is being formed by the “Convention forthe Safeguarding of the Intangible CulturalHeritage” that went into force in April 2006.However, it is also a fact that, unlike the protec-tion of tangible cultural properties, for whichthere is long history and much experience, thereare still many issues regarding the protection ofintangible cultural heritage that require carefuldebate.

In this Symposium experts on the protectionof intangible cultural heritage were invited fromfive overseas nations (China, Korea, Indonesia,Philippines and Vietnam) and Japan to presentreports on the condition of protection in theirrespective countries and the issues that they are

faced with. Discussion was also held on mattersrelated to international cooperation in this field.The program of the Symposium may be foundon the web page of the Department of IntangibleCultural Heritage (http://www.tobunken.go.jp/~geino/pdf/sympo/symposium_agenda.pdf).

For many countries, with the exception ofJapan and Korea, the protection of intangiblecultural heritage is a new topic that must bedealt with although a basic framework has beenestablished by the Convention. At thisSymposium the overseas participants raisedquestions regarding such matters as communityinvolvement, awareness raising among theyoung and other concrete issues. They alsoshowed great interest in the experiences of Japanand Korea. Participants from Japan raised suchquestions as what kind of international coopera-tion may be considered for the protection ofintangible cultural heritage that is a reflection ofthe cultural diversity of each country. We can-not say that we were able to find perfect solu-tions to these issues during this Symposium,but we believe that it served to open a door forfurther communication on the issue of the pro-tection of intangible cultural heritage.

A detailed report of the Symposium will bepublished in the fiscal year 2007. Based on the


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Overall discussion


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results of the Symposium, the Department ofIntangible Cultural Heritage will strengthen col-laboration with experts and organizations in

Japan and abroad in order to construct a systemfor international research and cooperation in theprotection of intangible cultural heritage.

Expert Meeting on Cultural Heritage in Asia and the Pacific- Strategy Development and Needs Assessment

By Inaba Nobuko, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

The Japan Center for InternationalCooperation in Conservation held aninternational conference from February 5

to 7, 2007 under the theme of "Present Positionof Our Cultural Heritage in Asia and the Pacific:What Are the Real Issues - Identity,Development, Climate, or Something Else?" Sixexperts were invited from overseas for this occa-sion.

The Center has been providing discussionopportunities since 1990 for experts in Asia toexchange experiences and to build a networkunder the series title of "Seminar on theConservation of Asian Cultural Heritage". ThisSeminar contributed much by covering a widerange of topics from case studies on the techni-cal aspects of conservation to policies regardingcultural heritage and to urban/developmentissues. However, today, conditions concerning

the conservation of cultural heritage are under-going a great change internationally. In order forus to contribute better and more efficiently toheritage protection efforts in Asia and thePacific region in the contemporary conditionsthat heritage conservation is facing, for this yearwe decided to hold a strategy meeting to identifythe current needs and to shape the future direc-tion of our activities.

Experts who possess rich experience with abroad outlook in international or governmentorganizations were invited from Central Asia,South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, andan expert in cultural landscape was invited fromAustralia. Based on their experiences, theseexperts provided us with their opinions as towhat the problems are and what goals are beingsought. The need for cooperation in conserva-tion that extends beyond disciplines and borders

Uluru-kata Tjuta National Park (Australia), one of the important Asian sacred cultural landscape.

The investigation team that was dis-patched last year conducted basic inves-tigation of the Prambanan Temple

Compounds, a World Heritage, which wasdestroyed by the earthquake that shook theIsland of Java on May 27, 2006. The investiga-tion included a survey of the condition of dam-age, history of restoration, ground property,vibration character of the structures and otherissues. At a meeting of experts that was held atthe site on June 29 and 30, 2007 the results ofinvestigation, including that of the foundationand structures conducted by the Indonesianside, were discussed comprehensively. Based onthis, fundamental ideas regarding the policy ofrestoration, including a partial dismantlement,


5

and work procedures were decided. In addition,investigation items necessary to actually carryout restoration were discussed.

Japan's technical cooperation will consist ofproviding necessary support for drawing restora-tion plans, within this fiscal year, for thePrambanan Temple, which holds a central posi-tion within the entire compound and whoseearly re-opening to the public is desired. In con-crete terms, a seismograph will be installed toelucidate the vibration character of the structureand thereby propose necessary methods forstructural reinforcement. In addition, ortho-graphic images will be made and the conditionof damage of each stone, method of restorationand areas of dismantlement will be indicated on

Candi Garuda, Prambanan Temple

Expert Meeting for the Rehabilitation of the Prambanan TempleCompounds in Indonesia

By Shimizu Shin'ichi, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

as well as the importance of a holistic approachto heritage conservation from value assessmentto long-tern plans for management were broughtto light along with problems particular to each

of the areas represented. The final day of the 3-day Seminar was opened to the public and 75participants joined a very active discussion.


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Project for the Preservation of the Buddhist Monastery of Ajina Tepa inTajikistan

By Iwai Shumpei, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

have accumulated after past excavations, inorder to elucidate the location and structure ofthe walls and floor of the original Buddhist tem-ple.

From April 12 to May 18, the Japan Centerfor International Cooperation inConservation sent the second mission

team for the Project for the Preservation of theBuddhist Monastery of Ajina Tepa which isfunded by the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust.

Ajina Tepa is a Buddhist temple of the 7th to8th centuries where a large stupa and a hugestatue of Parinirvana Buddha (12.8m in lengthwhen reproduced) have been excavated. Thepurpose of this project is to conserve a Buddhisttemple that has been constructed using mudbricks or pakhsa (pis). In cooperation withyoung Tajik archaeologists, the Center isengaged in the archaeological cleaning of thesite, including removal of spoil and grasses that

Detailed photograph of Candi Garuda by using a model helicopter

them in order to prepare a detailed plan forrestoration that will make an estimation of thecost possible. For this purpose, another on-site

investigation is scheduled to be made afterSeptember.

North wall where plaster that had changed color due to

burning was found.


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Mud brick wall, northern part of the temple

General view of Ajina Tepa

As a result of this investigation, it was foundthat the walls of the temple were constructedwith mud bricks and pakhsa blocks althoughsome walls had been built only with mud bricks.Moreover, what are believed to be fragments ofmural paintings and polychrome statues were

excavated in the process of finding out about thefloor of the temple.

Joint work with young local archaeologists is avery stimulating experience for us and we hopeto be able to contribute to the training of localexperts.


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Program for Capacity Development along the Silk RoadBy Okada Ken, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

China, Japan and South KoreaCooperation Training Program forCultural Heritage Preservation along the

Silk Road is in its second year. Three coursesare planned for this year, two in spring and onein autumn: one for the group on the conserva-tion of earthen structures (in its second year of a3-year program), another for the group on theconservation of excavated archaeological sitesand objects and still another, on “paper culturalproperties”, for the group on the conservation ofmuseum collections.

The first two courses for spring were held atHancheng city, Shaanxi province for threemonths starting on April 16. Hancheng city is ahistoric district where buildings of the Song,Yuan and Ming dynasties are buried. The areasurrounding the city is a treasure house of cul-tural heritage with the Great Wall of China ofthe Qin dynasty and the tomb of Si Maqianlocated nearby. In autumn 2004 approximately900 tombs assumed to be from the late WestZhou to the early East Zhou dynasties were dis-covered in the neighboring Liangdaicun village.Most of theses tombs had not been plundered

and a great number of gold vessels, lacquereddrums and stone gongs have been excavated.Four of the major tombs are thought to havebelonged to leaders of the area. Because of theirsignificance, the tombs of Liangdaicun villagehave been designated Monuments and Sitesunder the National-level Conservation of Chinaas early as in 2006.

Our training course is conducted with fullsupport from the Shaanxi Provincial CulturalRelics Bureau and held at the site of a large-scaletomb in Liangdaicun village that is currently

Research at the site. Tomb M27 of Liangdaicun village

Opening ceremony at the excavation site at Liangdaicun village (photograph of the trainees)


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Photographing in Cave 285 of the Mogao Grottoes

The 5th phase of the Joint Research onthe Conservation of the MuralPaintings of the Dunhuang Mogao

Grottoes is in its second year. Staff of theNational Research Institute for CulturalProperties, Tokyo was sent to Dunhuang MogaoGrottoes for three weeks from May 8 to conductthe first half of this year's joint investigation.Investigation that was begun last year was con-tinued at Cave 285, which is considered veryimportant because of the inscriptions of theyears 538 and 539 found there and of its tradi-tional Chinese subjects in addition to its

Buddhist art. Photographs were taken andanalysis using digital microscopes and visiblespectroscopy were conducted.

Moreover, additional sampling was done notonly from the walls of Cave 285 but also fromthose of Caves 268, 272 and 275, which areconsidered the earliest extant examples, todetermine the period of the caves by radio-car-bon dating in a joint study with NagoyaUniversity. Various preparations were also madefor the latter half of the joint investigation,which is scheduled for this summer, and for thejoint research that will be conducted with the

Joint Research on the Mural Paintings of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes andthe Dispatch of Trainees

By Okada Ken, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

being excavated. Even during the course severalwooden horse carriages and what are believed tobe the oldest wooden human images in Chinawere discovered, and the group on the conserva-tion of excavated archaeological sites and objectscollected large bones of four horses that wereexcavated together with the soil, thus contribut-

ing greatly to the in situ conservation of culturalheritage even though the group was there fortraining. A total of twelve Japanese experts,including four specialists from ShizuokaResearch Institute of Buried Cultural Propertieswere dispatched for a total of seven weeks as lec-turers to teach with Chinese counterparts.


10

staff of the Dunhuang Academy who will be vis-iting Japan after autumn.

Furthermore, three graduate students went tothe Mogao Grottoes from Japan with this inves-tigation team. They were selected by publicannouncement from different fields of discipline- namely conservation science, restoration ofpaintings and management of cultural heritage -as "trainees dispatched to Dunhuang". They willstay in Dunhuang until mid-September and

receive guidance from specialists at TheConservation Institute of Dunhuang Academyconcerning diverse matters related to the protec-tion of mural paintings. This training is expect-ed to continue for three more years and willopen the way for young Japanese specialists,who have little chance to directly study the con-servation of mural paintings. We expect them tocontribute to conservation in the future both inJapan and overseas.

Conservation of the Wall Paintings of Takamatsuzuka Tumulus, a NationalTreasure

By Morii Masayuki and Kigawa Rika, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

The dismantling of the stone chamber ofTakamatsuzuka Tumulus started onApril 5. With the dismantling and trans-

porting to the Temporary Restoration Facility ofthe first stone of the west wall, on which is apainting known as Group of Male Figures, onJune 26 and of the floor stone in August, thisphase of the project was completed on August22. The National Research Institute for CulturalProperties, Tokyo is engaged in the work of con-serving the wall paintings of TakamatsuzukaTumulus, including the restoration of the paint-ings, biological investigation and environmentalcontrol.

The environment team constructed a cham-ber with insulation walls on the mound sur-rounding the Tumulus in order to maintain the

temperature and humidity inside the stonechamber stable. As excavation of the moundarea progressed, the stones that compose thestone chamber became exposed. Efforts weremade minimize the impact of changes in out-side temperature and humidity. Changes in theenvironmental condition inside the stone cham-ber were made to occur gradually; lifting andfalling of the wall surface and sudden growth offungi were prevented by controlling temperatureand humidity inside the insulated chamber.

The restoration team removed the plaster thatcovered the spaces between the stones andapplied synthetic fiber paper to the surface ofthe paintings in order to transport them safely.Materials needed as well as the timing for doingthis work was carefully considered so as to

left: Facing the first stone of the east wall (with the painting of "Group of Male Figures")

right: Removing the facing from the second stone of the east wall (with the painting of "Seiryu", the blue dragon)


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Presentation at the 20th Seminar on the Conservation of Modern Cultural Properties

The 20th Seminar on the Conservation of Modern Cultural PropertiesBy Nakayama Shunsuke, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

Modern Cultural Properties Section ofthe former Department of RestorationTechniques held the 20th Seminar on

the Conservation of Modern Cultural Propertieson March 10 at the Seminar Room on the base-ment floor of the Institute. The topic of thisyear's Seminar was “Operation of Tramcars andthe Conservation of Cultural Properties”. Atthis Seminar, focus was placed on old tramcars,especially on those that are still in operation.

In order to acquire an understanding of thedifference between the conservation of culturalproperties and actual problems encountered inoperating old tramcars, lecturers from severalrailway companies presented reports on mainte-nance and repair necessary to operate suchtramcars. Mr. Fujimoto Hideki of HiroshimaElectric Railway Co. Ltd. spoke on the presentsituation in Hiroshima and on the tramcar that

had been damaged by the atomic bomb. Mr.Miyazaki Teruaki of Kumamoto CityTransportation Bureau spoke about the historyand present condition of the tramcars inKumamoto city as well as on their future. Mr.Endo Noriyasu of the Bureau of Transportation,Tokyo Metropolitan Government spoke on hisexperience with the conservation and restora-tion of the only one daruma-type tramcarremaining in Tokyo.

In this Seminar we learned that there aremany old tramcars remaining in companies thatoperate tramcars in Japan and that much workis being done to conserve and operate them. Wealso understood that although continuing to usewhat is old and conserving it as cultural proper-ty may appear contradictory, it is really a matterthat needs to be considered from many points ofview. Thus, the Seminar was very meaningful.

reduce the risk of fungal growth. Moreover,every time a stone was taken out, the biologyteam investigated the microorganisms withinthe Tumulus. As the stone chamber was dis-mantled piece by piece, the environment teamcovered what was still left of the chamber withinsulation in order to keep the humidity aroundthe paintings stable.

Stones taken into the Temporary Restoration

Facility will undergo photographing, samplingand cleaning. They will then be taken into therestoration workroom. After the facing on thesurface is removed, the condition of the wallpaintings will be observed and recorded in orderto collect information necessary for the restora-tion of the wall paintings which will be conduct-ed over a long period of time.


12

Yashiro Yukio (right) and Odaka Sennosuke in the early days of The Institute for Art Research. On advice from Yashiro, Odaka

pursued the study of East Asian art and made field studies throughout Asia in the 1930s. (from Naki Sennosuke wo Shinobu)

A Study on Yashiro Yukio's View ofAsian Art

By Tanaka Atsushi, Department of ResearchProgramming

Ameeting of The Japan Art History Societywas held for three days, from May 25 to27, at Kyushu University, Kyushu

National Museum and Chikushi JogakuenUniversity. On the first day I presented a paperentitled "An Aspect of Modernism in Asia asSeen from the Trademark for Jintan".

The name Jintan in the title, of course, is atrade name; it is a product that is still being soldon market. (Originally, it was sold as a portablemedicine for all purposes and from the 1920s asa breath care product. It is now sold as a non-medical product.) From the time of its first salein 1905, the image of the name Jintan on thebreast of a gentleman with a beard in full regaliahas been known throughout the nation due toadvertisement on newspapers and billboards asa trademark for this product. Moreover, fromthe very beginning there was an attempt to

expand its market not just domestically but alsoto mainland China, which shares the samekanji culture. As a result, by the end of theSecond World War the company had branchesthroughout Asia and were engaged in advertis-ing activities in different districts that were noless active than in Japan.

Thus, in my presentation I explained, throughthe visual image presented by the advertisementfor Jintan, how the company tried to present itsproduct and how, on the other hand, people ofAsia viewed this product. By selecting this topicas an aspect, I discussed the issues related to thestudy of art history and administration associat-ed with fine arts from the 1910s to the 1930sfrom the point of view of modernism in Asia.

In my presentation, I placed focus on thestudy of Asian art that Yashiro Yukio (the direc-tor of The Institute of Art Research, the forerun-ner of this Institute, in its early years), OdakaSennosuke (1901-33; a researcher in theInstitute) and others conceived and the investi-gations that they conducted in different areas.The reason for doing so was that since one canalready find a Jintan advertisement in the pho-

The Center for Conservation Science andRestoration Techniques plans to continue hold-

ing seminars on the conservation and utilizationof cultural heritage.


13

tographs taken by these researchers I thoughtthat it is possible to verify, in the overlap of pre-War economic activities and studies on thehumanities, the concept of Asia that theJapanese had at that time. For this presentation,I consulted the 75th Year of the History of theNational Research Institute for CulturalProperties, Tokyo (tentative title), which will be

A photograph taken during a field trip to China by Yashiro Yukio and his team in 1940.

It is clear that at that time there was an advertisement for Jintan on a gate in Beijing.

Study of the Hollow Dry Lacquer Technique-Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendant at Ryugeji

By Tsuda Tetsuei, Department of Research Programming

As is well known, wood core dry lacquerand hollow dry lacquer are two typicalsculptural techniques of the Tempyo

period (8th century) in Japan. While in the for-mer lacquer stiffened with plant fibers is appliedto roughly carved sculpture, in the latter the sur-face of a roughly formed clay mold is first cov-ered with hemp cloth and the clay removedbefore applying lacquer stiffened with plantfibers to the surface. A great difference betweenthe two is that since the inside of a statue usingthe latter technique becomes hollow, it is over-

whelmingly lighter. Many of the existing exam-ples of hollow dry lacquer statues have beentransmitted at government-managed temples ofthe Tempyo period, such as Todaiji, Kofukuji,and other similarly large temples. From this it isassumed that these statues were made specifi-cally at government-managed studios.

The Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendantat Ryugeji in Kanagawa prefecture, the subject ofthis research, was found from a storehouse inthe temple complex in June 1998 with its head,body, both arms and legs disassembled in

published during this fiscal year, and the collec-tion of research on Odaka Sennosuke, who isnow being re-evaluated as a researcher of AsianBuddhist art. From this point, my presentationwas not merely a presentation of a private studybut also a report on one of the present circum-stances concerning this Institute's research onart history.


14

pieces. Two years were spent from 2000 torestore the statue, whose appearance now is sug-gestive of what it must have looked like at thetime of its construction. Based on the style ofthe statue, it is assumed to have been made at agovernment-managed studio in the vicinity ofTodaiji.

The reason that this statue received muchattention lies in the fact that, since it was dis-covered in pieces, it was possible to observe thedetails of the interior surface. Given that thereare not so many hollow dry lacquer statues ofthe Tempyo period remaining today, it also pro-vided an opportunity to conduct a detailed studyof the hollow dry technique of the Tempyo peri-od. In the process of investigation it was found

that the number of pieces of hemp cloth thatwas applied was less when compared withexamples of hollow dry lacquer statues hithertoknown, that sand was used on the surface ofclay mold to make it easier to remove the clay,and that the inside of the statue was coated withblack Japanese lacquer (urushi) after the claymold had been removed. Such is informationthat could not have been obtained only byobserving the surface and is believed to be veryimportant information that will lead to anunderstanding of the technique of hollow drylacquer. Results of this study was published inMarch as Ryugeji, Seated Bodhisattva with OneLeg Pendant, Archive for Art Studies, vol. 4.

Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendant at Ryugeji Before Treatment: The Inner Side of the Head

The Original Hemp Fabric for Cloth Coating


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Featuring the Monthly Report on the WebsiteBy Katsuki Gen'ichiro, Department of Research Programming

The National Research Institute forCultural Properties, Tokyo featuresreports on the activities of the Institute

every month on its website (http://www.tobunken.go.jp/english/katudo/index.html). The aim ofthis Monthly Report is to provide the mostrecent information concerning the various activ-ities undertaken by the Institute as a whole or

by its individual Departments and Centers. Forexample, in this issue a report is made of inves-tigation conducted by researchers on damagescaused to cultural properties by the earthquakethat shook Noto Peninsula on March 25 withina month of the disaster. There is another reporton the various activities undertaken to conservethe mural paintings of the TakamatsuzukaTumulus.

The National Research Institutes forCultural Properties in Tokyo and Naraconduct self-evaluation of their work

based on their 5-year plan and annual plan. Theresults of this self-evaluation are reflected ontheir projects to improve the administration ofboth Institutes. Self-evaluation for the fiscal year2006 was recently completed and its report wasprinted.

The number of items related to research andprojects in 2006 totaled 89: 1 for improvingmanagerial efficiency, 40 for the Institute inTokyo and 48 for the Institute in Nara. Thisnumber is less than that in the previous yearsince in this period of the 5-year plan researchand projects from previous fiscal years werereconsidered, adjusted and integrated. As usual,each of the Departments and Centers of bothInstitutes prepared its record of performance

and self-evaluation form. On May 17 and 24,the Evaluation Committee studied these andpresented their comments. From this year allthe Departments and Centers at the Institutespresented reports of all their projects to theCommittee. Moreover, rather than evaluatingproject by project, the Committee was asked topresent a comprehensive evaluation of the activ-ities of the Institutes as a whole along a list ofpre-established evaluation items. Taking intoaccount the evaluation and comments made bythe Committee, a summation of the self-evalua-tion was made. It was confirmed that all theprojects had proceeded well and that the initialaims of the projects had been achieved. As forfuture issues, it was decided that there is a needto actively incorporate funds from outsidesources, install large research apparatuses andimprove our facilities.

The gist of the results of self-evaluation wasreported to the Ministry of Education, Culture,Sports, Science and Technology.

Self-evaluation for the Fiscal Year 2006By Nakano Teruo, Department of Research Programming

Monthly Report for April 2007 Monthly Report 2007 Topic Page


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Publications

Nihon no Bijutsu (The Art of Japan) No.492 Cultural Properties and Technology, The Work of the

National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo

Various matters related to cultural properties are discussed by referring to actual cases of investigation and

research employing technology. These include: scientific investigation of cultural properties, conservation

environment and deterioration, assessment of restoration materials and techniques as well as their improve-

ment and development, conservation of modern cultural properties, international cooperation and technology

in the conservation of cultural properties, cultural properties that are not tangible and their techniques as well

as methods for their documentation. 2007, Shibundo (＋81-(0)3-3268-2441), Price: ￥1,650

Ju-ichimen Kannon, Color on Silk, National Treasure

A report on the National Treasure/Ju-ichimen Kannon, an outstanding example of a Buddhist painting of the

late Heian period (12th C) in the collection of the Nara National Museum. Various types of images, includ-

ing those that enable an understanding of the layer-structure of the painting and those that provide informa-

tion concerning the shape and distribution of pigment particles and the condition of the silk painting sup-

port, are used to study the delicate expressions found on this Buddhist painting. 2006, Chuo Koron Bijutsu

Shuppan (＋81-(0)3-3561-5993), Price: ￥19,850

Collection of Writings by Kuroda Seiki

Collection of writings by Kuroda Seiki, pioneer of Western-style paintings of modern Japan, and records of

interviews published in newspapers and magazines. The collection consists of 152 writings including Kuroda's

comments on his own works and proposals concerning administration related to fine arts. 2007, Chuo Koron

Bijutsu Shuppan (＋81-(0)3-3561-5993), Price: ￥16,800

Liturgy of Buddhist Services at Todaiji in March

A collection of reports on the liturgy of Buddhist services held at Todaiji temple in March by Sato Michiko,

researcher emeritus of the Institute. Formerly reported in periodicals, they have been republished. 4 volumes,

2005, Hozokan (＋81-(0)75-343-5656), Price: ￥58,000

Museum Pest Cards

Handy-sized cards of 33 major museum pests giving information about characteristics, size and damage to cul-

tural properties. The cards were originally introduced by Tom Strang of the Canadian Conservation Institute

and Rika Kigawa of this Institute during the joint IPM Workshop 2004. They are conveniently portable and

we hope that they will be utilized on site at museums and other related facilities. 2007, Kuba Pro Co. Ltd.

(+81-(0)3-3238-1689), Price: ￥600

Conservation of Industrial Heritage 5- Conservation of Large Scale Structures

Examples of conservation of large scale structures such as bridges and locks both in Japan and abroad are

investigated, and attempts to solve problems related to these are introduced. Conservation of Industrial

Heritage 4-Conservation of Railways II (English version) has also been published. 2006, Editori R (+81-(0)3-

3793-6640), not for sale

Mural Paintings of the Silk Road: Cultural Exchanges between East and West

It is the Proceedings of the 29th International Symposium on the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural

Property held by the Institute in January 2006. 2006, Archetype Publications (+44-207-380-0800), Price:

£39.50/＄85.00

Documents

TOBUNKEN NEWS...mural paintings and polychrome statues were excavated in the process of finding out about the floor of the temple. Joint work with young local archaeologists is a very